Myth and Reality: Polish Cavalry in 1939

The 1939 invasion of Poland is generally seen as the beginning of the second world war. An enduring image of that battle is of Polish lancers bravely but hopelessly charging German tank formations, getting cut to pieces. But that story, like so many in the popular mindset, is false, and the true story is somewhat different, but no less interesting.

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Script by JCG

#history #thehistoryguy #WWII

[mitchellmcdowell]

I worked with a man for 20 years, who was of Polish decent. His father was a Polish cavalry trooper who charged a German formation during the invasion. He struck down two German infantry soldiers before his horse was killed and he was captured. He was later handed over to the Russians but was eventually released and made his way to England where he was enlisted into the Polish 1st Division. He fought at Monte Cassino after which he received the Monte Cassino Cross. I was privileged to hold it in my hands....it was number 122. RIP Tony Pacyna.

[nonamesplease]

I'd like to point out that the German army wasn't nearly as mechanized as the propaganda would lead you to believe. Certain panzer and elite formations were fully mechanized, but the majority of the German army's supplies and artillery moved with horsepower for the entire duration of the war. Most of the German infantry walked the long distances across Europe and the Soviet Union to get to the fight and mop up after the fast-moving panzer formations because the Germans lacked trucks.
As a result, criticism of the Poles for still relying on horsepower seems pretty hypocritical, but the German propaganda machine needed to appear more impressive than it really was, especially in 1939.

[greenockscatman]

Any nation on the planet in 1939 would have collapsed fairly rapidly if caught between a simultaneous attack from the Soviets and Germans, horses or no horses. The poles put up as good of a fight as they could, under the circumstances.

[louis]

After graduation, I worked with a Polish engineer who had been in the cavalry during WW2.

He had some amazing stories to tell and one of my great regrets in life is that I was too young to take notice and record his escapades. He was eventually captured by the Germans but escaped and managed to make his way to England via the Eastern Mediterranean.

He was a real character and a fine engineer and mathematician. Much as he hated the Germans, his real contempt was for the Russians.

[forrestrobin]

About 20 years ago I was at a wedding in France. One of the guests was an elderly Pole. I’d heard this story, so I asked him. He laughed, and said "it’s nice story, but do you think we’re crazy ? No one would be stupid enough to charge panzers on horses!!" So that put that myth to bed for me. Incredibly brave people for sure, but definitely not stupid!

[davidbarton]

The US didn't formally disband cavalry until 1947 as organized units. The last US cavalry charge was in the Philippines by a unit of scouts against the Japanese. Just saying, you use what's at hand, not what you'd like.

[marcinlipecki]

I am Polish by origin with military tradition in the family and interest in Polish military history. This is my little way to honor those who's efforts and sacrifice I owe my life to. I'm genuinely impressed by the level of detail and integrity of your research as well as moved by deep sense of respect permeating your work. Thank you.

[goldensilver]

Franklin met Cashmier Pulaski, a Polish officer?, in france and evenually got him to join the revolution. He became one of Washington's generals. He was an equestrian and taught American troops to ride horses in battle. He is the father of the US calvary...

[jaxdaggerthegreat]

The account of the Army's use of horses in Afghanistan is another story that deserves to be remembered.

[halnywiatr]

In 1990 Dollar equivalents, the 1938 GDP of Germany was some $351 billion ; the 1938 GDP equivalent for Poland was $75 billion. (Soviet Union $359 billion) Additionally; post WWI Germany was essentially undamaged as the war was waged on foreign territory. Poland was not only razed by WWI, but the 1920 Polish Soviet War as well.
The odds were heavily stacked against Poland.

[skasteve]

I would view anything in Guderian's memoirs as being a dubious historical source. Like pretty much every military leader ever, the wins were due to his superior strategy, the losses were due to more senior leaders failing to see his genius.

[JTA]

The horses also said neigh to that myth

[matteohetzy]

An Italian Cavalry regiment (Savoia Cavalleria) performed a quite famous cavalry charge in the Eastern Front at Izbushensky (winning the battle btw). About 700 horsemen against a numerically superior soviet rifle division 2500 soldiers strong (and that happened on 24 August 1942, so you are on time for tomorrow).

Even more surprising was the Cavalry charge led by Amedeo Guillet in Italian East Africa against the Tanks of the British mechanized forces in the battle of Keru in January 1941. It was a desperate measure but the outcome was not a disaster, on the contrary it gained a limited success because it halted the british attack and allowed italian infantry to escape encirclement and retreat to the relative safety of the rocky hills where british mechanized forces were unable to follow and where they were able to keep fighting

[robdavidson]

My Dad was 14 years old in Scotland When many Polish Military including Polish Cavalry were temporarily based in the lowlands in County Angus Scotland. He stood on a hill and could see many campfires from there. This was also near, by American standards, the Montrose air station where many UK pilots trained many of whom fought and died in the Battle of Britain. Dad also saw the Squadron 603 with Richard Hillary and "Stapme" Stapleton fly up his Glen eagle their wings then turned South to fight in the Battle of Britain. The pilots were friends of all the kids in the Glen because they took their days off and Holidays there. The "kids in the Glen" were mentioned in Richard Hillary's book "the Last Enemy". One of the kids is still alive at this time is my Uncle. The Poles And the Pilots both were heroes of the highest caliber. Thanks for the setting the story straight.

[hipcat]

My father was in the middle of this, although he fought the Russians. He said that they were newly issued Mausers (probably from the Czechs) and the attack happened so quickly they didn't have time to sight the new weapons in. Pinned down by a Russian machine gun position next to a stone wall, he told of bouncing rounds off the wall into the machine gun nest causing the Soviets to give up their position. He was later captured by the Soviets in Lithuania. I told my dad once that he should write a book about his experiences. He said there already is one: Night Never Ending by Eugenjusz Komorowski. This is also History That Deserves to be remembered, and a subject I'd like to see covered by The History Guy.

[petermorawski]

Pains me to hear the talk of Poland surrendering in 4 weeks after being attacked on all sides, while no mention is made of the combined might of British Empire and France collapsing in - wait for it - 4 weeks! This war should be over in 1939.

[MichalKaczorowski]

In 1944 after the Normandy landings, German POWs were very surprised that the Allied divisions did not have ONE horse in their possession. The Germans relied on horse transport until the end of the war.

[gregd]

Thank you for identifying this story as myth. This will help future generations understand the pervasiveness of propaganda, especially related to war.

[martinmilco]

The mainly untrue legend of the WW2 Polish cavalry charge against German panzers and its persistent myth puts me in mind of a quote from the 1962 film, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". One of the characters, a newspaper editor, says, "When legend becomes fact, print the legend."

[jankowalski]

Thank you for demythologizing these myths. Cavalry in 1939 was a good solution for movement. She fought on foot. There were isolated cases when cavalry units saw a chance to break through. But not idiotic charges against tanks. The last great cavalry battles took place during the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1920/21. Komarów, Rokitna. Epic stuff.