German Horse Drawn Transport.

[Owen]

One image of the German Army is of them swanning around in Panzers and Half-Tracks.
In reality they were reliant on the good old horse.

Good little article here.
Lone Sentry: WWII German Horse Cavalry and Transport (WWII U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, March 1946)

[von Poop]

There's a marvellous photograph in the new After The Battle 'Ruckmarsch' book on Falaise of a flakvierling being towed through a French town by Horse. Very evocative of the true state of their transport situation for much of the war.
Funny that 'Signal' has so few images of equine transport. Not really the acceptable propaganda face of the Wehrmacht.
It has to be said however that the picture of the SS 'Florian Geyer' mounted up is an absolute classic shot.

[Owen]

World War 2 Pictures In Color :: German Military :: apc

Brillaint colour photo of the not very highly mechanised German Army.

[Owen]

168 pictures from military photos on webshots

331 pictures from military photos on webshots


335 pictures from military photos on webshots

341 pictures from military photos on webshots

421 pictures from military photos on webshots
Horsed-transport in Russia.

[sapper]

Around Overloon in Holland, the two enemies were quite close together, At a certain time each day it was possible to hear the clip clop of the horse and rider bringing up the rations for the forward enemy troops.
This was followed, and noted, as it was a regular event at about the same time each day.

Then one day as the clip clop was heard a salvo was fired and they lost their supper.
Sapper

[Owen]

Brian,
I've seen photos of the lanes in the Falaise Gap full of dead horse-flesh.
see bottom image on this link.
http://59div.morssweb.com/59diws/falaise.jpg
What was it like to see for real?
Bet it stank?
http://www.150th.com/work/10.jpg

For sapper's reply see this thread.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/real-li...d-falaise.html

[von Poop]

Anyone read either of these books?:
Amazon.co.uk: Horses of the German Army in World War II

Horses of the German Army in World War II (Hardcover)
by Paul Louis Johnson (Author)

&

Mechanized Juggernaut or Military Anachronism?: Horses and the German Army of World War II (Contributions in Military Studies) (Hardcover)
by Williamson Murray (Foreword), R.L. DiNardo (Author)
Synopsis
One of the great misconceptions of the World War II is the notion that the German Army was the epitome of mechanical efficiency, combining lightning speed with awesome military power. The author argues that, although the elite Panzer divisions were indeed formidable units, about 75% of the German Army were infantry divisions who relied primarily on the horse for transport. So, the author asks, how modern was the Wehrmacht during World War II? Could it have achieved a higher level of modernity than it actually did? This book takes an unusual approach to the study of the much mythologized German Army. In dealing with horses specifically, the author shows how the German Army was in many ways a throwback to the 19th century. How extensive was this antiquated dependence on horses, and was this a conscious decision on the part of the leaders of the German war machine? Did it have an effect on the army's organization and battle strength? What problems did the Germans encounter due to their use of horses? This study answers these questions from a unique perspective and may be useful to military historians, courses in military studies and the collections in public and academic libraries.


Highly tempted, mostly by the P.L. Johnson one but it's not cheap so just wondering if anyone's seen it. Second one intrigues as the only other thing I've read by the same author was a very easy and informative read.
Cheers,
Adam.

[von Poop]

'Mixed Horse' - Heer Horses Gallery.

[Owen]

This one of La Seine, is it advance of 1940 or the retreat of 1944?
Could that be refugees on the left so 1940?
Mixed Horse Picture 12

[Owen]

Just picked up this little bit of info from page 218, "Barbarossa to Berlin" by Brian Taylor.

Feb 1942.
Since the beginning of Operation Typhoon in October '41, the OstHeer also lost 180 000 horses but replaced only 20 000.

In the same period they lost 74 000 motor vehicles [not tanks] but replaced only 7500.