Tag: 1918

Yelnya: The Soviet Red Army and the First European Defeat Inflicted Upon Nazi Germany During WWII! (18.3.2023) 

‘Nevertheless, the fact that Russia had “allies” – or rather, one major ally, Britain – and that America was going to “help” was of some psychological importance to the Russians, they did not feel entirely alone, and soon after the invasion the thought had become deeply ingrained that the war would be won, no matter how terrible and how long it was. Much was, of course, made of minor military successes, such as the slowing-down of the blitzkrieg at Smolensk (which, curiously, created for several weeks almost a feeling of euphoria, at least in Moscow), and of the small Russian counter-offensive at Yelnya, south of Smolensk in September 1941, when a few hundred square miles were recaptured from the Germans – the first to be recaptured anywhere in Europe since the beginning of the Second World War. At that time, in bombed and half-devastated Vyazna, the future Marshal V. D. Sokolovsky made to the foreign press the significant remark that, fearful as the war was, the Russians were “gradually grinding down” the German war machine, and that in any case Moscow would not be lost.’

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The Use of the Cavalry Lance (‘Pike’) and the Red Army (1924) 

In general, the combination of today’s ‘unusual’ cavalry soldier with this type of horse is very far, unfortunately, from the image that is desirable or associated with a ‘traditional’ cavalryman. Meanwhile, a ‘pike’ (or ‘lance’) is good only in the hands of an excellent rider, sitting on an excellent and well-trodden horse! History sufficiently proves (through a number of examples) that in the absence of these two vital attributes – the pike is only a burden that rushes into battle without finding any effective use for itself!  

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Remembering the Soviet Red Army Cavalry! (10.5.2022) 

This led to the cavalry being eventually phased-out and eventually abolished in 1955! Tanks, co-ordinated with artillery, infantry and airforce evolved into a much more effective striking and defence force that did not involve the risk of relatively high casualties experienced by the cavalry regarding horses (which are very high maintenance) as well as in men. However, all through the four-years of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), the Soviet Red Army Cavalry provided an important and vital anti-fascist force that directly took-on the forces of Nazi Germany and its allies from around the world (which were supported by the Catholic Church)! Although out-gunned and always facing the danger of total destruction from the modern technology deployed against them, the Red Army Cavalry utilised unusual tactics, surprise and bravery to overcome these problems! 

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