The Last Ride Of The 1st German Cavalry-The Last Letter
The Last Ride of the 1st German Cavalry!
January 11th, 1944
1944 A bad year all round for the Wehrmacht
Early in January 1944, the Russians renewed their operations against the 2nd Parachute Division and 1st Cavalry Brigade in Westcentral Russia. The 2nd Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 5th Parachute Regiment held a sector around the town of Plavny near Novorodka, either side of the Kirovgrad highway. Early on the 5th January the Russians began their offensive against positions held by the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment. Within half an hour a whole regiment of T-34's had been destroyed with minimal losses to the SP Brigade. The line held by the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment was broken in several locations as massed Russian armour broke through the weak line. Russian tanks broke through east of Plavny and the remaining reserve SP artillery pieces were rushed in to halt the advance. Many T-34's were destroyed by individual acts of heroism using mines, satchel charges and panzerfaust's. The 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment was mostly destroyed as massed Russian forces swept over their positions north of the Kirovgrad highway. The survivors were rescued by several SP guns, along with the 1st Cavalry Brigade (Mounted), who broke through the Russian forces, whereafter they successfully withdrew (although it was several days before they turned up at the Divisions lines).
Late on the 5th, the SP Brigade was ordered to Ruptschina where the Russians had managed to cut the Kirovgrad-Novorodka highway. As they neared their objective they came across a Russian tank unit in the process of being refuelled. The SP guns along with their Fallschirmjäger passengers successfully destroyed them.
By the 6th January, the 7th, 5th and 2nd Regiments had been forced to pull out of the Novorodka area due to mounting Russian pressure. Due to concrete pilasters along the border and blocking roadways so that tanks and heavy equipment could not pass, the Russian Troops were massing for a "Human Wave" Assult.
On 11th January, 1944, the 1st Cavalry, with all of the remaining men and horses numbering less than 500, outnumbered hundreds to one, rode out in formation, on the "Last Ride" of the German Cavalry. They lined up in single file, facing the Russian Hoard. This confused and bewildered the Russians, which brought the Russian advance to a temporary halt as the Russians watched in awe as the 1st Cavalry was lining up for formation, as if "Going on Parade", while the band played.
When the Russian advance continued, the 1st Cavalry "Charged" into the oncomming Russians. The 1st Cavalry then split in 2, and hit the flanks of the advancing hoards. While the flanks were being pushed back, a number of the cavalrymen dismounted and set up machine gun nests. The Russians that day staged 17 massed "Human Wave" assults. Thousands upon thousands of Russian Troops lay dead or wounded. There was not a man or horse left of the 1st Cavalry that rode out that day. They managed to hold a line outside of Kirovgrad denying the Russians this objective.
On the 12th January the survivors of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, and 1st Cavalry Brigade were returned to Germany as they had ceased to exist as fighting formations. After the intense fighting around Novorodka, the front around Kirovgrad slipped into stalemate. The remaining guns of the 286th SP Brigade were transferred elsewhere on the Eastern Front.
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A Letter for a Fallen Soldier!
Fieldpostnumber 15422C In Ampleben, Number 6/OverSchoeningen/Brunswick
Mrs.Emma Michaelis, Nee(Rose)
My Dear Mrs. Michaelis!
I have the tragic plight, of telling you, that your husband, My Under-Officer Gustav Michaelis, who was awarded the Medal of Valor, And the War Earned Iron Cross With Oak Cluster, a Heavily Decorated Soldier, was on the Morning of 11 January, 1944, during very heavy fighting, in the midst of the masses of the enemy, a True Hero of the Reich, who gave his finest unto the Fatherland, now is Fallen!
As Group Commander of this Unit, they either had to fight against impossible odds or flee. All Hope Was Lost! As the good Soldier that he was, he led a mounted charge against the enemy to halt their Advance, and in the Heat of Battle, was shot in the head. The Wound was so Severe, that he died instantly.
I am speaking as one who has known him by name and as a friend and as a Comrad in Arms. His Warm Friendship was Very Dear to me.
The Company, on 10 January, 1944, making the decision to hold the Advance, fed extra grain to the Horses, brushed and groomed them, and polished the saddles and tack. The Soldiers polished their Boots and Belts, and Brushed and Cleaned their Uniforms. That Evening, they went to a Local "Establishment", and held a Party. They Drank a Toast, Danced and Sang Songs. All this while 7 Russian Divisions were converging against us. Rather than Surrender, they would all Ride Out Together in the Morning for the People, the Fatherland, and their Friends and Family. Holding the line, even for a few hours, to give Precious Moments for the Troops and Civilians behind them to get Home!
It was Magnificent as they rode out in the Morning! I ordered the Band to Play! It was not a Hopeless Cause, as none of us would have made it Back Alive, or Worse would have been Bondsmen in our own Country! I am not understanding of this! In all honesty I do not have the Words, for One so Outstanding a Sacrifice, in the Service of One's Country. The Standoff, and Personal and Military Sacrifice, that he and his Company Achieved, Bewildered and Halted the Enemy, giving Time for those Camped Against Us In the West to Secure the Homeland, and for Us to Escape!
It is with the Greatest of Admiration, and from the Bottom of my Heart, that I send this Greeting, and Hope that it will Uplift You, to know that he died with Honor, fighting mostly to Protect You and his Home.
CL. BRECHT,
Leutenant and Camp Commander
Click "Gott Verlaub Mich Nicht"
Click "Mein Schatz Reise Nicht"
"11:00AM, 11 Januar, 1944, Die Ende"
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The Last Ride of the 1st German Cavalry!
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A Letter for a Fallen Soldier!
Fieldpostnumber 15422C In Ampleben, Number 6/OverSchoeningen/Brunswick Mrs.Emma Michaelis, Nee(Rose) My Dear Mrs. Michaelis! I have the tragic plight, of telling you, that your husband, My Under-Officer Gustav Michaelis, who was awarded the Medal of Valor, And the War Earned Iron Cross With Oak Cluster, a Heavily Decorated Soldier, was on the Morning of 11 January, 1944, during very heavy fighting, in the midst of the masses of the enemy, a True Hero of the Reich, who gave his finest unto the Fatherland, now is Fallen! As Group Commander of this Unit, they either had to fight against impossible odds or flee. All Hope Was Lost! As the good Soldier that he was, he led a mounted charge against the enemy to halt their Advance, and in the Heat of Battle, was shot in the head. The Wound was so Severe, that he died instantly. I am speaking as one who has known him by name and as a friend and as a Comrad in Arms. His Warm Friendship was Very Dear to me. The Company, on 10 January, 1944, making the decision to hold the Advance, fed extra grain to the Horses, brushed and groomed them, and polished the saddles and tack. The Soldiers polished their Boots and Belts, and Brushed and Cleaned their Uniforms. That Evening, they went to a Local "Establishment", and held a Party. They Drank a Toast, Danced and Sang Songs. All this while 7 Russian Divisions were converging against us. Rather than Surrender, they would all Ride Out Together in the Morning for the People, the Fatherland, and their Friends and Family. Holding the line, even for a few hours, to give Precious Moments for the Troops and Civilians behind them to get Home! It was Magnificent as they rode out in the Morning! I ordered the Band to Play! It was not a Hopeless Cause, as none of us would have made it Back Alive, or Worse would have been Bondsmen in our own Country! I am not understanding of this! In all honesty I do not have the Words, for One so Outstanding a Sacrifice, in the Service of One's Country. The Standoff, and Personal and Military Sacrifice, that he and his Company Achieved, Bewildered and Halted the Enemy, giving Time for those Camped Against Us In the West to Secure the Homeland, and for Us to Escape! It is with the Greatest of Admiration, and from the Bottom of my Heart, that I send this Greeting, and Hope that it will Uplift You, to know that he died with Honor, fighting mostly to Protect You and his Home. CL. BRECHT, Leutenant and Camp Commander
Click "Gott Verlaub Mich Nicht" Click "Mein Schatz Reise Nicht" "11:00AM, 11 Januar, 1944, Die Ende"
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