Why the Volkssturm Lacked Cavalry Units in WWII
Understanding Volkssturm
The Volkssturm is often remembered as a hasty militia composed of elderly and young men, rounded up during the final months of World War II. These inadequately trained soldiers were thrown into the war in an already desperate and defeatist situation. With no standardized weapons or proper organization, their role was primarily defensive, and they were expected to point their mismatched arms at enemy forces.
The Obsolescence of Cavalry in WWII
While the concept of horse cavalry might evoke romantic notions, it was an obsolete and impractical strategy by the time of World War II. This form of military combat depends on horses, which are increasingly rare and expensive to maintain during wartime. Moreover, a well-equipped and trained cavalry unit requires well-rounded soldiers who are adept at handling horses under various battlefield conditions.
The Absence of Cavalry in the Volkssturm
By the spring of 1945, the German Army had virtually eradicated not just foot cavalry but motorized cavalry as well. This lack of cavalry was not just a matter of lack of training or training grounds; it was a fundamental issue of resources. Germany was short on both horses and fuel, and even the limited motorized cavalry units had no extra vehicles or fuel to provide to the Volkssturm. The very essence of cavalry, which relies on a well-coordinated team of horses and riders, was simply non-existent.
Why Cavalry Was Ineffective Against Modern Warfare Tactics
Cavalry, as an array of horse troops, was historically used for raiding, flanking maneuvers, and reconnaissance. In contrast, the fighting methods of World War II had evolved significantly. The advent of automatic weapons, including machine guns, made traditional cavalry charges against well-armed infantry almost invariably fatal. Horses, especially when mounted, were vulnerable to modern firearms, making them easy targets for snipers and machine guns. For instance, consider the Red Army's use of cavalry during the fighting in World War II. In one notable encounter, Cossack cavalry attempted to attack German positions but faced the brunt of automatic weapon fire, which directed significant attention to the horses instead of the riders themselves.
The account by Sepp provides a vivid illustration of this. The first Cossack company galloped out into battle, and while they managed to disrupt German defenses initially, the influx of heavy gunfire targeted the horses first. As a result, many horses fell, taking riders with them into a slow and agonizing death. The combination of the horses' immobility and the rapid-fire of machine guns made this form of combat extremely dangerous. The German soldier, Sepp, had to shoot at the chest of the animals, causing them to fall, and then target the riders. Most notedly, the bullets hitting the abdomen or internal organs of the horse often caused gruesome and highly painful deaths, even leaving the rider trapped under the dead animal.
In this context, cavalry simply could not match the effectiveness of more modern forms of combat. Without the necessary resources, training, and logistics, the idea of maintaining a cavalry unit within the Volkssturm was nonsensical. The Volkssturm was designed for a different era, and by 1945, the realities of modern warfare had rendered cavalry obsolete.