Poland has saved the West's collective ass twice that I am aware of. The most recent event was stopping the Red Army's advance into West Europe in 1920. I will bet your public school teacher never brought that up.
But the more important victory was at the Gates of Vienna in 1683 as the Polish Winged Hussars led a coalition army into the rear of the invading Muslim (Ottoman) empire's army, breaking the siege in a pretty Deus ex machina-mode movement (esp. considering the political infighting of the Euros at the time).
We remember
In September
September 11th, to be precise. Some of you might have wondered why Al Quada chose this date to attack America (ie, the West); others might have made note of Bin Ladin's fatwas, and the focus on reclaiming "Muslim" lands...which included the Gates of Vienna. Many Muslims feel that this loss was the beginning of the end for the califa, and the beginning of the modern Western incursion into Muslim lands.
{SUPER EXTRA BONUS--Who knows what the terms Dar Al-Islam and Dar Al-Harb mean?}
I first read of this in Michner's classic, Poland. One point is that the wings were supposed to make a weird sound, rattling tghe horses of their enemy. Still haven't found a re-enactment of that sound ;>
Swedish band Saboton, using footage from a Polish-Italian film, wrote a song. This is a badass vid, starting in particular at the 3.00 mark.
A cry for help in time of need, await relief from holy league
60 days of siege, outnumbered and weak
Sent a message to the sky, wounded soldiers left to die
Will they hold the wall or will the city fall
Dedication
Dedication
They’re outnumbered 15 to one
And the battle´s begun
Then the winged hussars arrived
Coming down the mountainside
Then the winged hussars arrived
Coming down they turned the tide
As the days are passing by and as the dead are piling high
No escape and no salvation
Trenches to explosive halls are buried deep beneath the walls
Plant the charges there and watch the city fear
Desperation
Desperation
It’s a desperate race against the mine
And a race against time
Cannonballs are coming down from the sky
Janissaries are you ready to die?
We will seek our vengeance eye for an eye
You’ll be stopped upon the steps of our gate
On this field you’re only facing our hate
But back home the Sultan’s sealing your fate
We remember
In September
That’s the night Vienna was freed
We made the enemy bleed!
Stormclouds, fire and steel
Death from above make their enemy kneel
Shining armour and wings
Death from above, it’s an army of kings
We remember
In September
When the winged hussars arrived
I keep forgetting to share this vid with Mosby's (aka Mountain Guerilla)Patreon group.
This is a shame because Mosby has been spending a lot of ink examining the role of cavalry in SHTF conditions, although the bulk of that discussion IS re light cavalry.
Still, it would be hilarious to see the looks on the faces of urban looters when these guys rode them down with sabre and lance (and even mabye a boom box playing Sabotan. DOUBLE EXTRA BONUS if the looks on the faces belong to antifa/burnlootmurder scum.