Operation Cowboy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Operation Cowboy
Part of the Western Front of World War II
Date 28 April 1945 (1945-04-28) Location Hostau, Czechoslovakia (now Czechia) Result Allied success
Belligerents
United States Wehrmacht POWs Allied POWs 1st Cossack Cavalry Division deserters	Germany Waffen-SS
Commanders and leaders
Captain Thomas M. Stewart Major Robert P. Andrews Lt.Col. Walter Holters Lt.Col. Hubert Rudofsky	Unknown
Units involved
42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Group, XII Corps	Waffen-SS Infantry

Operation Cowboy was a special event that happened near the end of World War II in Europe. It took place on April 28, 1945, in a village called Hostau (now Hostouň) in Czechoslovakia (which is now the Czech Republic). This operation was unique because American soldiers and some German soldiers from the Wehrmacht worked together. They fought side-by-side against another German group called the Waffen-SS. This was one of only two times this happened during the entire war.

Why the Horses Needed Saving

After Austria became part of Nazi Germany in 1938, special horses were moved. These horses were famous Lipizzaner breeding mares from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. They were taken to a farm in Hostau, in an area controlled by Nazi Germany. The goal was to create a new kind of "Aryan horse."

The head of the Spanish Riding School was Alois Podhajsky. He was a famous German horseman. He had won a bronze medal in horse riding at the 1936 Olympics. By 1938, he was an officer in the German army (Wehrmacht).

As World War II was ending, the Soviet Red Army was moving from the East. The German soldiers at the farm did not want to surrender to the Soviets. From the West, the American Third Army was also moving towards the farm. This army was led by General George Patton. Both armies were racing to reach Prague first.

Planning the Rescue Mission

German veterinarians at the farm were very worried about the horses. They feared what the Soviet army might do. This was because the Soviets had already killed many horses in Hungary. A German air force officer, Lieutenant Colonel Walter Holters, was also at the farm. He wasn't part of the farm staff but was stuck there.

Holters tried to make a deal with the American troops who were getting close. He and Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Rudofsky, who was in charge of the horses, both wanted to save the valuable animals. They contacted the closest American unit. This was the 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. It was part of the 2nd Cavalry Group.

The 2nd Cavalry Group was known for its brave and fast attacks. German soldiers even called them the "Ghosts of Patton's Army." Even though they used vehicles now, many officers in this group loved horses. They had worked with horses before their units became mechanized. So, they quickly started planning a rescue.

It seems that General Patton himself met with Alois Podhajsky. They talked about rescuing these horses. The meeting between Holters and the Americans might have been planned before April 26.

The rescue was not easy for a few reasons. First, some German troops near the Czech border were not part of the agreement. They might fight the Americans. Second, many of the hundreds of horses were pregnant or had just given birth. Moving them would be hard. Finally, Czechoslovakia was supposed to be in the Soviet area of control. The Soviet army might not have agreed with the operation if they arrived in time.

The Battle to Save the Horses

General Patton agreed to the rescue plan. He ordered a special team to be put together quickly. But there were not many soldiers available. The team included two small cavalry units with M8 scout cars. They also had some M8 Howitzer Motor Carriages and two M24 Chaffee light tanks. A group of 325 infantry soldiers also joined. Major Robert P. Andrews led this special team.

The path to the farm was 20 miles long. It went through German-held territory. Thousands of German soldiers were still there. This included two armored divisions, like the 11th Panzer Division. This division would surrender a few days later.

The American team passed the German defenses at the border. They had help from American artillery fire. Major Andrews secured the farm. Then, he faced the big job of moving all the horses. There were more horses than men in his team. So, Andrews asked for help from Allied POWs. These prisoners were British, New Zealanders, French, Poles, and Serbs. They had been freed from nearby prison camps.

Andrews also gave weapons to the German soldiers from the Heer and Luftwaffe who were at the farm. Even though they were officially prisoners, they helped. Finally, he accepted help from a Russian anti-communist Cossack named Prince Amassov. Amassov led a small group of Cossack cavalry. They had left the German 1st Cossack Cavalry Division and were in the area.

After reaching the farm, Colonel Reed looked for vehicles. They needed to move the pregnant horses and newborn foals. Meanwhile, Major Andrews put Captain Thomas M. Stewart in charge of the team.

Before they could leave the farm, the mixed group was attacked twice. Soldiers from the Waffen-SS attacked them. Both attacks were pushed back. Some soldiers were killed or injured. The SS unit lost more men and eventually left. Right after, Stewart managed to move the horses. Some were ridden, and others were herded. They left just as the first Soviet T-34 tank appeared. The Soviets did not try to fight. The operation ended when all the horses were loaded onto trucks. They were then safely moved behind American lines near the border.

What Happened Next

Cultural Impact

The 1963 American adventure war film Miracle of the White Stallions was made by Walt Disney. This movie is based on the story of Operation Cowboy.