Posted on 02/19/2011 2:55:47 PM PST by Parmenio
Mario Traverso, who died on January 4 aged 94, was a leading officer in what is generally considered to be the last successful battlefield cavalry charge, on the Russian front at Isbuschenskij on August 24 1942; after the war he created a highly successful knitwear company.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
This was a brave and intelligent man. I am glad he was spared for the new Italy.
Reminds of stories about Cossacks and Poles charging German Tanks with lances on horseback.
As has been shown in Afghanistan, even today cavalry has its uses - although much limited.
See my #4.
“Reminds of stories about Cossacks and Poles charging German Tanks with lances on horseback.”
That’s not exactly true, see below:
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/polishcavalry.aspx
The horse was still a weapon of war during World War II. The Russians used several Divisions that functioned as Mounted Rifles. (Ride to battle, dismount to fight.) Most German Army transport was horse drawn.
My now deceased uncle who actually fought on the Eastern front with the Wehrmacht once told me that the Russians actually had a pathological hatred for the Italians, in some cases worst than the Germans and were particularly cruel to captured Italian soldiers.
Thanks for that great link.
“The Russians used several Divisions that functioned as Mounted Rifles. “
Boers used much the same tactics to great success.
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