[Matt_DZ_PL]

To whom it may concern;
While attacking, the hussars’ wings produced sounds with horrendous strong low tones that set panic and broke the lines of the enemy horses. In most cases, the battle was won by Hussars before they could even get to the enemy lines. :-)

[Jimmy Valentine]

Thanks for posting that. I have known of the winged hussars but never the rationale for the wings.

Too cool!

[Verdelet]

Few facts about Hussars for you:

1. During years 1500-1652 Hussars haven't lost any battle they took part in.

2. Hussars sabre is considered to be the best bladed weapon devised.

3. Battle at Kircholm was won in few minutes, Hussars charge has crushed Swedish army, after Hussars lured the Swedes into trap. This day, out of 11 000 Swedish soldiers 9 000 have died, Polish army counted only 3 600 soldiers, around 100 of them died (including 13 Towarzyszy Husarskich eng. Hussars)

4. On 11 of June 1694, in the Battle of Hodowo, Polish army consisted of 400 Hussars, their enemies, Tatars appeared on the battlefield in a huge number of 40 000. This means that for every single Hussar there were 100 Tatars. Nevertheless, Polish Hussars won this batlle.

5. In the Battle of Kłuszyn, 7000 Polish soldiers (5500 Hussars) won against 35 000 of Russians. The disproportion of forces was so big that several Hussars divisions (Chorągiew) had to charge on the Russians 10 times!

6. Hussars horses costed a lot of money, one horse could cost several villages or 66 kg of silver, they were rather light but tough horses from eastern races mixed with polish horses. After it's training, the horse was ready for battle at the age of 7. One of the skills these animals were taught was sudden turn in gallop (part of Hussars deadly tactic). Selling such horse or giving it away, outside of Polish-Lithuanian borders, was punished with death.

7. Hussar could empale with his lance 3,4 or even 5 enemies at one time, there is a knwon example of Lithuanian Hussar who empaled 6 Muscovites.

8. During battle around 5% of Hussars died in worst case, but the number of dead Hussars horses was much bigger. During the charge even if the horse was shot it was still running crushing enemy lines. That's where the legend of "Immortal Hussars Horses" comes from.

9. Longest Hussars Lances where up to 6,2 meters long.

10. Hussars metal plate armor was sometimes able to stop muskets bullet.

11. Mercenaries that have signed in to many armies in Europe agreed to join army under restriction, that their new commanders won't lead them to fight against Hussars.

12. Most deadly weapons of Hussars were their training and morale. It was an elite unit, that did not really receive much money for protecting their Fatherland. Their real strenght was in their brotherhood. They had a saying "If heaven falls on us, we will hold it with our lances"

13. During The Battle of Vienna, allied forces stopped their attack on Turkish forces to watch and admire the charge of Polish Hussars.