Aleksander’s Book Corner
This Sunday we will have a further look at the early war experiences of Ulanen-Regiment König Wilhelm I. (2. Württembergisches) Nr. 20. This time they will receive their baptism of fire durng their first encounter with French cavalry. Several times the French had refused to engage in mounted combat, but had instead retired and lured the pursuing German cavalry into the range of French infantry in concealed positions.
August 22, 1914:
“In spite of my warning not to pursue, the patrol, at 7 a.m., after leaving the woods near Forthaus Billancy and crossing the avenue of poplars on Longuyon, is tempted to lose its way on the third deployment to attack French dragoons who once more are escaping. The patrol immediately comes under rapid infantry fire. We became scattered before gathering in a hollow, where sergeant d. R. Schaf helps an Uhlan, who has fallen off his horse. Numerous French Dragoons were now pursuing us, with French cyclists in the poplar avenue pursuing us in parallel and showering us with carbine fire.
“In spite of my warning not to pursue, the patrol, at 7 a.m., after leaving the woods near Forthaus Billancy and crossing the avenue of poplars on Longuyon, is tempted to lose its way on the third deployment to attack French dragoons who once more are escaping. The patrol immediately comes under rapid infantry fire. We became scattered before gathering in a hollow, where sergeant d. R. Schaf helps an Uhlan, who has fallen off his horse. Numerous French Dragoons were now pursuing us, with French cyclists in the poplar avenue pursuing us in parallel and showering us with carbine fire.
Despite wire fenced cattle pastures hindering the rushed patrol, after being pursued for five kilometers we finally reach our own infantry at Tellancourt, where the commanding general is informed of the enemy trench system that I have seen. Count Adelmann found a wounded Uhlan the next day in Longuyon in a French hospital that had been left behind during the pursuit. Immediately afterwards new order to reconnoiter a practicable route for cavalry over the Chiers section.”
August 24, 1914:
“There in the field, lonely with his bugler, stands a squadron commander who, full of greed for a rather beautiful bivouac site, has joined the high staff; the squadron ‘should keep in touch’. But all the shouting and whistling when the place was found would yielded no results. There was absolutely no movement to be seen; so he went back. Finally, something could be heard, softly at first, more clearly as he got closer: they were all lying there, reins over their arms, snoring. None of them had slept more than four hours since the evening of 21st August, so there was no exchange of views about the failure to stay in touch
“There in the field, lonely with his bugler, stands a squadron commander who, full of greed for a rather beautiful bivouac site, has joined the high staff; the squadron ‘should keep in touch’. But all the shouting and whistling when the place was found would yielded no results. There was absolutely no movement to be seen; so he went back. Finally, something could be heard, softly at first, more clearly as he got closer: they were all lying there, reins over their arms, snoring. None of them had slept more than four hours since the evening of 21st August, so there was no exchange of views about the failure to stay in touch
The next morning the French had unfortunately gotten up a little earlier, so instead of morning coffee we were greeted by rifle fire, so that getting ready became extraordinarily encouraged, with not a few losing their heads and their equipment. I can still see our senior physician Dr. Schneider, followed by his faithful shadow, the Uhlan Ziegler with the fat medical packhorse (incidentally one of the few really good horses), as they stayed behind during the enemy fire in the woods to bandage the wounded.”
Source:
-Ulanen-Regiment König Wilhelm I. Im Weltkrieg.