In the late 1930s, the world realized that the time of dashing cavalry attacks was over, and future wars would be clashes between tanks and mechanized units. Following this doctrine, the Soviet leadership significantly cut the number of cavalry units in the Red Army. From 1938 to 1941, 19 cavalry divisions were disbanded.
The German invasion, however, demonstrated that the Soviets had written off its cavalry too soon. Surprisingly, cavalry units turned out to be the most resistant of Soviet units during the catastrophic 1941. Not dependent on roads and fuel supplies, maneuverable and rapid cavalry could covertly push through impenetrable forests and take the enemy by surprise, organizing counterattacks or covering retreating Soviet troops.
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