Key World War I battle re=enacted in Poland on eve of war's outbreak a century ago

Actors dressed as German soldiers take part in the re-enactment of the 1914 Battle of Tannenberg in Szkotowo, Poland, Sunday, July 27, 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. History enthusiasts from across Europe gathered to reconstruct the Battle of Tannenberg, an engagement between the Russian and German Empires in the first days of World War I. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

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Actors dressed as German and Russian soldiers take part in the re-enactment of the 1914 Battle of Tannenberg in Szkotowo, Poland, Sunday, July 27, 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. History enthusiasts from across Europe gathered to reconstruct the Battle of Tannenberg, an engagement between the Russian and German Empires in the first days of World War I. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Actors dressed as Russian soldiers perform an attack, as another actor dressed as an orthodox priest , left, prays, during the re-enactment of the 1914 Battle of Tannenberg in Szkotowo, Poland, Sunday, July 27, 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. History enthusiasts from across Europe gathered re-enact the Battle of Tannenberg, an engagement between the Russian and German Empires in the first days of World War I. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

SZKOTOWO, Poland – About 200 history enthusiasts from across Europe have gathered on hilly area in Poland to reconstruct the Battled of Tannenberg, an engagement between the Russian and German Empires in the first days of World War I.

The reenactment was held Sunday, one day before the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. It was held on the site of the original battle, which a century ago was in eastern Prussia, but which now lies in northern Poland.

The battle took place from Aug. 26-30, 1914, and resulted in a major defeat for Russia. The victorious German commander, Paul von Hindenburg, became a national hero, and was later Germany's president. The battle is also sometimes known as the second Battle of Tannenberg. The first took place in 1410.