Cavalrymen.

This is coolbert:

Here are three cavalrymen from the era of World War Two [WW2] who each, in their own way, achieved a degree of fame.

1. Bor- Komorowski. An excellent horseman from a nation that has a long, historic reputation for producing fine cavalry [Winged Hussars].





"In the First World War he served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army, and after the war became an officer in the Polish Army, rising to command the Grudziadz Cavalry School."

"He fought as a captain in the 9th Cavalry (Malopolski Lancers) in the 1919 Russo-Polish war, later in 1920 commanding the 12th Cavalry (Podolski Lancers). Between the wars he advanced slowly up the ranks being an unremarkable officer but a world-renowned horseman."

Commander of the Polish Home Army forces during the Battle of Warsaw [1944] in WW2. Finally had to capitulate to German forces with the guarantee that his fighters would be treated in a fair and humane manner. Survived the war, becoming a politician and writer.

"Bór-Komorowski went into internment in Germany (at Oflag IV-C). Liberated at the end of the war, he spent the rest of his life in London, where he played an active rôle in Polish émigré circles."

2. Baron Nishi. Japanese equestrian who won a Gold Medal at the 1932 Olympics aboard his horse Uranus. Had the reputation as a playboy, hobnobbing with the Hollywood elite, but seems to be well liked by everyone he came in contact with.



"During his stay in Los Angeles, Nishi became the topic of conversation both for his love of driving convertibles around town and for becoming part of the social circle led by movie star couple Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks."

Playboy aside, he was an outstanding horseman [Olympic Gold Medal].

"promoted to be a cavalry instructor at the regimental school"

Commanded a tank regiment during the Battle of Iwo Jima [1945], and was killed. Fought as a samurai, according to his code of honor, to the end.

"The American forces, who knew that Nishi was an enemy commander, daily broadcast appeals for him to surrender, stating that the world would regret losing 'Baron Nishi'. He never responded."

3. Herman Fegelein. SS Mann, the personal aide to Hitler and THE BROTHER-IN-LAW to same. [a brother-in-law after the fact from the marriage of Eva Braun to Hitler. Gretl, the sister of Eva, was the wife of Fegelein.]



With Fegelein, we find things get much more complicated.

In the movie "Downfall", Fegelein is portrayed as a dissolute, a man who wants to flee the Fuhrer bunker and save his own life, forgetting his duty.

Ends up standing drunk before a firing squad and is mowed down by sub-machine gun fire.

That Fegelein was an outstanding horseman is beyond question. Grew up with horses and had ability as an equestrian.

"As a young boy he worked at his father's horse riding school in Munich."

Had entre' to the Nazi party and the highest leadership of same from his ability with horses.

"he worked as a stable boy for Christian Weber, who in the 1930s was one of the original members of the Nazi Party."

Was a cavalryman in the Weimar Republic Army.

"In 1925, Fegelein joined the Reiterregiment 17"

Through his contacts with the highest leadership levels of the Nazi regime, he became head of the SS Riding School.

"On July 25, 1937, Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler, by special order of the Oberabschnitt (SUD), created the SS Main Riding School in Munich and made Hermann Fegelein the School Commander"

Actually saw combat during WW2 as a cavalryman on the Eastern Front.

"Fegelein rose quickly through the ranks and was briefly sent to the Russian front in 1943 with the Florian Geyer Cavalry Division, along with members of his SS Riding School (Haupt-Reitschule München)"

Returning to Germany as the personal aide to Hitler, continued in his duties as a horseman.

"Fegelein also became the Commandant of the SS Horse Farm at Fischhorn Castle near Zell am See, Austria."

As I have said, Fegerlein was found guilty of dereliction of duty and executed in the very last days of WW2. His behavior was that of a man well at the end of his rope, almost someone that has taken leave of his senses.

[this according to one account.]

"No sooner were we seated than defendant Fegelein . . . began acting up in such an outrageous manner that the trial could not even commence . . . Roaring drunk, with wild, rolling eyes, Fegelein the man was in wretched shape - bawling, whining, vomiting, shaking like an aspen leaf. He took out his penis and began urinating on the floor..."

However, there was a gentler, kinder, more likable and humane side to Hermann Fegerlein?

IT IS SUGGEST THAT BOR-KOMOROWSKI ONLY SURVIVED THE WAR AS A POW DUE TO THE INTERCESSION OF FEGELEIN. BOTH MAN HAVING A COMMON LOVE OF HORSES AND THE EQUESTRIAN ARTS. FEGELEIN SAW A KINDRED SPIRIT IN BOR-KOMOROWSKI AND SAW THAT THE LATTER WAS TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY??!!

"Komorowski and a few survivors passed into German Captivity and surprisingly survived to be handed over to the Americans at Innsbruck in May 1945. This was possibly due to the fact that an SS cavalry officer Hermann Fegelein was determined to protect Komorowski, as they had been friends before the war on the international horse riding circuits."

None of us are absolutely black or white, but consists of shades of grey in between??!!

coolbert.