Commander's determination is the key to a successful horse attack

27
As we noted earlier, business card of the imperial cavalry, horse attack, was successful with certain prerequisites. We spoke about the first premise in the previous article of the cycle (see Natural and artificial obstacles - the mortal enemy of the cavalry). Consider the second.





Frames decide everything


The success of the attack depends on the leader, the commander. Someone must dare to rush on a horse to meet the danger and overcome death, and wounds, and all the horror of a hurricane of shrapnel, rifle and machine-gun bullets racing towards the fire. In this regard, it is worth recalling the titanic personality of the captain of the 12 th hussars of the Akhtyrsky regiment Boris Panayev. He leads a squadron - a bullet penetrates his arm. He continues to lead the squadron, and the bullet punches him in the stomach. Despite the excruciating pain, he continues to ride at the head of the squadron and falls killed only when the squadron has already gotten hold of the enemy. What powerful will power, self-control and determination, fill, without exaggeration, with the halo of holiness the feat of this cavalryman.

In the battle of 24, June 1916, when the 1 th Argun regiment had already occupied the town of Manevichi, an Austrian march with six machine guns began to leave the forest to the south of Manevichi. The company landed at one of the stations west of Manevich on the night of June 21, and went, knowing nothing about the fact that the army of A. Linzingen was defeated and the Galuziya-Volchetsk front was broken by the Russians. Having seen hundreds of Transbaikalians, the Austrian machine-gunners opened fire, and the company, turning into battle chains, began to attack. Transbaikal began to depart. When in Manevichi, where the Don brigade of the 2-th Consolidated Cossack Division was at that time, they heard machine-gun fire and saw a Trans-Baikal who rode with alarming news of an Austrian attack from the forest, a platoon was sent there (26 Cossacks) 17, and a Karak Penguin Army, which was the Cossack Army. team cornet Shishova. Shishov drove up to the commander hundreds of Arguns. A hundred departs, bullets whistle from somewhere in the forest, a machine gun pops. What is the matter - no one knows. At that time, when the commander of the hundreds and the horny Shishov were discussing how to be, the platoon commander of the 17 Don Cossack Regiment from the Shishov detachment approached him and offered: “let your honor, strike the attacker on them!” stopped the hesitations of both officers. A team was distributed - and the Don members, interspersed with Transbaikalians, flew into the attack. Without loss, the entire marching company was captured with two officers and six machine guns - more than 100 people in total.

It was necessary only to decide!

In the same battle, during the movement of the Don brigade of the 2 Consolidated Cossack Division from Manevichi to Leshnevka, in the forest near Leshnevka, the avant-garde squadron was stopped by the enemy's machine-gun fire. Gunshots were heard nearby. The forest and marshland forced the commander of the 17 Don Regiment to dismount and begin a firefight with the enemy. The case was delayed. The head of the column demanded a more vigorous advance and capture Leshnevka. But the equestrian unit, which had already climbed down to the ground for foot combat, always finds it difficult to mount horses, especially if it fought without a break for almost a day. Therefore, the 1-I of the 16-th Don Cossack Regiment was moved to the forefront. But when the Cossacks of the 17 Don Cossack Regiment saw a hundred other regiments enter the field, their pride began to speak. Quickly jumping on their horses, the 1-I of the hundreds of 17-th Don Cossack regiment under the command of the accesso-saul Ivankov and the centurion Vlasov rushed to Leszhniewka. The squadron of Hungarian hussars defending Leshnevka and a company of dismounted cavalrymen with machine guns fled. The young Hungarian lieutenant tried to stop the attack with a counter-counterattack, but he was stabbed with a lance, and his people were partially stabbed and some were taken prisoner. The Cossacks had no losses.

Once the part decided to attack and the terrain conditions did not prevent the attack, it won.



Of particular importance was the personality of the senior cavalry commander. Thus, it is difficult to overestimate the contribution of F. A. Keller, Chief of the 10 Cavalry Division, to the victory at Yaroslavitsy, Chief of the 2 Combined Cossack Division, A. A. Pavlov, to the victory at Buchach, etc.

The determination to go to the end is an important key to success.


Resolve to bring the attack to the end. Here we have to make a serious amendment to the fact that the cavalry attack almost always takes place without prior reconnaissance - only then it will be sudden and only then will people be able to rush into it. How many times have witnesses testified to how the cavalry commander spoke to his subordinates: “Gentlemen, we will attack the enemy in the equestrian system,” and then he sent reconnaissance, gave orders, orders and ... did not attack. As soon as the cold mind was turned on, the mind won, prompting so many arguments against the cavalry attack that the latter was postponed, units and units dismounted, not even thinking of attacking on horseback. Horse attack should be carried out, so to speak, headlong, without thinking, quickly, uncontrollably - forward.

In the battle under the Oak in August 1914 (the final stage of the Tomashevsky battle 1914), a message was received that enemy infantry had appeared in the rear of the 5 Don Cossack Division. Who said - team, who said - battalion. The division commander, Major General G. M. Vannovsky ordered the commander of the 10 Don Cossack Regiment to find out the situation. The regiment commander turns the 4 th and 5 th hundreds of the regiment into the first line, and the 1 th and 2 th hundreds into the second line and proceeds in the direction of the shots. When the Austrians opened a quick fire, the horses of the head hundreds, still in peacetime, were accustomed to rush into the quarry at the infantry, which was lying and frequently fired, picked up, and hundreds rushed to the attack. The losses of the Russians were negligible - 6 - 8 people, while the Austrians killed 36 and captured 202 people - that is, more companies. The other company behind it, which saw the massacre of the Cossacks over their comrades, scattered through the forest, abandoning their rifles.



In the 29 battle of May 1915 near the station Dzvinyache it was necessary to stop the victorious offensive of the Austrians, who had broken through the front between Zaleshchiki and Zhezava. An order was received to move hundreds of 3 and 4 Zaamur border cavalry regiments into the equestrian line. “Where to?” Is the first natural question - “left flank along the highway, right along the railway” .., “Who is there”? "Austro-German infantry ..." "Maybe it is better to dismount?" - "No, no, in the equestrian system, rather, rather, it is necessary to turn around." They turned around as if they were being watched under the fierce fire of continuous bursts of 6-gun batteries, which stood in complete safety behind the river. Dniester. Owing to dust, the battery gave flights half a mile and a mile away, unaware of the speed of movement of the people of Zaamur. When the Zamur people built two lines of lavas and climbed the ridge, in front of them, steps in six hundred, thick chains of advancing infantry appeared. The infantry, seeing the cavalry, opened a furious fire from rifles and six machine guns on the Zamaurtsy. The minute was terrible.

“We wanted to turn already,” said the Zaamurtsi, but our Mongolians, as they went into the quarry, couldn’t turn them, we came to! ”.

Around 350, the Zamur people have attacked more than Austrians on 800. The Austrians threw rifles and raised their hands up, and then, when the Zamurtsy skipped ahead, again grabbed weapon and shot in the back. The losses of Zamaur men were heavy: from 12, 2 officers were killed and 6 was wounded, 61 was killed and 58 soldiers were wounded; but the Austrians hacked more 600 people and 200 people captured. Horse attack has done its job.



Even more characteristic is the example of 2 horse attack of hundreds of 1 of the Volgsky regiment of 21 of July of 1915 in der. Chulchice We wrote about it in detail, and now we only remind you. It was evening, almost night. At one o'clock in the morning the German infantry broke through the Russian positions at the village. Chulchice and broke into the chains of the 71 Infantry Belevsky and 279 Infantry Lokhvitsky Regiments. The Belevsky regiment withdrew to the village of Saygace and embarked 4 versts behind the Lokhvitsky regiment. In this breakthrough rushed German infantry. The Lokhvitsky regiment was about to withdraw, and its headquarters, batteries, and the rear of the 14 Army Corps, which would have had to leave Savin from the suburbs, put it in a difficult position. Such was the situation before the horse attack. The commander of the 2-th Consolidated Cossack Division, who was in the area of ​​the Lokhvitsky regiment in the village of Gretskov, summoned hundreds of the 2-th Volga Cossack regiment from his 1 reserve. The Cossacks in the dark jumped to the village Chulchitsa and, out of habit to fight in dismounted ranks, began to shoot rifles.

- “Throw rifles! The attack will be equestrian! "

Silhouettes of the Cossacks, painted against the background of the village of Čulčice, threw rifles, it was clear how people took off their hats and were baptized.

- “Where is the attack?” Asked the eldest of the hundred-member commanders, Esaul Raskolov.

Targeting: direction for the left flank - along the burning village, for the right flank - to the top of Lysa Gora, lit by fire. Followed by two lavas - in front of the 5-I hundred, and behind it - 6-I. At the same time - loudly boom.

The terrain was characterized as passable, without swamps and ditches.

This exchange of phrases, made on the go, took half a minute.

The command was distributed. Hundreds crumbled, went to the mountain at a trot.



When the Cossacks approached the enemy a half-verst, they were noticed - and the Germans opened a terrible rifle and machine-gun fire. The answer to the fire was a geek - and soon there was almost complete silence.

The advanced attackers, enthusiastic about the valiant young officer Cornish Kulesh, jumped to the German trenches. And here, under the brave ones, horses were killed.

Kulesh, along with 6-th Cossacks, rushed into the trenches, starting to work with daggers. In the battle, the cornet died.

The Germans crowded around the brave men, but the rest of the Cossacks arrived, and the cutting began.

On the front of the German division, news broke that the masses of the Cossacks were attacking - and the chains began to withdraw. To the rescue of the attacked units, a battalion of German infantry moved in a convoy, fleeing to the battlefield.

He jumped on him, passing through 6-th hundred, second hundred. Cossacks hacked down the Germans and rushed to the master's court der. Becoming where the headquarters of the division. The latter fled. But the swamp, narrow crap and total darkness stopped the further movement of the Volgians. Russian losses during this Cossack night attack - to 25 Cossacks, German losses - more than 500 felled infantrymen.

But the real damage of the enemy from the cavalry attack of two hundred, very weak in numbers (no more than 200 horsemen), was not so important as the moral shock of the German troops advancing towards Vlodawa. The size of the moral upheaval indicated subsequent events.

At one o'clock in the morning the infantry of the 14 Army Corps departed from the Savin Posad to the village of Kosych, and on the front of the two German corps there were the 2-I Combined Cossack Division and the 278-th Kromsky Infantry Regiment.

The Germans of July 22 did not attack, confining themselves to firing from the side of the light and heavy batteries of the Savin tenement and the liquid line of Cossack outposts. According to the captured later captured German officers, the whole day was devoted to calming down the infantry, shaken by the attack of two hundred Cossacks. To "protect" the German infantry, entrenched in the same places where it was located and 21-th field, the regiment of the German cavalry was nominated.

In the evening, the Dobrynia armored car was sent to the head of the rearguard of the 14 Corps, commander of the 2 Consolidated Cossack Division. In the 11 hour of the night "Dobrynya" was on the highway in the direction of the Hill. Three miles from the line of Russian escort, he noticed a German cavalry regiment stationed at the Vlodavskoye highway, and began to fire at him from his cannon. The Germans hurriedly mounted their horses and rode back. The German infantry, taking its cavalry for the Cossacks, met her with murderous rifle and machine-gun fire. The confusion began again, which was only stopped by morning. Due to these nocturnal misunderstandings, the German offensive stopped for the period of July 23 — 26. Only 27-th avant-garde of the Germans overtook Russian troops near the village of Petrilova, Bukov and Lukowska.

To be continued ...
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27 comments
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  1. +15
    9 June 2019 08: 59
    Cadres decide everything, and especially decisive cadres!
    1. +15
      9 June 2019 09: 21
      Good wording! good
      1. -12
        9 June 2019 14: 35
        It is probably appropriate to recall the words of the cavalry division general Charles Lasalle: "A hussar who lived to be 30 years old - der..mo, not a hussar." Lasalle himself survived a little this age (died at 34 years old). It’s interesting, what would this Napoleonic general say about the age of a hussar when he saw how the “maxim” cavalry mows? belay Yes, probably the courage and self-sacrifice of the Cossacks No limit! hi
        1. +12
          9 June 2019 15: 58
          That's about how cavalry skillfully carried out horse attacks and took these maxims - this article.
          Yes, the courage and self-sacrifice of the Cossacks probably has no limits!

          There is no limit to the self-sacrifice of the entire Russian imperial cavalry and the entire Russian army
    2. +15
      9 June 2019 09: 35
      Nowhere without personnel, but especially commanders!
  2. +15
    9 June 2019 09: 20
    Yes, Boris Panaev is a real hero. Even a horse brought him a uniform, that's what education means)
  3. +15
    9 June 2019 09: 34
    The officer is well done. Here's what the Russian cavalry was growing
    1. +12
      9 June 2019 11: 01
      people, the gene pool was what
      did not save
      1. -5
        9 June 2019 14: 27
        Quote: EKZECUTOR
        people, the gene pool was what
        did not save

        What does the gene pool have to do with it? Cavalrymen are not born; they become cavalrymen. My father - a city dweller - served in a separate cavalry squadron for an emergency, and he perfectly mastered both logging and horse-riding.
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      2. +13
        9 June 2019 15: 58
        Yes, there were selected guys. You're right executor
        1. -4
          9 June 2019 19: 23
          Quote: XII Legion
          Yes, there were selected guys. You're right executor

          Yes, perfect, only the gene pool here? learning depends on teachers.
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  4. +13
    9 June 2019 10: 39
    a cavalry attack almost always passes without preliminary reconnaissance - because only then it will be sudden and only then will people be able to rush into it.

    This is very important and explains a lot on the one hand, and characterizes the command staff of the Russian cavalry as strong-willed and initiative, on the other hand.
    The combat episodes cited in the article fully confirm this
    1. -4
      9 June 2019 15: 07
      Quote: Dalton
      This is very important and explains a lot on the one hand, and characterizes the command staff of the Russian cavalry as strong-willed and initiative, on the other hand.
      The combat episodes cited in the article fully confirm this

      Absolutely to the point! For example, Zhukov and Rokossovsky were professional cavalrymen. Do not hold wills and initiatives!
  5. +14
    9 June 2019 11: 00
    I learn a lot and look forward to the next parts hi
  6. -10
    9 June 2019 11: 29
    "as a cavalry commander said to his subordinates:" gentlemen, we are attacking the enemy in horse formation, "and then he sent reconnaissance, gave orders, orders and ... did not attack" ////
    ----
    And thank God! There were, therefore, sensible commanders.
    Because Russia and lost the campaign of the 1st World War, they acted with a bang,
    not consistent with intelligence reports. Or acting without intelligence at all.
    So the Guard perished, the best trained compounds:
    "We'll break through somehow, the main thing is the onslaught." negative
    1. -14
      9 June 2019 12: 14
      Quote: voyaka uh
      Because Russia and lost the campaign of the 1st World War, they acted with a bang,
      not consistent with intelligence reports. Or acting without intelligence at all.

      ---------------------
      Lesions were due to a number of many factors. Indecisiveness of command, lack of ammunition, transmission of orders and reports by radio in plain text. As for intelligence, the reports must also be analyzed for the further plans of the enemy, and not just collected.
      PS The determination of a commander, a leader is important in politics. You can’t replace it with any naked torsos and pucks clogged into an empty net, and other imitation of activity.
      1. +13
        10 June 2019 09: 14
        Russia did not lose the WWII. This time.
        Indecisiveness of command, lack of ammunition, transmission of orders and reports by radio in plain text. As for intelligence, the reports must also be analyzed for the further plans of the enemy, and not just collected. PS The determination of a commander, a leader is important in politics. You can’t replace it with any naked torsos and pucks clogged into an empty net, and other imitation of activity.

        How simple it is.
        and sport and politics, but only to the subject of the article is not relevant.
        as for some reason said something about the guard of a comrade from fraternal Israel with the comment above. Maybe he acted without intelligence, but not the Russian army.
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  7. +13
    9 June 2019 15: 55
    I liked the article very much. Thanks to the author for the gorgeous cycle, I look forward to continuing!
  8. -12
    9 June 2019 19: 33
    And the article, so-so, at the level of "Hussar Ballad" - swooped down, chopped up and again walk. It is not skill that is extolled, but recklessness, that the main thing is dashing attacks without any intelligence. Only smart commanders did not advance without preliminary reconnaissance.
    1. +12
      9 June 2019 19: 51
      Alexander Green (Alexander)
      And the article, so-so, at the level of "Hussar Ballad" - swooped down, chopped up and again walk.

      This means either: a) that you, in terms of your level of development, do not reach high-quality materials or b) did not read the article.
      I am chewing for you and your kind.
      In a cycle based on specific combat examples (both successful and unsuccessful), the prerequisites are analyzed success horse attacks - for people like you, these premises are in bold.
      However, a cycle, after all, from several articles can make an integral impression only based on the results of all the material. And what you said now - characterizes you as an overseer who has not read all the material.
      It is not skill that is extolled, but recklessness, that the main thing is dashing attacks without any intelligence. Only smart commanders did not advance without preliminary intelligence.

      again past the green.
      Recklessness is not extolled, but it is said that the reality was such that a horse attack was usually forced to be carried out without intelligence, otherwise people would cool down and their swiftness would be lost. So this is a fact, what to do. And that’s exactly what speaks of the commander’s decisiveness - for such a risky business had to be decided.
      Probably the smartest commander is you))
      even if specific (and successful) examples mean nothing to you.
      as for example level article
      so-so
      then a vivid example of a shoddy (sorry) article is your "Your tongue is your enemy." No information, only shouts and theses of a pompous "know-it-all".
      I don’t even want to talk about it. I would like to ask another - so the articles of this author do not suit you?
      I understood correctly?
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  9. +14
    10 June 2019 09: 22
    It’s rare enough that I read something on a military display, but this cycle is hooked. Very informative and interesting. I did not know about many cavalry battles, so many examples. Thanks to the author, I’m waiting for the next part.
    1. +12
      10 June 2019 18: 29
      Yes, some facts are little known, that's for sure. That's the task of the historian - to try to introduce a new
  10. 0
    10 June 2019 11: 18
    What is war? This is the interaction of energies. Initially, one person punched another. That is, he concentrated the energy of his body in a fist, and inflicted damage on the enemy with his instrument (fist), forcing the enemy to subordinate his actions to the will of the winner. These were the first military operations in the world.
    Then the war developed. As an example, people have learned to focus the energy of their body, and transmit it over a greater distance, for example, when archery. All the energy of the fist blow was concentrated on a tiny area of ​​the arrowhead, and was transmitted to "shoot", that is, at least 70 meters, causing very noticeable damage to the enemy. Etc.
    What is a horse attack? This is a way to deliver a horse’s weapon (saber or carbine) to a place where it can be effectively used. For example, jump to the point from which it will be possible, by shooting from above, to begin to destroy the enemy hiding in the trenches. The speed of the cavalry is much higher than that of the running infantryman, the review is much better, maneuverability is many times greater. I believe that nothing has fundamentally changed in the modern maneuver war ...
    Let's continue. In addition to the form of energy impact, the organization of this impact is extremely important in a war. Horse lava moves much faster than an infantryman accustomed to waiting for an infantry attack. In addition, a large mass moving on it (horseman and horse) has a strong additional effect. Therefore, quite often the defenders are unable to realize their own capabilities. Shooting from cover for such large targets can lead to the complete destruction of the attackers ... if the defenders have the platitude enough courage to fight back.
    And here the interesting begins. How should a fighter be trained and oriented? Which is better - individual training or impeccable adherence to orders? What to do is rely on the knowledge and skills of officers (who were obliged to shoot positions under the infantry and under the cavalry, and then promptly give the command to oppose, well, conduct other training for the position), or give preference to the training of each fighter of psychological stability and basic skills to confront the enemy in its various forms? A huge topic ...
  11. +13
    10 June 2019 17: 54
    Deciding to attack, the determination to go all the way is a really important guarantee of the success of a horse attack.
    And the examples given in the article from the combat practice of the Russian cavalry fully confirm this
    Thank you!
  12. 0
    10 June 2019 20: 13
    An informative story about the psychology of cavalrymen. Thank.
    1. +9
      10 June 2019 20: 22
      Not about psychology, although there is something out of this
      and about tactics and
      its factors
  13. +9
    10 June 2019 20: 23
    There would be more good-quality articles, not just scandalous (like most), and precisely informative
    The author is well done, just for this part
  14. The comment was deleted.

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