German Horse Drawn Transport. (and other nations)

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Owen, Jan 24, 2007.

  1. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    a gasmask & goggles for horses!:


    I just wonder how much of a fight it was to get that on the horse the first time. I can't imagine that they accepted it willingly. But I guess it would be easier than put the bit in them for the first time.
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    A very interesting thread about the use of animals. Whilst I have read and seen photos of animals being used by the allied forces in several theatres, it is not a general theme, unlike the German Armies reliance on horses.

    Where there any Allied units totally dependant on animal power? apart from the Burma campaign and Italy.

    Tom
     
  4. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Sorry Owen, did not see your question earlier on this thread about Falaise.
    I wrote a little tale about Falaise.
    Sufficient to say the stench of death was everywhere, The bodies in some parts were so many that it was hardly possible to cross the road without stepping on them.

    I saw all that was Falaise it was bloody near indescribable The death and destruction "absolute"
    For here was Monty at his most ruthless, The elimination by all means possible of those inside that pocket.
    What a great shame that the Americans never came to help, they were more concerned with capturing the Countryside devoid of all enemy. But that Patton! He was more concerned with romping through areas that did not need capturing, they would be ours anyway.... Even then... while the British Canadians and the Poles stove against heavy odds to close the neck of the bag. Patton ran out of fuel!!!!!

    Anyone that has seen Falaised woulkd not want to witness such savagery again.

    That was the culmination of the war in Normandy. Taken by Monty ten days to a fortnight ahead of schedule.
    Falaise was a place of death by fire by shell by rocket by mortar and bullet.\They were caught like rats in a bucket. And Monty was the most utterly ruthless of Commanders, What descended on that pocket was a Fire storm of war. Over open sights!"
    Sapper
     
  5. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  6. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    One of my favourites. What does the team think. Wehrmacht in India or liberated Tiergarten 'We'arehere'...

    Bod,

    I am not sure when the Krupp truck was taken out of service but the picture I think must have beeen taken reasonably early in the war.

    I think that the picture shows surprising improvisation:D.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  11. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    You know, you don't really think about it, but artillery had to be disasterous for horses. At least humans could lie flat and lessen the potential of a hit, but the horses couldn't, even if you could convince them to do so.

    Old Hickory over at WW2F mentioned to me of the ever present smell of rotting animals, especially horses.
     
  12. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  13. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Postwar,I remember Wehrmacht veterans blaming "Lackey" Keitel for the fact that the Wehrmacht depended on horse transport for the onslaught into Russia and the state that the Wehrmacth was in as it withdrew from the occupied countries.

    The majority of the genocide units operating behind the German advance into the East were mounted.Maybe also due to their preferred modus operandi but the fact is that Hitler chose to go to war with little regard for the postion of his oil and petrol stocks and reserves.The regime requisitioned horses at the outbreak of war as if they were to fight the First World War.

    Hitler's wars were based on quick victories and economic plunder from the overrun countries.Unfortunately for him and his regime,this gamble failed and Germany might, by the autumn of 1944, was adversely affected by accute shortages of oil and petrol. Aircraft grounded and armour disabled for fuel shortages as the New Year came were a common feature.
     
  14. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Anyone care to translate?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    ...in the spring of 1940, the Wehrmact was characterized not by Panzers and motor vehicles but by horses. During WWI, the German army used 1.4 million horses; during WWII, it used 2.7 million, almost twice as many. Among the 157 divisions (including those that were still being organized) that the German army had in May 1940, only 16, about 10 percent, were fully motorized. The others, mostly marched along at traditional infantry speed, followed by horse-drawn vehicles.


    P.29 Blitzkreig Legend Karl-Heinz Frieser
     
  17. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Last edited: Jul 22, 2017
  18. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  19. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    I know this is an old thread, but shouldn't that elephant be using Mickey Mouse camouflage or doesn't it have enough tonal contrast to be seen in the photo?
     
  20. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I read it as 2 June 1940 - unarmed Belgian ?? accompanied by our soldiers on the way to Belgium. Saint Pol sur Ternoise is here: http://goo.gl/maps/vjaaF

    All the best

    Andreas
     

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