The Overlooked German Cavalry of WW2

In the first mechanized war, the German Army found itself relying heavily on the horse. Horse-drawn Artillery, supply wagons, and Cavalry were widely used. It is estimated that the Germans took almost 2.75 million horses into battle, nearly twice what they used in World War I. Yet very little has been written about these units. This area of German military history is, by far, the most overlooked aspect of the war.

In 1939, before the outbreak of the war, the Wehrmacht had 18 Cavalry Regiments. During the mobilization for war in 1939 seventeen of these regiments were used to form thirty-eight reconnaissance battalions for the initial wave of divisions and sixteen for the second wave. Also, some detachments were formed as infantry horse platoons for the infantry regiments. Out of these, left as an experimental unit, the 1.Kavallerie Brigade (East Prussia), survived to form the single remaining unit of the Army Horse Cavalry. It consisted of two mounted regiments, Reiter Regiment 1, Reiter Regiment 2, and Reitende Artillery-Abteilung1. The two regiments retained the old system of five squadrons per regiment.

The combat strength of the 1st Kavallerie Brigade dismounted was roughly that of an infantry regiment. Their firepower, however, was greater than that of the infantry. Although they lacked the heavy 150mm infantry guns, the cavalry had more light cannons and heavy weapons and was extremely agile in open terrain.

The cavalry was a sort of multi-purpose unit. Their tasks included reconnaissance behind enemy lines, reconnaissance attacks against enemy recon units or advancing troops, screening the front and flanks, delaying actions against the enemy, closing gaps in the lines, quickly occupying important sectors and objectives, and pursuing retreating enemy forces.

The 1st Kavallerie Brigade performed greatly in the Holland campaign but saw some setbacks during the invasion of France (most noticeably, the defeat at the hands of the cadets at the cavalry school at Saumur on the Loire River).

They were then reinforced and participated in Operation Barbarossa but were dismounted, retrained, and redesignated the 24th Armored Cavalry in 1941.

The SS, however, continued with the SS Kavallerie Brigade, and by 1942 had already begun to build the Brigade to Divisional strength, thus creating the SS Kavallerie Division.

1943 saw a revival in the cavalry of the German Army, thanks in large part to Lieutenant Georg von Boeselager, who saw the importance of mounted infantry and consolidation of the mounted recce units scattered throughout the front. He then was ordered to form what became known as the von Boeselager Mounted Force (and ultimately named “Kavallerie Regiment Mitte”.

1st Kavallerie Brigade

Before 1939, the Reichsheer included 15 cavalry regiments. At the beginning of the war, 13 of the 15 regiments were used to form 54 reconnaissance battalions for the Divisions and infantry horse platoons to some of the later infantry units. The remaining two cavalry regiments, the 1st Reiter regiment “Insterburg” and the 2nd Reiter regiment “Angerburg”.

The Brigade is Expanded

On or about 25OCT1939, the 1st Cavalry Brigade was reinforced with the 2nd Mounted Regiment, and the 2nd Mounted Artillery and redesignated the 1st Cavalry Brigade.

The 1st Kavallerie Division

The 1st Kavallerie Division was created in September 1939 and was in service until 03 Nov 1941, when the troopers were dismounted, retrained, and redesignated the 24th Armored Cavalry Division. The troops were allowed to keep the Kavallerie structure and ranks, ie. Reitmeister- Captain and Wachmeister- Sgt.

Operation “Fall Weiss”

The 1st Kavallerie Brigade in the invasion of Poland:

01-08 September 1939

Moving southeast out from East Prussia, the Brigade was charged with the task of guarding the eastern flank of the 3rd Army.

They crossed the border into Poland unopposed and, after bombardment by artillery and mortars, took their first objective: Myseinice.

Later, attached to the 12th Infantry Division, they repulsed a Polish Infantry attack (not without some difficulty- according to Piekalklowicz’s book, they burned many papers to avoid them falling into enemy hands.)

08-14 September 1939

Mostly recon/ mounted patrols

23 September 1939

Near Krasnobrod, they engaged Poland’s 7th Uhlans in what was described as a classic cavalry battle involving saber and lance. After giving chase, the Uhlans routed the Germans but were decimated by the German MGs.

Summary:

In the first three days, the Brigade traveled over 200km and proved themselves invaluable in anti-partisan operations against the Hubal Group.

Actions in Holland

Day 1, Friday, 10 MAY 1940:

Attached to the 18th Army, under the command of Artillery General von Kuchler, the 1st Kavallerie Division was responsible for a 100km wide stretch of the western frontier of Holland.

Their objective was to break through the Dutch post at Coevorden and proceed to the coast.

They found the terrain difficult with the canal systems, resistance at crossings, the 20km defense zone and the cobblestone roads that proved hard on the horse’s hooves.

Despite such troubles, the Division could cover 3km during the first 20 minutes of the invasion( they would cover over 180km during the first two days).

Day 2, Saturday, 11 MAY 1940:

1st Kavallerie Division Organization

Division Headquarters

• Headquarters
• Mapping Detachment
• Motorcycle Messenger Platton

Brigade Headquarters

• Headquarters
• Motorcycle Messenger Platoon
• Armored Car Platoon
• Cavalry Anti-tank Co. (motorized)

Reiter Regiment 1

Regiment Headquarters

• Headquarters
• Cavalry Reconnaissance Signal Platoon (Motorized)

Squadron 1

• Squadron Headquarters
• 1st Cavalry Rifle troop
• 2nd Cavalry Rifle troop
• 3rd Cavalry Rifle troop
• 4th Heavy Cavalry troop (mortars and Heavy mgs)

Squadron 2

• Squadron Headquarters
• 5th Cavalry Rifle troop
• 6th Cavalry Rifle troop
• 7th Cavalry Rifle troop
• 8th Heavy Cavalry Rifle troop (mortars and heavy mgs)

Heavy Cavalry Reconnassaince Co.

Horse Drawn Transport (15 ton)

Reiter Regiment 2

Regiment Headquarters

• Headquarters
• Cavalry Reconnaissance Signal Platoon (Motorized)

Squadron 1

• Squadron Headquarters
• 1st Cavalry Rifle troop
• 2nd Cavalry Rifle troop
• 3rd Cavalry Rifle troop
• 4th Heavy Cavalry troop (mortars and Heavy mg’s)

Squadron 2

• Squadron Headquarters
• 5th Cavalry Rifle troop
• 6th Cavalry Rifle troop
• 7th Cavalry Rifle troop
• 8th Heavy Cavalry Rifle troop (mortars and heavy mg’s)

Heavy Cavalry Reconnaissance Co.

Horse Drawn Transport (15 ton)

Motorized Light Infantry Gun Battery

Reitende Artillery-Regiment 1

Regiment Headquarters

• Headquarters
• Printing Detachment (motorized)
• Motorized Signal Platoon
• Motorized Weather Detachment

Reitende Artillery-Abteilung 1

• Battery Headquarters
• Signal Platoon
• Calibraton Detachment
  • 75mm Field gun, horse-drawn
• Horse Drawn Artillery Transport, 15 ton

Reitende Artilery-Abteilung 2

• Battery Headquarters
• Signal Platoon
• Calibration Detachment
• Horse Drawn Artillery Transport, 15 ton

Radfahr-Abteilung 1

Panzerabwehr-Abteilung40

Pioneer Battalion 40

Nachrichten-Abteilung 86

Brigade- Nachschubfurhren 40

Leichte Divisionen

In late 1937 and early 1938, 4 Leichte Divisions were created. These were fast, highly mobile, semi-motorized units.  Each had 1-2 Cavalry Rifle Regiments organized into2-3 rifle battalions of 3 mounted rifle squadrons.  The Light Divisions became Panzer Divisions 6-9 in mid-1940.

von Boeslager Mounted Force

Formed in the spring of 1943 and operational until the end of the war, also known as the Army Group (Mitte). Von Boeslager saw the need for an increased number of mounted troops and, with the help of another former cavalryman, Generalfeldmarschall von Kluge, was allowed to form a regiment-sized unit around his 6th Recce Battalion.

He gathered various squadrons of divisional reconnaissance battalions and various other mounted units to comprise his force. By the spring of 1943, its success led to it growing to 3 battalions and being redesignated “Kavallerie Regiment Mitte”. Around this same time, Army Groups Nord and Sud formed their own cavalry units: Kavallerie Regiment Nord (“Prinze Karl zu Salm-Hordtmar”) and Kavallerie Regiment Sud (Prinze zu Sayn-Wittgenstein”). The unit received its first combat experience on the morning of March 11th, 1943, against partisans north of Dnjepr.

Order of Battle

• 1st Squadron
  formed from the 6th Mounted Reconnaissance Battalion and the 1st Mounted Squadron
• 2nd Squadron
  formed from the 3rd Squadron, 34th Reconnaissance Battalion
• 3rd Squadron
  formed from the 1st Squadron, 35th Recon Battalion, of the 35th Infantry Division
• 4th Squadron
  formed from the 1st Squadron, 102nd Light Battalion of the 102nd Infantry Division
• 5th (Heavy) Squadron
  formed from the “Trubtshevsky” Mounted Force, (roughly 350 Cossacks)
• 6th Squadron
  formed from the mounted squadron of the 186th Light Battalion

The mounted squadrons were equipped with M42 machine guns and a mortar group. The heavy squadron had a heavy machine gun section with four machine guns, a mortar section with six heavy mortars, and a section of 105mm light guns.

Lt. von Boeslager

von Boeslager commanded the cavalry squadron of the reconnaissance section of the 6th Infantry Division that led the spearhead over the Seine River during the Holland Operation.

source: “Axis Cavalry of World War II” by Dr. Jeffrey D. Fowler