The Third Reich in photos: Warhorses of Kursk

THE CAMPAIGN SAW THOUSANDS OF HORSES AND MULES PRESSED INTO SERVICE ON THE FRONTLINE

Thousands of horses were pressed into service on the Eastern Front

“WITH THE LOSS OF THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS DURING THE FIRST WINTER OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION, HORSES CARRIED THE BRUNT OF SUPPLY TRANSPORT AND IN EFFECT WERE THE ONLY RELIABLE MEANS”

Following World War I, the size and equipment of the German military was restricted by the Treaty of Versailles. While motor vehicles intended for the military came under strict control, the treaty allowed for seven infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions consisting of 18 regiments. In effect, the cavalry made up a large part of the German army, with 16,400 of the permitted 100,000 soldiers on horseback.

A great amount of time was afforded to basic rider training – some 3,000 hours. This laid an excellent groundwork for the horse-mounted troops, although as Germany moved towards war, the training time was reduced to an average of one hour per day, riders now focusing on weapons and combat tactics.

Since much of their duties were aimed at reconnaissance, scouting and even assault operations, the horse troopers often endured training regimens requiring 48-97 kilometres (30-60 miles) per day in the saddle, while each horse was tasked with carrying, often at speed, upwards of 115 kilograms (254 pounds) of man and equipment.

All horse riders and team drivers also took training in mastering the basic medical needs of their mounts. The extensive support system also required that a plentiful supply of both blacksmiths and veterinarians were recruited and made available for the military, facilitated by rural Germany’s horse-dominated agriculture.

Examining the record of World War I and preparing for the next conflict, Germany began buying up large quantities of mounts, including many from Britain, where its military planners saw no need for horses as they were certain the next battles would be fought by modern machines, principally aircraft and the tank, thus in great part scrapping its cavalry components.

Because production of steel and iron could not keep pace with the expansion of the mechanised military, horses filled the gap. When war began with the invasion of Poland on 1 September

1939, Germany counted over 2 million men in uniform, but only 14 divisions were fully motorised, comprised of some 183,000 motor vehicles and 94,000 motorcycles, all backed up by 3.8 million horses, of which 885,000 were initially draught and pack animals.

Supplying food for the hundreds of thousands of horses employed by the German military was a daunting task, and eventually the quality and quantity fell dangerously below minimal standards. Huge quantities of fodder had to be shipped by rail, competing with the critical delivery needs of war resources. Foraging off the land was often the end result, the horses suffering as a result. Due to the stresses caused by combat and extreme weather conditions, especially in Russia, shortages of all types afflicted the warhorses, and sometimes tree bark was added to their fodder to bulk it up.

During the war, 70 per cent of all transport and supply was horse-drawn. Due to their size and the fact they were often tethered to heavy transport wagons and field artillery, horses were left to face the brunt of air attacks while their human counterparts sought cover. When rendered unfit by the rigours of traversing huge distances, the harsh climate, wounds, disease and food deprivation, horses were slaughtered on the spot and fed to their human taskmasters.