Quote:
Originally posted by Stellan Bojerud
4) The Polish Cavalry attacked German tanks with sabres.
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Stellan,
One more time thank you very much for your fight against the myths that show the Poles as romantic idiots.
Sad to tell but also the Poles have their own participation in this "black PR" against their own nation and the Army. Famous Polish movie director, Oscar-awarded Andrzej Wajda realized in 1959 the "Lotna" movie that shows… Polish Campaign of 1939 with cavalry charge against German tanks. The movie hated by all Polish historians and cavalry veterans. Wajda could not do worse job for Polish image all over the world. The next "black PR factor" in aid of Polish stupidity is the work of Italian war correspondent who "colorized" his reports from Polish battle fields and reported that Polish cavalry fights against the tanks. No greater bullshit. This correspondent liked the Poles and admired them very much none the less he did bad job for them in the national image category. Since that time there is powerful stereotype of stupid romantic Pole who fights against his enemy by all means even if it is a saber against heavy armour.
The facts? Stellan described very well Krojanty case study. It was not Polish cavalry charge against the tanks but against German infantry. The tanks entered the battle later on to save infantry but Polish 18. Pułk Ułanów Pomorskich (18th Pomeranian Ulan Regiment) did not attacked the tanks then.
In Polish 1939 Campaign Polish cavalrymen met the tanks only twice during their charges but both cases were the coincidences and they were not the charges against the tanks. The first case took place on September 1st, 1939 near Mokra. 12th Ulan Regiment in heavy smoke and very low visibility attacked German infantry when the Poles suddenly met the tanks. Nobody "cut" them by sabers however and cavalrymen simply by-passed them. The second case took place on September 19th, 1939 near Wólka Węglowa. The elements of the 9th and 14th cavalry regiments did dynamic charges to brake through German lines and to help encircled Warsaw. In the midst of German infantry companies from time to time there were the tanks but this is all. Nobody charged against the tanks but generally against enemy lines.
Best regards
C.
