Polish Cavalry 1939

[DJ Bonebraker]

One of my friends in middle school had a great uncle who was a Polish cavalry officer. I asked him about the whole tank vs. cavalry thing. His response was: "If we had used our cavalry against German tanks then we would have ambushed them from the rear, leapt on their tanks, and decapitated the commanders since they were always sticking their heads out of the turret." He explained to me that the Polish commanders knew that mounted cavalry was relatively useless against tanks, but useful against infantry. I don't know much about the Polish use of cavalry but his unit was used to ambush lightly defended machinegun nests and other infantry positions on the German flanks. They also ran through one artillery unit.
Just thought I would share.

I remember reading from a veteran's account that a similar strategy was attempted at the battle of Corriegor in the Phillipines (the last stand of allied and American troops during the 1942 Japanese Invasion). A unit of Philipino Cavalry, aided by USMC heavy macinegunners attempted to destroy several Japanese tanks in such a fashion. The Marines drew the tank's attention, while the Philipino Cavary rode up beside the tanks with grenades and attempted to stuff them in the tank treads. It didn't work, and the Philipinos got wiped out. Of course, if the Japanese were dumb enough to ride with their commander's head poking out of the hatch, they could have just tossed the grenades into the open hatch and possibly held off the Japanese until they could get evacuated. As it turned out, every Marine and Philipino Militaman who wasn't killed during the battle was captured and put on the infamous Bataan Death March, where several hundred more died of exposure and malnutrition.

 

[Panzer_Blitz]

I believe the Germans were sticking their heads out of their tanks to get a better look, its kinda hard to use binoculars while your stuffed inside an armored vehical . But I bet the Poles could have knocked out a Panzer I or II with just a gernade, the armor on those things could only stop bullets. Plus the Germans painted big white targets, I mean crosses, on their tanks.

 

[Wyrmshadow]

I believe the Germans were sticking their heads out of their tanks to get a better look, its kinda hard to use binoculars while your stuffed inside an armored vehical . But I bet the Poles could have knocked out a Panzer I or II with just a gernade, the armor on those things could only stop bullets. Plus the Germans painted big white targets, I mean crosses, on their tanks.

I believe it was called the "balkankruese" you germans please correct my spelling. It made great bulls- eyes for POlish anti-tank gunners. This lead to the Wehrmacht drastically redesigning their insignia along the lines of the Luft.

As for the commander sticking his head out of the turret...Any good tank commander worth his salt knows when and when not to be exposed. You can't see much "buttoned up" but it's their own fault that they don't close the hatch at the first sign of trouble. Although I assume many tank commanders were lost due to snipers and tanks themselves were vulnerable to grenades and Molotov Cocktails over the engine grates. The Maybach engine would flair up much more quickly than the Russian diesels.

 

[Turner]

Whoa! Is this the history forum or C&C?

Seriously, nice unit Wyrm. It's also been an interesting read on the history of the Polish Calvary. Like many, I had heard that they attacked the German tanks in WWII. Good to hear their side of it.

 

[Wladislaw]

Thanks Wyrmshadow, for the unit and the intro. Thanks to all the others who have posted true facts about Poland's military history as well. I grew up in the US wih Poland being the butt of many jokes, and never really feeling pride for that part of my heritage. When I started researching Poland to add it to my mod those feelings changed. My nine-year old son's favorite civ to play is Poland, and he is proud of his Polish ancestry.

 

[ShiroKobbure]

i would like to see move not-vichel units from you
good work!

 

[maiNframe]

Nice unit indeed!! A very clean looking animation.

As for your quote:

You are correct. The Polish continued to fight bravely alongside the allies. The polish airborne divisions were very important, especially in Operation Market Garden.

also, HIKARO made a good point about luck.

on the topic of luck and Poland:

-Hitler took a gamble when invading Poland; with a strong concentration on the east, Germany was completely vulnerable along the French border. COMPLETELY, and Hitler knew this. It is proposed that if France had attacked, with as small of a force as they had at the time, Germany would have crumbled.

-the weather could not have cooperated moreso. The dirt roads throughout poland would have made the German tactic of lightning war nearly unattainable. Only one day of rain would've made the campaign much more difficult. the roads remained crisp and dry instead. Poles referred to this as Hitler Weather.

As with all things in life, luck comes and goes; from the poker table, to the battlefield.

 

[Luddi VII]

Great unit!!!
This goes right in my WWII mod.

 

[LordOlO]

Great unit Wyrmshadow!! And great history lesson...

 

[Mobilize]

I don't really see the big deal about the fact or fiction about Polish cavalrymen charging tanks. Although it was German propaganda, it made it sound like the Polish cavalrymen were more heroic.. I guess not.

I've been hearing everyone talk about how WWII became the end for massive cavalry use. The Indo-Chinese wars of the 60's and 70's were the last of wars where cavalry was used on the large scale.

 

[Dom Pedro II]

Well, cavalry really weren't used much during World War I either... not very effectively anyway. Even during the Civil War, 90% of the cavalry purpose was to either A) fight other cavalry, or B) scout. And even when they did fight other cavalry, they often times dismounted.

The horse is only useful to get from place to place. And for that reason, they can still be useful today so long as they don't try to fight from the horse. I'd imagine in Indo-China, they didn't fight from the horse.

 

[ShiroKobbure]

i always thought the calvery attack aginst the german tanks was real, its even in my book
but i dont think it makes the polish look stupid, i think it makes them look very brave. something to be proud of

 

[The Great Apple]

i always thought the calvery attack aginst the german tanks was real, its even in my book
but i dont think it makes the polish look stupid, i think it makes them look very brave. something to be proud of

There's a fine line between stupidity and bravery, this IMO is on the stupid side... but it didn't happen.

 

[Wyrmshadow]

There's a fine line between stupidity and bravery, this IMO is on the stupid side... but it didn't happen.

What would you call the Banzai Charges in the Pacific? Is that bravery or stupidity?

 

[The Great Apple]

What would you call the Banzai Charges in the Pacific? Is that bravery or stupidity?

Sorry, I don't know much about the war in the Pacific, except for the basics, but I would say that the difference is that bravery gets you in a better place then where you started, while stupidity does the opposite. Often it's hard to judge...

 

[Wyrmshadow]

Sorry, I don't know much about the war in the Pacific, except for the basics, but I would say that the difference is that bravery gets you in a better place then where you started, while stupidity does the opposite. Often it's hard to judge...

So what in essence you are saying is that unless you were a part of something, then all the armchair generals should shut up.

 

[The Great Apple]

So what in essence you are saying is that unless you were a part of something, then all the armchair generals should shut up.

Ummm, no - I might just be being dense (it is quite late, and alcohol does that to you), but I don't think thats what I meant. In fact I'm not sure I meant anything, I was just expressing my opinion on the difference between bravery and stupidity.

 

[ShiroKobbure]

i think a charge aginst a tank and the banzai charges aginst a larger army is the same
both countries rather die then give up to a enemy. a coward would run from the enemy. smart has nothing to do with it, it was bravery and heart. the polish in the charge rather die than retreat not dumb. even though they would never win agianst a tank it was a last stand. more like a protest. and if it happend it is something we remember and admire today. i think you should rethink the meaning of stupid. and if your drunk you shouldnt post because you could offend people

 

[nameless53]

There's a fine line between stupidity and bravery, this IMO is on the stupid side... but it didn't happen.

i think a charge aginst a tank and the banzai charges aginst a larger army is the same
both countries rather die then give up to a enemy. a coward would run from the enemy. smart has nothing to do with it, it was bravery and heart. the polish in the charge rather die than retreat not dumb. even though they would never win agianst a tank it was a last stand. i think you should rethink the meaning of stupid

no.. he doesn't have to rethink the meaning of stupid.

obviously.. atleast seemingly
these OPINONS are effected by ones P.O.V. (ok.. i know... duh) and may be also one's culture and tradition/values ect.

you express yours , he expressed his.. done with it


reminding once again this is a place for discussion on the units created.
...lets drop this specific part of the topic before it gets bouncy.

 

[Mobilize]

Hmm.. I forget the exact name, but a company of Japanese-American soldiers saved another company of American soldiers by doing a bonzai attack on the Germans and it turned out very successful. They also went up a steep mountain in bonzai-fashion as well. Very successful against Krauts.