Hi, you read all the time that Polish cavalry charged German tanks in 39 and were cut to be pieces. But did this actually happen? I read a book a short while ago that debunked the idea as there was no eyewitness evidence, but did provide evidence of Polish cavalry charging German and rear support units. Yet Guderian in Panzer Leader mentions cavalry charges aginst tanks. So, did it happen? Is there any evidence of it happening? If so which units were involved, when and why? FNG
As I understand it the idea of Polish Cavaly charging tanks is a false myth. (in fact I think the Polish mounted troops were actually more like dragoons) I believe they did at least on one occasion charge infantry. I read that one of the last big cav charges was in the western desert by native troops led by an Italian.
IIRC a war correspondant noticed some dead cavalrymen near some German tanks, and assumed the tanks had killed the cavalry. It then became a propaganda tool (for both sides!)
so why would Guderian mention it in Panzer Leader when he knew it was bunkum and had nothing to prove? FNG
why wouldn't he? He was there, he was in close contact with the Panzer troops and commanders and would have read the after action reports as part of his remit as commander of mobile troops. FNG
The only recorded time cavalry combated tanks was when a aquadron of panzers surprised the polish cavalry and the cavalry were forced to fight.
Why would Guderian mention it? Maybe because we too was caught up in Goebbels' propaganda. Who knows? Memoirs kan be exciting to read as histrical novels, but as sources for historical events they are worthless. That is true for all memoirs. Unless proven by period records, everything in memoirs must be assumed as being false.
i'm not sure, but i think that paul carell mention that the soviets made some cavalry charges against the germans in his book hitler moves east, can not verify that since i lost the book in 2001, thanks to t.s. allison :angry:
Jump inside the turret and stab the crew with them? As far as I know the Polish Lancers (not all cavalry were Lancers) only used their lances for training & parades. They fought dismounted and with rifles etc.
tank hatches cannot be popped open from the outside ,unless unlocked from inside ,despite movie scenes to the contrary...
Acctualy it wasn't the last cavalery charge in the WW2. Soviets employed a large number of true cavalery units. They preformed well in the snowy conditions. They were employed as true cavalery (with sashkas and guns) or similarly to the polish cavalery (basicly as mounted infantry) or later similar to british cavalery units (armour units). Cavalery was also extensivly used by germans (floran Geyer SS cavalery division, XV. Cossack cavalery corps under von Panwitz...). Entire Soviet 8. cavalery corps staged a raid on german positions that began on the 8th or 9th of February 1943 as part of Operation Gallop. Following link has the article translated by the US Army's FMSO regarding this raid: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=105240 Kuban cossack's during victory parade in Moscov 26.06.1945 Now Cossack's are making a come back in Russia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossack
