Historians often reproach the Soviet military command for the fact that, before the start of World War II, it could not completely abandon cavalry units, preferring armored vehicles. Technological Germany is usually cited as an example, despite the fact that the troops of the Third Reich also had cavalry that successfully participated in hostilities until the very end of the war.

Mounted reconnaissance

Of course, motorized equipment is indispensable, where there are good roads. In the conditions of the vast wooded territories and rugged terrain of the western part of the USSR, it is easily vulnerable, poorly maneuverable, and is also an excellent target for partisans. Which was confirmed by subsequent history. At the same time, it is not possible to conduct reconnaissance operations in fields, ravines and forests on a motorcycle or an armored personnel carrier, and walking is long and inconvenient. In this regard, each infantry unit of the Third Reich had its own cavalry detachment, intended for reconnaissance on the territory of the USSR. However, not a single page is written about these detachments in art books, it is not in any frame of movies. In this regard, the Wehrmacht cavalry fell out of the historical field. In vain. The personnel of such units consisted of 310 people, 216 horses, several armored cars, field and anti-tank guns. The Wehrmacht also had its own separate cavalry brigade, which successfully participated in battles, being integral part Army Group North. The fascist cavalry successfully proved itself in battles during the capture of Warsaw. In 1939, this brigade was transformed into a division, and only the number of its horses was 17 thousand.

Tanks covered by cavalry

The most interesting thing is that cavalry division The Germans were included in the Guderian tank group, which was supposed to be one of the first to attack the USSR. During the first days of the war, the German tanks successfully interacted with the cavalry. By the middle of 1942, each of the Army Groups "Center", "North" and "South" had its own cavalry regiments. By the end of the war, their numbers were increased to cavalry brigades. At the same time, we must pay tribute to the military skill of the 3rd and 4th cavalry brigades of the Germans, after successful operations in East Prussia they fought with dignity in Hungary. At the end of the winter of 1945, the Wehrmacht cavalry brigades were reorganized into divisions, they were thrown into the most violent sectors of the front. In March, German cavalry unsuccessfully tried to go on the offensive near Lake Balaton. After going through the entire war, the cavalry divisions of the Third Reich surrendered to the allied units in Austria.

Cossacks of the Third Reich

At the same time, contrary to popular belief, the Germans never considered the cavalry to be an obsolete branch of the military. On the contrary, they actively used it for reconnaissance and fighting partisans. During the war, the Germans even formed special Cossack units from the White Guards who agreed to serve the Nazis. One of their leaders was a former prominent White Guard military leader, who was awarded the rank of SS General A.G. Shkuro. In August 1943, the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division was formed, followed by the Don Cossack Cavalry Regiment, the 2nd Siberian Cossack Cavalry Regiment, the 3rd Kuban Cossack Cavalry Regiment, the 4th Kuban Cossack Cavalry Regiment, the 5th Don Cossack Cavalry Regiment, 6th Terek Cossack Cavalry Regiment. Basically, these units fought against the partisans in Yugoslavia and the countries of Eastern Europe. For obvious reasons, they were not sent to Russia. In February 1945, on the basis of the Cossack cavalry division, the 15th SS Cossack Cavalry Corps was created. Its personnel reached 40-45 thousand people. The end of the Cossacks who went over to the service of the Germans turned out to be as inglorious as that of the rest of the cavalry units of the Wehrmacht, and the traitor generals were shot.

North, Jonathan.
H82 Soldiers of the First World War 1914-1918. Uniform, insignia, equipment and weapons / Jonathan North; [per. from English. M. Vitebsky]. - Moscow: Eksmo, 2015. - 256 p. ISBN 978-5-699-79545-1
"Soldiers of the First World War"- complete encyclopedia of history military uniform and equipment of the armies fighting on the fronts " great war". Its pages show the uniforms of not only the main countries of the Entente and tripartite alliance(England, France, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary), but in general all the countries involved in this terrible conflict.

G E R M A N I A
CAVALRY
The German cavalry played important role in 1914, but as the war continued, its importance (as well as numbers) gradually decreased. By 1918, it had practically disappeared. In 1914, there were still traditional distinctions between heavy cavalry (used to deliver powerful blows on the battlefield, that is, for the role assigned to German cavalry in the 70s years XIX century) and light cavalry. The difference between dragoons and cuirassiers - usually kept in reserve - and hussars, lancers and horse rangers was significant. The latter were usually used for reconnaissance and sentinel service. The light cavalry moved ahead of the main body of the German army when it invaded Belgium, and during offensive operations in Poland in 1914–1915 German lancers were considered ubiquitous and extremely active. This misconception is due to the fact that most of the German cavalrymen were armed with lances, so they were mistaken for lancers.

heavy cavalry
The cuirassiers wore field gray uniforms with a stand-up collar, Swedish cuffs and shoulder straps. The regimental colors were reflected in the edging of shoulder straps (there was a white braid on the inside of the piping), on the collar, on the cut of the front shelf of the uniform and on the cuffs (officers had no piping on the collar and cuffs, in the Saxon regiment there was no piping on the collar). A regimental galloon was sewn on the collar and cuffs of the uniform. In some regiments, the regiment number was indicated in red on shoulder straps. Shoulder straps in the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 8th and 9th regiments had encryption, in the Bavarian regiments the shoulder straps were simple, with a red piping.
The heavy cavalry wore black helmets with a pointed pommel (model 1889) with a long nape and state cockades, as well as a plaque representing the corresponding symbol of the state (for the Saxons it was a star). The helmet was worn with a light green cover, on which, since September 1914, in green indicated regimental number. The Bavarians wore a helmet similar to that of the Bavarian infantry. The color of the band of the cap matched the color of the regiment. The breeches were gray, without piping, often reinforced with leather inserts. High boots (with knee protection) were worn from shoes, although ordinary boots made of genuine leather were sometimes worn instead. At the end of 1914, a simplified cut uniform was introduced, and in 1915, a blouse with white epaulettes and regimental color piping was introduced. In 1916, cavalrymen began to wear steel helmets.

Dragoons
Initially, the dragoons were foot soldiers mounted on horses, but to late XIX centuries, by all indications, they turned into a real heavy cavalry. German dragoons wore gray uniforms with a stand-up collar (with piping according to the established order) and regimental-colored piping on Swedish cuffs. Shoulder straps also had a regimental color edging (for officers, the color of the lining of the shoulder strap corresponded to the color of the regiment). On shoulder straps, the regiment number was indicated in red (in the 3rd, 8th, 9th, 10th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th regiments on monogram was placed on shoulder straps). In the 23rd and 25th regiments, galloons were worn on collars and cuffs. In 1914, all regiments wore helmets with pointed pommel like in the infantry with state emblems (in the 1st and 3rd regiments they were Guards eagles) and cockades. In the 9th and 16th regiments, badges of honor were placed on helmets for participation in the Battle of Waterloo. In addition, on the helmets of the dragoons of the 9th regiment there were badges of honor for participating in the Pyrenean War and the Battle of Gerda. The band of the cap was the color of the regiment; on the caps of the 2nd regiment, between the cockades, they wore an emblem in the form of an eagle. In 1915, the uniforms were replaced by blouses with blue epaulettes and piping in regimental colors. Since 1916, the Dragoons began to wear steel helmets.

Hussars
In 1914, the hussars retained their original form, which kept the imprint of the traditional hussar attire. They wore an attila uniform (models of 1909), which was based on a dolman, with a black-gray (green among the Saxons) cord decorating the uniform in front and embroidery on the back. Shoulder cords were woven from twisted galloon ribbon in regimental color and historical regimental color (see table). Regimental-colored officer epaulettes were trimmed according to the color of the cord. The hussars wore black fur shakos with a state cockade, which was not covered by a gray case, and a chin strap. On the cover in green was the number of the regiment. The caps had a band of regimental color (in the 1st, 2nd and 17th regiments, a skull was located between the cockades). Breeches with lace and cord were worn tucked into boots. Blouses were introduced in 1915, but many regiments continued to wear the attila uniform.

bavarian chevaliers
As part of the German army, there were eight regiments of the Bavarian light cavalry (chevaux-leger), dressed in gray lancers with Swedish cuffs and a stand-up collar. Edge colors are shown in the table. Until 1916, Chevolegers wore helmets with pointed pommel and the Bavarian coat of arms. The Bavarian light cavalry then switched to steel helmets.

horse rangers
In 13 cavalry chasseur regiments, greenish-gray uniforms with standing collars and Swedish cuffs were worn. In the 1st and 8th regiments the edging was white, in the 2nd and 9th - red, in the 3rd and 10th - yellow, in the 4th and 11th - blue, in the 6th and the 13th are blue and in the 7th are pink. The regiment number was indicated in red on shoulder straps. Only in the 1st regiment a monogram was placed on shoulder straps. Until 1916, horse rangers wore helmets with a pointed pommel.

Lancers
German lancers wore a modified version of the traditional Polish uniform. Its elements were a squat hat with a square top, a lancer uniform (resembling a Polish jacket) with a lapel and rounded shoulder straps (on the shoulder straps of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th , 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 21st regiments had red numbers). The red edging went around the lapel, collar, cuffs and shoulder straps. The uniform had a standing collar (except for the Bavarian regiments) and Polish cuffs (with a toe). From March 1915, the uhlans began to wear simplified style uniforms with scarlet epaulettes with regimental color piping.

One of the accusations against Stalin sounds like "On horseback against tanks." This article refutes this myth.

This phrase of Alexander Glebovich Nevzorov inspired us:

“In 41, near Moscow, near the village of Muzino. The German 106th division, supported by the 107th regiment, was waiting for the order to attack, and at that moment the cavalrymen of the 44th cavalry division of the Red Army rushed at them. Gallop, checkers naked. At a distance of a thousand yards, the Germans opened fire with cannons and machine guns. According to an eyewitness, two thousand horses were killed in six minutes. About thirty, bleeding, horses reached the German positions, where they were already shot at point-blank range from rifles and machine guns. The Germans did not lose a single person in the battle near the village of Muzino. The surname of the idiot who gave the 44th division the order to attack seems to me not essential. There were such idiots in the world history of the cavalry

A task. Track the combat path of the 44th cd in the Battle of Moscow (Moscow defensive operation) in the period from 09/30/1941 to 12/5/1941.

It is noteworthy that the date is not indicated, on our own we will add that the place is indicated, apparently incorrectly, since neither on the operational map nor in operational reports such locality not indicated. The numbers and designation of the units are also questioned by us, since apparently the designation of the pp (infantry regiment) was deciphered by Nevzorov as a sub-regiment, which, as far as I know, did not exist. This makes everything difficult. So, let's begin…

The 44th Mountain Cavalry Division was concentrated in Central Asia (if I'm not mistaken on the border with Iran), and arrived on the Southwestern Front no earlier than (we were unable to establish more precisely) November 15, 1941.

"Arrived from Central Asia The 17th, 20th, 24th, and 44th cavalry divisions (each with 3,000 men) made up the second echelon (highlighted by us). The horses turned out not to be reforged for winter, and in the Moscow region the ground was already frozen, ice appeared in the wetlands, and this made it difficult for the cavalry to move. The soldiers and division commanders did not yet have the skills to operate on rough and wooded and swampy terrain. (K.K. Rokossovsky. Soldier's duty. Part 4)

The number of mountain cavalry division is really:

a) The composition of the cavalry in peacetime by 01/01/1938. Cavalry in peacetime (by 01/01/1938) consists of: 2 cavalry divisions (including 5 mountain and 3 territorial), separate cavalry brigades, one separate and 8 reserve cavalry regiments and 7 directorates of cavalry corps. The number of peacetime cavalry on 01/01/1938 is 95,690 people.

b) Organizational measures for cavalry 1938-1942.

In 1938:

a) the number of cavalry divisions is proposed to be reduced by 7 (from 32 to 25), disbanding 7 cavalry divisions using their personnel to replenish the remaining divisions and to reinforce mechanized troops and artillery;

b) disband the two directorates of the cavalry corps;

c) disband two reserve cavalry regiments;

d) in 3 cavalry [corps] to form one anti-aircraft artillery battalion (425 people each);

e) reduce the composition of the cavalry division from 6600 to 5900 people;

e) leave the cavalry divisions of the OKDVA (2) in reinforced strength (6800 people). The number of mountain cavalry divisions to have - 2620 people "

From the report of People's Commissar of Defense K. Voroshilov to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, autumn 1937.

That is, the number of 44 cd was 2620 people, 2 "incomplete" cavalry regiments - 45 and 51. We will need this.

The first thing I rushed to was Google, and this is what I managed to find:

“15.11-5.12, troops of the right wing (30A, 16A, 1 beats A and 20A) Zap. Front (Army General G.K. Zhukov) in cooperation with Kalinin. front (gen.-p. I. S. Konev) during the Moscow defensive operation of 1941. The goal is to prevent the breakthrough of the strike group of the pr-ka (3rd and 4th tank groups) to Moscow from S. Stubborn defense Soviet troops inflicted significant damage on the enemy and frustrated his plan. This allowed the owls. command to win time to concentrate strategic reserves and go on the counteroffensive.

From Zhukov's order of November 1: "To carry out the defense as an active defense, combined with counterattacks. Don't wait for the enemy to strike himself. Going into counterattacks ourselves .... This is how our Stalin teaches us.

... On November 15, the 58th Panzer Division, which arrived from the Far East and did not have time to conduct reconnaissance of the terrain and enemy positions, advancing through the swamps, lost 157 tanks out of 198 and a third of its personnel. At the same time, the 17th and 44th cavalry divisions attacked the German infantry and tanks of the 4th tank group in a wide field. The 44th was killed almost completely, and the 17th lost 3/4 of its personnel. The 316th Rifle Division was about to attack Volokolamsk from the south.

The date is November 15th. Nevzorov also tells us about 2,000 corpses (more than a cavalry regiment). That is, the combat effectiveness of the division should be almost at zero - wild losses plus a moral factor. However, let us doubt this. And that's why.

“19.11 44 ​​cd was concentrated in the area of ​​BORIHINO - BOGAIKHA - PETROVSKOE.

21.11 44 ​​cd is concentrated in the SPAS-NUDOL area.

21.11 44th cd from the SPAS-NUDOL area was nominated to support units of the 18th and 78th rifle divisions in the area of ​​YADROMINO - KHOLUYANIKHA; its position is specified.

22.11 44 ​​cd: 45 checkpoint at 15.00 22.11 passed GORKI, with the task of capturing the BAKLANOVO - TRUNYAYEVKA - SITNIKOVO area; 51 CP at 7.30 joined the battle with two enemy battalions and by 15.00, having lost up to 150 people killed and wounded and 4 guns, withdrew with one squadron to the KRESTENEVO area, the rest of the forces to the Skripyashchevo area.

23.11 Remains of 44 cd, 1 guards. brigade, 23, 27 and 28 brigade are concentrated in the SAVELYEVO area.

Cavalry group Dovator, 44 cd, two battalions of the 8th Guards. sd and tank battalions 129th and 146th brigade at 13.00 on 24.11 launched a counterattack from the line CROSS - SKORODUME - OBUKHOVO - KRYVTSOVO and captured the area of ​​​​STRELINA - SHAPKINO - MARTYNOVO - SELISCHEVO.

18 sd, 1 guards. brigade, 54 cp 44 cd fought containment battles with the enemy at the same line.

27.11 2 Guards. kk (3.4 guards. cd and 44 cd) firmly held the line of defense MIKHAILOVKA - SNOPOVKA - ^ ZHUKOVO.

28.11 2 Guards. kk (3, 4 guards. cd and 44 cd) held back the enemy’s offensive at the line of BEREZKI - ROSTOVTSEVO - ALEKSEEVSKOYE - sowing. edge of the forest south of MILECHKINO.

30.11 44 ​​cd, defending the western outskirts of KRYUKOVO, held back the enemy offensive with a force of up to 30 tanks.

1.12 44 cd occupied the MTS line (north-eastern outskirts of KRYUKOVO) - KIRP (east of KRYUKOVO).

2.12 8 Guards. sd, 44 cd and 1 guards. brigade fought at the turn of ALEKSANDROVKA - KRYUKOVO - KAMENKA. After fierce fighting. ALEKSANDROVKA and KAMENKA were left by our units. 10 enemy tanks were destroyed in KRYUKOVO.

3.12 2 Guards. jus from 20th and 44th cd defended the KUTUZOVO - RUZINO - BREHOVO line, advancing with part of the forces on the Kamenka area.

4.12 44 cd after a fierce unsuccessful battle for the area KAMENKA retreated to the western edge of the forest east of the KAMENKA area, where it went on the defensive.

(Battle of Moscow. Chronicle, facts, people: In 2 books. - M .: OLMA-PRESS, 2001. - Book 1.)

We see that all this time the division is constantly fighting, and also counterattacking. And this, with a huge shortage of human and horse resources, most likely, they could not replenish part of up to two cavalry regiments. In addition, on the operational map published on the same site, we see that on 11/15/1941 44 cd was in the second echelon and did not take part in the battles, which is consistent with other sources. These maps agree quite well with the materials we have cited earlier. We will rely on them. So, on 11/22/1941, the division has the task of capturing the BAKLANOVO - TRUNYAEVKA - SITNIKOVO area (45 CP from the Gorka area); 51 CP (from the Kostenevo area) at 7.30 joined the battle with two enemy battalions (just the same 106th infantry division that covered the flank of the 2nd (tank division) advancing on Baklanovo-Vvedenskoye-Misirevo) and by 15.00, having lost up to 150 people killed and wounded and 4 guns, withdrew with one squadron to the Krestenevo region, with the rest of the forces to the Skripishchevo region (apparently it is possible to believe the data of the book, since large losses are reported in it (more than 40-50%)). Speaking of expediency: this blow was sent to the flank of the advancing enemy (2 TD and 106 PD) in order to disrupt the offensive. That is, the most effective of the possible options - mobile formations to the flank of the enemy's mobile formations. But the Germans covered the flanks well. Apparently this fight is meant, although we can only assume this with a high degree of probability.

The order to attack came, most likely, from the immediate superiors - the commander of the 16th Army, Lieutenant General (in the future Marshal, twice Hero of the USSR) K. Rokossovsky. It should be recalled that it is to this "idiot" (as well as to many other "idiots" from the cavalry, of whom "there were a lot", because most of them served in the cavalry under the king) we owe our lives. And they should know their names and surnames. Know and respect.

It was precisely by constant counteroffensives and offensives that it was necessary to wrest the initiative from the enemy.

“The offensive will continue to be the most decisive type of military operations. Considerations psychological nature They demand that the basis of combat training and troop leadership should be preparation for offensive operations. An army that is not trained in an offensive spirit is like a knight without a sword. Troops well prepared for offensive operations, after appropriate training, will be able to hold out on the defensive.

“The offensive is carried out on the enemy in order to crush him. It allows you to impose your will on the enemy and makes him lead fighting in a direction that suits us. In the offensive, the superiority of the commander and troops (highlighted by us) is most clearly manifested.

(Eike Middeldorf. Russian company: tactics and weapons. St. Petersburg. Polygon Publishing House, 2000)

Only the offensive allowed the cavalry units to show all their qualities to the fullest. Most of the losses in the horse composition, according to the memoirs of WWII veterans, came from bombing and shelling when the horses were standing. In addition, oddly enough, but near Moscow, our units, in general, fighting defensive battles, the best thing they could do (and did) was to attack. At the first opportunity. The success of defensive operations primarily depends on the organization of counterattacks, and cavalry divisions, in the absence of tank formations larger than a brigade, were most successful. Unfortunately, the contribution that our grandfathers who fought on horseback made was unfairly forgotten. And we owe this to Comrade Nevzorov and others like him.

Another thing is that often, due to the very tense situation at the front, offensives were poorly prepared, communication with the units participating in the offensive was poorly organized. In the conditions of the haste of the defensive battle, when the German tank divisions broke through into the depths of the defense, the counterattack formations were introduced into battle in parts, as they arrived, often without proper preparation. The inexperience of soldiers and commanders on initial stage war can also serve as some justification for heavy losses, however, more on that later. The victory was forged near Moscow and both cavalry and horses were invested in it separately.

In general, we consider it necessary to note that the cavalry corps were among the most combat-ready formations of the Red Army. As noted earlier, by 1939 the number of cavalry was declining.

“Cavalry formations were reorganized into mechanized ones. In particular, such a fate befell the 4th Cavalry Corps, whose command and 34th division became the basis for the 8th Mechanized Corps. The commander of the cavalry corps, Lieutenant General Dmitry Ivanovich Ryabyshev, led the mechanized corps and led it in June 1941 into battle against German tanks near Dubno.

In 1923, B. M. Shaposhnikov's book "Cavalry (Cavalry Essays)" was published, which outlines the role and tasks of the cavalry in the conditions of modern warfare. No exaltation of the cavalry or reassessment of its role is visible. Many of our talented generals and marshals left the cavalry - three times hero of the USSR Budyonny, four times hero of the USSR Zhukov, twice hero of the USSR Rokossovsky, hero of the USSR Eremenko, twice hero of the USSR Lelyushenko and many more. They all understood that although experience civil war Necessarily, military thought does not stand still, and the cavalry in modern warfare must have somewhat different tasks than those that were previously assigned to it.

The field manual of the Red Army in 1939: “The most appropriate use of cavalry formations together with tank formations, motorized infantry and aviation is ahead of the front (in the absence of contact with the enemy), on the incoming flank, in the development of a breakthrough, behind enemy lines, in raids and pursuit. Cavalry formations are able to consolidate their success and hold the terrain. However, at the first opportunity, they must be released from this task in order to save them for maneuver. The actions of the cavalry unit must in all cases be reliably covered from the air. Composition:

“The regular cavalry divisions of 1941 had four cavalry regiments, a horse artillery battalion (eight 76-mm cannons and eight 122-mm howitzers), a tank regiment (64 BT tanks), an anti-aircraft division (eight 76-mm anti-aircraft guns and two batteries of anti-aircraft machine guns), a communications squadron, a sapper squadron, and other rear units and institutions. The cavalry regiment, in turn, consisted of four saber squadrons, a machine-gun squadron (16 heavy machine guns and four 82-mm mortars), regimental artillery (four 76-mm and four 45-mm guns), an anti-aircraft battery (three 37-mm guns and three quadruple maxims). The total authorized strength of the cavalry division was 8968 people and 7625 horses, the cavalry regiment, respectively, 1428 people and 1506 horses. The cavalry corps of a two-divisional composition roughly corresponded to a motorized division, having somewhat less mobility and a lower weight of an artillery volley.

(Isaev A. Antisuvorov. Ten myths of World War II. - M .: Eksmo, Yauza, 2004.)

We can see that the cavalry unit is not only horses and checkers, but also artillery, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns ... The cavalry was a formidable, quite modern force, very mobile (sometimes cavalry units were required to go up to 90-95 km, which is a difficult task for mechanized units) and practically independent of fuel and having the highest maneuverability, where a tank will not pass, a horse will pass. In addition, most of the cavalry units are old units with their well-established combat traditions (for example, 5th and 2nd cavalry divisions), ideologically and psychologically strong, or recruited from regions traditionally strong in cavalry - Terek, Kuban (2 Guards KK - 50 and 53 KD - Dovator case). Unlike the mechanized corps, the cavalry corps in 1941 were able to survive in all retreats and encirclements, constantly counterattacking, making raids behind enemy lines and coming to the aid of other parts of our army.

Here is an excerpt from the book of Heinz Guderian (the same Colonel-General Hapner served under his command) “Memories of a Soldier.” (Smolensk: Rusich, 1999.)

“On September 18, a critical situation developed in the Romny region. Early in the morning on the eastern flank the noise of battle was heard, which in the course of the subsequent time became more and more intensified. Fresh enemy forces - the 9th Cavalry Division and another division, together with tanks - advanced from the east to Romny in three columns, approaching the city at a distance of 800 m. From the high tower of the prison, located on the outskirts of the city, I had the opportunity to clearly observe how the enemy was advancing, on the 24th tank corps tasked with repelling the enemy's advance. To accomplish this task, the corps had at its disposal two battalions of the 10th motorized division and several anti-aircraft batteries. Due to the superiority of enemy aircraft, our air reconnaissance was in a difficult state. Lieutenant Colonel von Barsevish, who personally flew out on reconnaissance, with difficulty eluded the Russian fighters. This was followed by an enemy air raid on Romny. In the end, we still managed to keep the city of Romny and the advanced command post in our hands ... The threatened situation of the city of Romny forced me on September 19 to transfer my command post back to Konotop. General von Geyer made this decision easier for us with his radiogram, in which he wrote: “Translation command post from Romny will not be interpreted by the troops as a manifestation of cowardice on the part of the command of the tank group.

As you can see, there is no neglect or underestimation of the enemy. Cavalry enemy! And only the cavalry could successfully operate in an isolated breakthrough (raid), causing damage to the material part, destroying warehouses, destroying communications, equipment and manpower enemy. It is impossible to underestimate her contribution to the Victory.

In conclusion, I would like to say the following. Now I quite often hear or read about what they did wrong then, killed a lot of people ... Here I read from Nevzorov about the senselessness of using cavalry, about the terrible torment of horses in the war. It is my deep conviction that war is the greatest disaster for all living things. And not just for the horse. It is absurd and wrong to evaluate the military from a position of peacetime and peaceful views.

The military first of all carries out the order, no matter how sometimes it is incomprehensible to him, he must fulfill it. Because the command knows more, it has an idea of ​​the entire operational situation. And therefore, to consider individual attacks, even if they ended in failure, in isolation from the premises, consequences, drawing him by the ears to my calculations, I consider it fundamentally wrong from a scientific point of view and complete disrespect for those who fought then, from the general to the soldier. Apparently after so many years, being engaged in a warm stable with your horses, you can rant about the senselessness of the War and the liberation of Europe, never coming into contact with the horrors that really were. I revere the veterans and am immensely grateful to them. All this is part of the history of my country, and therefore me personally. Disrespectful to her - do not respect yourself.

And the anti-Soviet people do not understand that cavalrymen traveled on horseback. And they did not go on horseback to attack the tanks. It's like thinking that motorcycle shooters are attacking in trucks.

Knowing about the Great Patriotic War only from Soviet and Russian films, Russian citizens know practically nothing about the Wehrmacht cavalry.

In people's minds, the Germans are always on motorcycles, armored personnel carriers, trucks, tanks, and they dismount only to offend the peasants, or when they are holding the line. The motorization of the Wehrmacht is greatly exaggerated, so in each infantry division there was a purely cavalry detachment - a reconnaissance detachment.

Its staff strength was 310 people - it was supposed to have 216 horses, 2 motorcycles, 9 cars (or armored cars) per detachment. This cavalry squadron was reinforced with 75 mm field guns, or 37 mm anti-tank guns.

There was also a separate cavalry unit in the Wehrmacht - in 1939, the cavalry brigade - it participated in the Army Group North ", in the battles on the Narew, the capture of Warsaw. In the autumn of 1939 it was converted to a cavalry division and took part in the French campaign. Her staff consisted of 17 thousand horses. Before the invasion of the USSR, she was part of the 2nd Panzer Group of G. Guderian, as part of the Army Group Center. The division quite successfully kept the pace of the offensive, along with tank units.

The problem was only in the supply of horses, in the winter of 1941-1942. it was converted to tank division(24th TD). But in the middle of 1942, one cavalry regiment was created in all three army groups - "North", "Center", "South". In 1944, these regiments were increased to 2 brigades - the 3rd and 4th. The 3rd and 4th cavalry brigades, together with the 1st Hungarian cavalry division, were brought into the Von Hartenek cavalry corps, which fought on the border of East Prussia, and in December 1944, he was thrown into Hungary. In February 1945, the cavalry brigades were reorganized into cavalry divisions. Composition of the 3rd Cavalry Division: 2 cavalry regiments, 1 artillery regiment, 1 anti-tank battalion, 1 Cossack battalion, 1 communications battalion. The composition of the 4th cavalry division: 2 cavalry regiments, 1 artillery regiment, 1 anti-tank battalion, 1 communications battalion. In March 1945, they participated in the offensive of the Wehrmacht near Lake Balaton, in one of the most fierce battles of the war. In April, they retreated to Austria, where they surrendered to the Americans.

Besides the cavalry was created in the elite unit of the third Reich SS- in 1941, back in Poland, an SS cavalry brigade was created, in the summer of 1942, it was deployed to the 1st SS cavalry division. In 1944, two SS cavalry divisions were formed - the 8th "Florian Geyer", the 22nd "Maria Theresa", both died surrounded near Budapest. From the remnants, in March 1945 they created the 37th SS Cavalry Division "Lützow". Fought heavily north of Vienna in March 1945. The surviving remnants of the division surrendered to the Americans in Austria.

The Wehrmacht also had Cossack cavalry units - in August 1943, the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division was created, from prisoners of war and volunteers. Composition: 1st Don Cossack cavalry regiment, 2nd Siberian Cossack cavalry regiment, 3rd Kuban Cossack cavalry regiment, 4th Kuban Cossack cavalry regiment, 5th Don Cossack cavalry regiment, 6th Terek Cossack cavalry regiment, artillery detachment (two mounted Cossack artillery battalions), Cossack sapper battalion, Cossack communications battalion. The division fought in the Balkans, against the partisans of the NOAU. At the end of December 1944, she was transferred from the Wehrmacht to the SS troops. In February 1945, the 15th SS Cossack Cavalry Corps was deployed on its basis, numbering 40-45 thousand people. Composition: 1st and 2nd Cossack divisions, Plastun brigade.

Thus, it is clear that the German command did not consider the cavalry an obsolete branch of the armed forces and used them quite successfully. Constantly increasing the number of his cavalry. Cavalry regiments, brigades, divisions were quite modern means of waging a mobile war, and the German command understood this very well. Cavalry units were also used quite successfully in anti-partisan operations in wooded areas.

Wehrmacht and SS cavalry

1. WEHRMACHT CAVALRY

After Germany's defeat in World War I, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles limited the size of the German army to 100,000 men. Translated into military terminology, this meant that the Reichswehr could only have 10 divisions, 7 of which were infantry and 3 were cavalry. These 3 cavalry divisions included 18 regiments of 4-5 squadrons (the squadron consisted of 170 soldiers and 200 horses).

German cavalry on the eve of World War II

After Hitler came to power, the Nazis, who did not care about the Treaty of Versailles, began to restructure the armed forces, turning the weak Reichswehr into the mighty Wehrmacht. However, at the same time, the number of infantry and technical units was increased, while the cavalry units, which after the 1st World War were considered an archaic branch of the armed forces, were reorganized into infantry, artillery, motorcycle and tank units. Thus, by 1938, only 2 cavalry regiments remained in the Wehrmacht, and even those were formed from Austrians who became Wehrmacht fighters after the Anschluss, which annexed Austria to Germany. However, the general tendency of the Wehrmacht to increase the mechanization of units did not bypass these cavalry regiments either. They included squadrons of cyclists (!), mechanized anti-tank, sapper and armored reconnaissance platoons mounted on machine-gun armored vehicles and three-axle off-road vehicles. The firepower of the cavalry regiments was significantly increased due to the howitzer and anti-tank batteries included in their composition (from 4 to 6 howitzers + 3 anti-tank guns). In addition, since German industry could not cope with the task of rapidly mechanizing the army, and mobile reconnaissance units were needed for non-mechanized units, each infantry division had a mounted reconnaissance squadron.
In connection with the experience of the 1st World War, in which the cavalry had to dismount and climb into the trenches, the Wehrmacht horsemen were trained in both horse and foot combat. It was the right approach to training, which later fully justified itself in the war.

German cavalry on the streets of a German city

Both German cavalry regiments were consolidated into the 1st Cavalry Brigade, which took an active part in the attack on Poland. And here, to the surprise of the "progressively minded" commanders, the "archaic units" showed a high combat ability. In the Polish off-road conditions, cavalry regiments turned out to be much more mobile than even tank and motorized units, not to mention ordinary infantry. Making swift roundabout marches along country dirt roads and forest paths (moreover, secretly, without the roar of engines and clouds of dust that betrayed the direction of movement of mechanized units), the German cavalrymen successfully crushed the enemy with sudden blows to the flank and rear. Even clashes with the skillful and brave Polish cavalry ended in the victory of the Germans, which was determined by the high firepower of the German cavalry, "to the teeth" armed with artillery and rapid-fire machine guns.

1st Cavalry Brigade of the Wehrmacht enters Paris

The successes of the German cavalry brigade showed the high command that the military hurried to put an end to this type of troops, and the number of cavalry regiments was hastily doubled, since there were enough former cavalrymen in the troops who were ready to return to familiar business. All 4 cavalry regiments were consolidated into the 1st cavalry division, which again proved to be excellent in capturing Holland crossed by rivers and canals - it was not necessary for the cavalry to build bridges, they swam over obstacles where neither tanks nor artillery. But the most complete mobile capabilities of the cavalry in off-road conditions and rugged terrain appeared after the invasion of the USSR, in a country where we all know, there are two main troubles ... And if at first, in the summer of 1941, the German tank units rushed forward at such a speed, that the horses did not keep up with them, then with the beginning of the autumn thaw, it was the cavalry that remained the only kind of ground troops that could push through the viscous mud, in which the vaunted German tanks were buried along the hatches. Moreover, the 1st Cavalry Division of the Wehrmacht operated in Polesie - a swampy area at the junction Western Ukraine and Belarus, where there were no roads at all and where mechanized units were not able to advance at all. Therefore, it was the Wehrmacht Cavalry Division that to a large extent owed the merit in the defeat of the units of the Red Army located in this area. Moreover, it would be a mistake to assume that the German cavalry rushed to the Soviet troops on horseback with sabers in their hands. These units basically acted as "driving infantry": quickly reaching the intended attack area along the impassability, the cavalrymen dismounted and fought a normal infantry battle.

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This is what the Wehrmacht cavalry looked like during the war on the Eastern Front

Nevertheless, despite the high combat effectiveness, the successes of the horsemen were not appreciated by the command. Quite suddenly, for unknown reasons, in November 1941 this unique division was transferred to France, where it was reorganized into a tank division. From that moment on, in the USSR, only individual cavalry reconnaissance squadrons of infantry divisions (of which there were at least 85 in the Wehrmacht) fought on horseback, and the German horsemen had, as they say in Odessa, “totally deep” work.
However, already the winter of 1941-42. showed the command of the Wehrmacht that the liquidation of the cavalry division was a big mistake. Terrible Russian frosts began to methodically immobilize the German troops, incapacitating European equipment not adapted to such conditions. Not only tanks, but also cars, tractors, and tractors froze into the ice. Nor did the spring bring relief, turning snow-covered fields into seas of mud. The loss of transport led to an increase in the importance of the horse, which already in 1942 became the main driving force of German military power in Russia, and the command seriously thought about restoring the cavalry units. And under these conditions, the Germans made an unexpected move: they began the formation of cavalry units from ... Cossacks and Kalmyks, who were primarily tasked with protecting the extremely stretched communications of the Wehrmacht and fighting the partisans who were very annoying to the Germans. Volunteers in these parts were recruited from local residents of the occupied regions, as well as from among the emigrants who once fled from the Soviet regime. Just as in Soviet Russia, after the revolution and the civil war, the government pursued a policy of eradicating the Cossacks, on the Don, Kuban and Terek there were many who wanted to fight against the Stalinist regime. During 1942, in addition to many separate cavalry squadrons, 6 Cossack cavalry regiments were created in these areas - in fact, the Germans received an entire Russian cavalry corps in their army! True, Hitler did not trust the “Slavic Untermensch”, and therefore the Cossacks were mainly used in battles against partisans, although in 1943, when the Red Army approached the Cossack regions, the Wehrmacht Cossacks, defending their villages, took part in battles against regular Soviet units . In addition to the Cossack units, the Wehrmacht also included 25 Kalmyk squadrons - this is almost another cavalry brigade!

Russian Cossacks in the service of the Wehrmacht

At the same time, in the spring of 1942, the Wehrmacht High Command began to revive the German cavalry units on the Eastern Front. Based on the battle-worn divisional cavalry reconnaissance squadrons, 3 cavalry regiments were formed, which in 1944 were brought together into a new cavalry division, consisting of two brigades. In the same year, these brigades were merged with the Hungarian Cavalry Division into the 1st Cavalry Corps of the Wehrmacht. In December 1944, this corps was transferred to Hungary, where it tried to release the German-Hungarian troops surrounded in Budapest. In the battles, the corps suffered heavy losses, but the task was never completed. The combat path of the 1st Cavalry Corps of the Wehrmacht ended on May 10, 1945, when the cavalrymen laid down their arms and surrendered to the British troops.

2. SS CAVALRY


Cavalrymen of the CC "Totenkopf" Cavalry Regiment on the attack

In the SS troops, the first cavalry units were created in September 1939 under the impression of the success of the Wehrmacht cavalry brigade. These were four cavalry squadrons formed as part of the SS division "Dead Head" to carry out security service in off-road conditions in Poland. This cavalry battalion was commanded by SS Standartenführer (Colonel) German Fegelein. In April 1940, this unit was transformed into a regiment - the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the SS "Dead Head"; now it had 8 squadrons, artillery and technical units. During the year, the regiment grew so much that it was divided into 2 regiments, which made up the 1st SS Cavalry Brigade (the crafty Fegelein, of course, remained in command).
During the invasion of the USSR, the SS cavalry brigade fought as part of the Army Group Center, and she had to fight on two fronts - both against the partisans and against the regular units of the Red Army. Due to high losses, the brigade was reduced to the size of a battalion by the spring of 1942 (only 700 people remained in the ranks), but at the same time earned a high reputation among the troops. Soon the remnants of the brigade were taken to Poland for rest and reorganization. Based on them, a new SS cavalry division of three regiments was formed, after which the SS cavalry returned to the Eastern Front. The division fought near the Dnieper and Pripyat; in 1943, the 4th regiment was added to it, and the strength of the division amounted to 15,000 people. In 1944, the SS cavalrymen fought on the southern sector of the Eastern Front, and then were transferred to Croatia to fight the Yugoslav partisans. In March 1944, the division became "nominal" - it was given the name "Florian Geyer" in honor of the legendary hero of the peasant war of the 16th century. At the end of 1944, an SS cavalry division was sent to Hungary to defend Budapest; here she was surrounded and was actually completely destroyed - only 170 SS cavalry escaped from the encirclement!

Cavalryman of the SS cavalry regiment and head of the SS cavalry, SS Brigadeführer Hermann Fegelein

In the same 1944, another cavalry division, Maria Theresa, appeared as part of the SS troops. It was formed on the basis of the Florian Geyer division from the Hungarian Volksdeutsch (Hungarians of German origin) and consisted of 3 regiments. However, this division did not exist for long: at the end of 1944, together with Florian Geyer, it was thrown near Budapest, where Maria Theresa was killed in full force.
To replace these lost divisions, the SS troops formed in February 1945 a new cavalry division "Lützow". However, they could not bring it to full strength: they managed to form only 2 regiments, so this “division” in reality was only a brigade. In the last days of the 3rd Reich, the Lutzow division in Austria tried to keep Vienna from falling, and on May 5 capitulated to the Americans.

Don Cossack of the Wehrmacht and an officer of the German cavalry