Chapter 151: Polish Campaign (14)
"Fuck! Fuck!"
Listening to a series of curses coming from the radio communicator, the commander of the armored infantry battalion of the 2nd Motorized Division couldn't help but frown. "Bazel, what's going on?!" Although the other party didn't say his name, he had already recognized that it was Bazel from the 3rd reconnaissance team.
It is impossible for a large force to attack and march in a swarm on the battlefield. Nowadays, there are no monitoring satellites, drones, or high-performance reconnaissance aircraft (of course, there are reconnaissance aircraft now, but they can only rely on naked eye observation and search, and it is impossible to be watertight. Sometimes the enemy on the ground can deceive aerial reconnaissance by proper camouflage). A large number of ground reconnaissance teams need to be dispatched to serve as the fists and eyes and ears of the large force. They search for the enemy, spy on military intelligence, and test the enemy's defense line. The various military intelligence they provide provides a basis for the commander to judge the situation and formulate combat plans.
Bazel's embarrassed cry for help came from the communicator. "Help! Where are you?!"
"We have arrived at the Y3 area." Their troops were heading east, while Bazel's reconnaissance team was conducting reconnaissance in the northeast and north.
"What?! Damn, there are at least 200 Polish cavalrymen following us!"
Listening to Bazel's shouting on the intercom, the battalion commander frowned even deeper. "Cavalry? You mean cavalry?"
"Yes, although it sounds incredible, it is cavalry. The kind of cavalry riding horses with sabers chasing us. Oh, it seems that not only sabers, but some of them also have spears. Hey, Ryan, where is my camera? Find it quickly and take a picture."
"Got it, I will send someone to pick you up." After putting down the intercom, the battalion commander thought for a while and ordered the platoon leader of the third platoon of the first company to meet the reconnaissance team.
Ten minutes ago.
"I feel like we are about to meet the Poles." The machine gunner in the back row of the jeep looked around nervously.
It was a "jeep". The two most famous military off-road vehicles during World War II were the German barrel car and the American Willys Jeep. Both of these models are extremely excellent, and each has its own strengths. Yannick didn't know which one to choose, so he produced dozens of each and sent them to the grassroots level of the army to listen to the soldiers' feedback. As a result, most soldiers liked the jeep with more powerful horsepower.
In this way, the jeep became one of the German military vehicles, mainly used for reconnaissance.
The driver, who was also the co-pilot and the communicator, nodded. "I also have a bad feeling. Let's go to the mound in front and see if there is anything abnormal. If there is no abnormality, then ask the battalion commander for the next move."
The driver turned the steering wheel and drove towards the mound that didn't look very high.
"Crack!"
When the car drove to the top of the mound, the driver stepped on the brakes hard! The three people in the car stared at the Poles sitting on the ground behind the mound in amazement.
Not only people, but also a corresponding number of horses. It is obvious that they are Polish cavalry.
Until World War I, cavalry played an immeasurable role due to its unique speed, impact and independent combat capabilities.
During World War I, cavalry was already subject to great restrictions. Charging towards the enemy's machine gun position was simply seeking death, which objectively led to the emergence of weapons such as tanks.
However, among the military branches of various countries, the army seems to always be a branch that cherishes tradition. Of course, to put it nicely, it is to cherish tradition, and to put it bluntly, it is conservative, especially many soldiers with great achievements, who can't let go of the old weapons and old-fashioned tactics that made them successful. The Qing Dynasty, Japan, France, Rome... There are countless examples like this.
Among them, Poland is a country with a glorious cavalry tradition. In history, it once existed as the overlord of Eastern Europe and has long been a shield to prevent the nomadic forces of Eurasia from invading Europe.
As early as the beginning of the 16th century, the local hussars in Poland put on armor and wings to replace the heavy knights who had quietly withdrawn from the battlefield at that time.
Later, it evolved into lancers, which originated in Poland. They were equipped with their nation's characteristic weapons, long spears, with amazing combat effectiveness and could quickly annihilate the enemy.
In the 19th century, Poland's Guards Grenadiers and Guards Polish Lancers were the only two regiments among all Napoleon's cavalry units that had never been defeated by enemy cavalry.
At that time, hundreds of Polish Lancers attacked the Spanish artillery positions that even an infantry division could not defeat, won the battle, and became their glory.
It can be said that the Polish cavalry is the best cavalry unit in the world. Tannenberg defeated the Teutonic Knights, and the Winged Hussars invaded Russia to execute the Tsar. Countries have rises and falls, but it is rare for the Polish cavalry to be able to dominate for hundreds of years.
Even in modern times, the Polish cavalry is still their pride.
For example, nearly 20 years ago, the Battle of Kamoro in the late Polish-Soviet War. It can be said to be the largest cavalry battle since 1813.
The Soviet First Cavalry Army, led by Semyon Budyonny, went to support the retreating Soviet army. At Kamorów near Zamość, the Polish cavalry defeated the Soviet cavalry, and the famous First Cavalry Army suffered a devastating blow.
After the end of World War I, Poland was restored. For this emerging country, a large number of military weapons and equipment were received from the surrendered Germans and the assistance of the Americans. Its own industrialization level was not high. Before World War II, the steel production was less than 1.5 million tons. It was really beyond its ability to maintain an army of more than 1 million people, and it could not afford mechanization.
The engine sound of the jeep startled the Polish cavalry who were resting on the spot. Both the people and the horses looked at the strange car that suddenly rushed up the mound. Looking at the iron cross printed on the front of the car, they seemed to be unable to react at once.
The scene was quiet and a little weird for a while.
"Fuck!" The machine gunner in the back seat of the jeep was the first to react and pulled the trigger suddenly. The high rate of fire of the MG3 made the gunshots transmitted with very dense sound waves. Although the MG3 machine gun can adjust the rate of fire, they usually like to adjust the rate of fire to the fastest.
Because the gunshots were too coherent, it sounded like the sound of cloth being torn in people's ears. The ammunition belt was quickly pulled into the machine gun barrel, and the shells fell on the bottom plate of the car like raindrops, making a crisp jingle.
He suddenly felt very satisfied, because there were too many Poles, one next to the other, densely packed, and still standing there motionless. It was the first time he encountered such an easy target. He swung the muzzle of the gun wildly, and wherever the muzzle pointed, there was a bloody road. The screams of people and the neighing of horses accompanied by the sound of MG3 tearing cloth merged into a beautiful melody.
Soon, the driver also reacted, stepped on the accelerator again and turned the steering wheel sharply. The wheelbase of the jeep was limited to 80 inches, which made the vehicle's turning radius small, allowing it to turn around and turn quickly. After rushing forward for a short distance, the car finally turned around and rushed down the dirt slope.
The neighing of war horses and the roar of cavalry came from behind, and soon one war horse after another rushed up the dirt hill and galloped towards them.