German soldiers, posted as informers, were found dressed as peasants, even as peasant women. The latter were discovered, presumably in the course of non-military action, by their government issued underwear; but many were probably never caught, it being impossible, General Gourko regretfully admitted, to lift the skirts of every female in East Prussia.
In "The Guns of August," Barbara W. Tuchman discusses instances of German soldiers disguising themselves as peasants during warfare, highlighting the tactics used for espionage and deception. Some soldiers donned the attire of peasant women, allowing them to blend in with the local population and gather intelligence without arousing suspicion. This strategy presented challenges for military officials trying to identify and apprehend these infiltrators.
General Gourko acknowledged the difficulties in uncovering these soldiers, as it often required invasive measures that weren't feasible. The inability to examine every woman in East Prussia meant that many disguised soldiers likely evaded detection. This situation illustrates the lengths to which combatants go to gain an advantage in military conflicts and the complexities of identifying insurgents when they employ such clever strategies.
