Axis Cavalry in World War II, Men at Arms No 361, Osprey

It is often forgotten that the German Wehrmacht of 1939-45 relied heavily upon horses. Not only was the majority of Army transport and much of the artillery dependent on draught horse teams; the Germans also kept a horse-mounted cavalry division in the field until the end of 1941. After withdrawing it, they discovered a need to revive and greatly expand their cavalry units in 1943-45. The Army and Waffen-SS cavalry proved their worth on the Russian Front, supported by other Axis cavalry contingents - Romanian, Hungarian, Italian, and locally recruited. In this book an experienced horseman describes that last generation of horse-soldiers in a text supported by tables, photographs, and meticulous colour plates.

Contents:

GERMAN ARMY CAVALRY 1939-41

• Pre-war re-organisation
• bicycle troops
• 'Army' and 'Troop' cavalry
• reconnaissance battalions
• 1st Horse Regiment, pre- & post-mobilisation
• 1st Cavalry Brigade
• 1st Cavalry Division

GERMAN ARMY CAVALRY OPERATIONS 1939-41

• 1st Cavalry Brigade in Poland, 1939
• 1st Cavalry Division in the West, May-June 1940
• Russia June-December 1941
• the lessons of winter

THE CONTINUING ROLE OF CAVALRY 1942-45

• Anti-partisan operations
• mounted military police
• Revival of Army regiments and formations, 1942-45 - Cavalry Command for Special Operations, 1942 - Cavalry Unit Von Boselager, 1942-43 - Cavalry Regiments Centre, North & South, 1943-44 - Army cavalry brigades, divisions and corps, 1944-45

THE WAFFEN-SS CAVALRY

• SS-Totenkopf Reiterstandarte
• SS Cavalry Brigade
• 8th SS Cavalry Division 'Florian Geyer'
• 22and SS Volunteer Cavalry Division 'Maria Theresia'
• 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division 'Lutzow'

MOUNTING & SUPPORTING THE GERMAN CAVALRY

• Veterinarians
• farriers
• procurement and remounts
• shelter and feeding
• casualties

NON-GERMAN CAVALRY FORCES

• Romania
• Hungary
• Italy
• Cossacks
• Kalmyks

FURTHER READING

THE PLATES

Author: Jeffrey T Fowler

Tags: CAVALRY