The Battle of Schoenfeld (Polish: Szarża pod Borujskiem) took place on 1 March 1945 during World War II and was the scene of the last mounted charge in the history of the Polish cavalry and the last confirmed successful cavalry charge in world history.[notes 1] The Polish charge overran German defensive positions and forced a German retreat from the village of Schoenfeld (today known as Żeńsko, formerly known in Polish as Borujsko). In March 1945, the First Army of the Polish People's Army was advancing into Pomerania as part of an overall push by, and backed by, Soviet forces to reach the Baltic Sea and the area of Stettin (some 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Schoenfeld). Schoenfeld was part of the third line of fortifications built by the Germans to shelter Pomerania from attack.
An initial Polish attack on Schoenfeld with tanks and infantry of the 2nd Infantry Division floundered in the low, open wetlands that were dominated by the fire of infantry and antitank guns from Schoenfeld, which sat at a slightly higher elevation on a small hill (Hill 157). German troops defending the village were part of the 163rd Infantry Division.[1]
The 1st "Warsaw" Independent Cavalry Brigade was then employed against the German position. Two squadrons (companies[2]) of cavalry supported by the elements of the horse--artillery company, having used a ravine to cover their approach to their infantry and tanker brothers-in-arms, charged through the smoke of burning tanks,[3] and achieved tactical surprise with a swift mounted assault that overran the German antitank gun positions[4] on the forward slope of Hill 157. This success was followed by an attack into the village itself by the cavalry, who by this time had been joined by the infantry and tanks.[5] In the face of this development, the surviving German defenders withdrew, allowing the Poles to consolidate their gains in and around the village at 1700.[6] 7 Polish cavalry men, 124 Polish infantry, and 16 tank men were dead for circa 500 dead Germans.
Today, a plaque mounted on a stone near the edge of Żeńsko commemorates the cavalry charge.[citation needed]
^The website www.historycy.org notes the assertion by Polish author Cezar Leżeński (in Ostatnia szarża) that further cavalry charges were made on April 21, 1945, at Heckelberg and Grunthal (six kilometers east of Heckelberg); as well as mentioning a mounted charge by Polish frontier security forces (Wojska Ochrony Pogranicza) against UPA insurgents in 1947.
Sources
Krzysztof Komorowski, Boje Polskie 1939–1945, Warszawa: Bellona, 2009.
Janusz Piekalkiewicz, The Cavalry of World War II, New York: Stein and Day, 1980.
Steven J. Zaloga, The Polish Army 1939–45, Oxford: Osprey, 1998.
www.polskaniezwykla.pl
January 02, 2023
battle, schoenfeld, polish, szarża, borujskiem, took, place, march, 1945, during, world, scene, last, mounted, charge, history, polish, cavalry, last, confirmed, successful, cavalry, charge, world, history, notes, polish, charge, overran, german, defensive, po. The Battle of Schoenfeld Polish Szarza pod Borujskiem took place on 1 March 1945 during World War II and was the scene of the last mounted charge in the history of the Polish cavalry and the last confirmed successful cavalry charge in world history notes 1 The Polish charge overran German defensive positions and forced a German retreat from the village of Schoenfeld today known as Zensko formerly known in Polish as Borujsko In March 1945 the First Army of the Polish People s Army was advancing into Pomerania as part of an overall push by and backed by Soviet forces to reach the Baltic Sea and the area of Stettin some 50 miles 80 km northwest of Schoenfeld Schoenfeld was part of the third line of fortifications built by the Germans to shelter Pomerania from attack Battle of SchoenfeldPart of the East Pomeranian Offensive in the Eastern Front of World War IIPolish 1st Cavalry Brigade March 1945DateMarch 1 1945LocationZensko in Pomerania53 24 38 N 16 04 40 E 53 41056 N 16 07778 E 53 41056 16 07778ResultPolish victoryBelligerents Poland GermanyCommanders and leadersJan Rotkiewicz pl 2nd ID Konstanty Gryzawski 1st Cavalry Brig Karl Rubel 163 ID Units involved2nd Infantry Division1st Warsaw Independent Cavalry Brigade163rd Infantry DivisionCasualties and lossesPolish forces 147 killedGerman forces c 500 killed An initial Polish attack on Schoenfeld with tanks and infantry of the 2nd Infantry Division floundered in the low open wetlands that were dominated by the fire of infantry and antitank guns from Schoenfeld which sat at a slightly higher elevation on a small hill Hill 157 German troops defending the village were part of the 163rd Infantry Division 1 Battle of SchoenfeldStettinclass notpageimage Location of the Battle of Schoenfeld The 1st Warsaw Independent Cavalry Brigade was then employed against the German position Two squadrons companies 2 of cavalry supported by the elements of the horse artillery company having used a ravine to cover their approach to their infantry and tanker brothers in arms charged through the smoke of burning tanks 3 and achieved tactical surprise with a swift mounted assault that overran the German antitank gun positions 4 on the forward slope of Hill 157 This success was followed by an attack into the village itself by the cavalry who by this time had been joined by the infantry and tanks 5 In the face of this development the surviving German defenders withdrew allowing the Poles to consolidate their gains in and around the village at 1700 6 7 Polish cavalry men 124 Polish infantry and 16 tank men were dead for circa 500 dead Germans Today a plaque mounted on a stone near the edge of Zensko commemorates the cavalry charge citation needed Citations Edit Boje Polskie p 55 outside of the English speaking world squadrons meant companies up to 1947 Piekalkiewicz p 234 Zaloga p 27 Boje Polskie p 56 Boje Polskie p 56Notes Edit The website www historycy org notes the assertion by Polish author Cezar Lezenski in Ostatnia szarza that further cavalry charges were made on April 21 1945 at Heckelberg and Grunthal six kilometers east of Heckelberg as well as mentioning a mounted charge by Polish frontier security forces Wojska Ochrony Pogranicza against UPA insurgents in 1947 Sources EditKrzysztof Komorowski Boje Polskie 1939 1945 Warszawa Bellona 2009 Janusz Piekalkiewicz The Cavalry of World War II New York Stein and Day 1980 Steven J Zaloga The Polish Army 1939 45 Oxford Osprey 1998 www polskaniezwykla pl Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Schoenfeld amp oldid 1074185107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
