For centuries, mounted units were considered a fixed component of an army. However, this changed in the 20th century, especially during the Second World War rapidly. Nevertheless, individual cavalry units were deployed in the US Army in the post-war period (-> Current news about the US armed forces). The last real mounted cavalry unit served in Berlin until 1958.
After the bulk of the US troops were withdrawn from Europe in the immediate post-war years, one force remained in the American occupation zones in Germany and Austria (alongside a few other units), which mainly carried out security tasks: the Constabulary. Until 1952, the Constabulary, which was divided into nine regiments (the 4th Regiment was responsible for Austria and West Berlin), served in the American occupation zones. The Germans jokingly referred to the members of this troop as “potato beetles”, while other GIs called them “Circle C cowboys”. The personnel consisted mainly of former tank scouts – the tank reconnaissance unit was nominally part of the US Cavalry. In addition to motorized units (equipped with jeeps and armoured reconnaissance vehicles, as well as motorcycles and heavy limousines), the Constabulary also introduced cavalry units for security operations in Germany. The horses for this came mainly from Germany. Saddles, bridles and other horse equipment, however, came from the USA.
It had already been the practice during the Second World War to deploy cavalry units that had not been converted into armored reconnaissance units and were to be used as real cavalry, with saddles, bridles and all accessories, but to procure the horses locally. This was the plan, for example, with the 124th Cavalry Regiment, which came to Burma but was ultimately deployed there as infantry. The mounted reconnaissance platoons of the 5th Army in Italy also received horses purchased in Italy. It should be noted that the only cavalry unit actually used as cavalry was the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts), which fought in the Philippines in 1941/42. The horses of the other cavalry regiments (mostly thoroughbreds) were sold to civilian buyers at auctions during the war. The Army’s own breeding program was almost completely scaled back, and in 1948 it was transferred entirely to the Department of Agriculture. The sight of mounted soldiers was nothing spectacular in post-war Germany, as horse-drawn vehicles were also used in agriculture and small businesses.
There was a memorable moment in 1946 when General Dwight D. Eisenhower inspected units of the Constabulary in Munich. The Horse Platoon paraded past Eisenhower with lances and pennants, and every effort was made to impress the General. Obviously, however, the mounted units of the Constabulary had a manpower problem. The solution was unconventional: they searched prisoner-of-war camps for former Wehrmacht soldiers who were good riders. They found them among the captured members of the 11th Armored Division. And so it was that not only US constables rode past the commander-in-chief on horseback at the aforementioned parade, but also some captured Wehrmacht soldiers. As a reward for their participation in the successful parade – the deception was not discovered – they were given cigarettes.
Although the US Cavalry lives on today in the form of armored reconnaissance units, armored units and helicopter-borne combat units, 1958 was the last year for horsemen, mounts and pack animals in the US Army. The last two pack animal units (they were not part of the Cavalry) continued to exist until 1958, when the 4th Field Artillery Battalion (Pack) and the 35th Quartermaster Pack Company were disbanded at Fort Carson. A total of 322 mules went to the National Park Service and various other agencies. The last real mounted cavalry unit of the US Army was also disbanded in 1958 – in Berlin. Shortly after the arrival of American soldiers in Berlin in the early fall of 1945, mounted patrols had already been set up, which came under the command of the 287th Military Police Company as the “Horse Platoon” in 1953. At that time, 57 horses and 37 soldiers were under the command of Lieutenant Frank W. Richnak. In 1957, Lieutenant H. Tutek commanded the platoon, followed by Lieutenant J.G. Roberts in 1958. The platoon was formally disbanded on March 31, 1958, and held a final parade one day later. The personnel were transferred to other units of the “Berlin Brigade”. The US Army donated the horses to various equestrian facilities in the Federal Republic of Germany.
