A
Amassov, Prince
appearance 58
demands refuge at Hostau 59–60
with Cossacks at surrender of Hostau 149
excluded by Reed from evacuation 163
volunteers to defend horses during evacuation 165–6
leads group in Operation Cowboy 227, 232
stays at Mansbach with Cossacks to care for horses 250
Anders, General 72
Andrews, Major Robert
leads assault on Asch 17–21
receives order from Reed regarding mission to Hostau 115–8
gives initial orders on mission 119–21
mission named “Task Force Andrews” 120–3
riding with Troop A on task force mission 128–36
concerns over enemy resistance outside Weissensulz 137–8
informed by McCaleb of PW situation at Schmolau 138
fails to rendezvous with Quinlivan 145
informed by Quinlivan that enemy firing on troop 147
captures Hostau with Catlett, Andrews and Quinlivan 149–50
organizes newly liberated Hostau and takes control of stud 151–2
completes first inspection of stud 155
ordered to return to HQ 162
B
Baer, Colonel 101
Baum, Captain Abraham
Task Force Baum 121–3
Benneke, Colonel Götz
discusses defense lines with Weisenberger 100–1
delivers message of approval to Lessing 103
reviews German line with Weisenberger 184–6
receives news of Hitler’s death 189–90
Berlin
1936 Berlin Olympics 1, 39, 205
Boyer, Sergeant Bill
rides stallion Tristan in Operation Cowboy 232
Bradley, General Omar
informs Patton of Eisenhower’s permission to go into Czechoslovakia 201–2
tells Patton not to advance on Prague 207–8
calls Patton with news of German surrender 211
C
Carpenter, Staff Sergeant Joseph
leads 3rd Platoon on Weissensulz 123
role in Task Force Andrews 128, 130
warns McCaleb of town ahead 133–4
Troop C takes wrong turn 134–6
incurs enemy fire near Weissensutz 137
finds Allied POWs near Schmolau 138
Catlett, Captain Carter
age and pre-war athletic form 115–16
commanding Troop A 128
helps disperse enemy at Weissensulz 138
moves Troop A forward from battle 147
takes surrender of Rudofsky and Lessing 148–50
takes control of Hostau under the order of Andrews 151
releases Rudofsky and Lessing to care for horses 152
presents officers to Reed at stud 159
Troop A left at Hostau 162
alerted that MSR closed by Germans 170
makes rounds of Troop A positions 183–4
defends Hostau from SS attack 178
post-war 253
Charles VI, Emperor
Winter Riding School 3–4
Chatterton, Technician Fifth Grade 43
Churchill, Winston
personal motto 47
reluctance to see Prague taken by Soviets 186–7
Collier, Brigadier General William
enters Arco Castle 205
gives Podhajsky permission to move horses 245–6
organizes repatriation of Polish POWs 246
assures Podhajsky he will receive notice of arrival of horses 248
Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (CSDIC) 12
Coudenhove-Kalergi, Count
home at Dianahof requisitioned by Holters 67
Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) 12
Custer, George Armstrong
obliteration at Little Bighorn 16
D
Darré, Richard 34
Debica
Polish horse-breeding industry re-established 35
stud under command of Rudofsky 56
Dianahof
reconnaissance mission on lodge led by Sperl 65–70
attacked and burned 79
Dönitz, Grand Admiral Karl
forming new Nazi government 181
appointed successor to Hitler 190
E
Eisenhower, General Dwight D.
orders Patton to turn south away from Berlin 10
sanctions special IPW 10 mission 12
orders Patton not to enter Prague 206, 208
considers Patton’s behavior damaging 211–12
Eisenstein Pass
strategic importance 162
Reed and 2nd Cavalry head south to pass 172
pass secured by Reed 184
Eisner, Kurt 5
F
Fletcher, Corporal Samuel
wounded during firefight at Rosendorf 180
Fomenich, Brigadier General
confrontation with Americans outside Hostau 225–8
Foyles, Staff Sergeant Fred R.
wounded during firefight at Rosendorf 180
Fraser, Major Alexander
prepares German-language letter with Likes for Stewart 87
G
Geneva Convention 40
H
Hamburg
Radio Hamburg 189
Hamilton, Colonel Fred
arranges shipment of Lipizzaner, Thoroughbred and Arabian horses to America 250–2
Hammelburg
Oflag XIII-B 121–2
Hammelburg Raid 211
Hargis, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas B.
and 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron 41–2
sends tanks to assist at Dianahof 69
briefed on mission 119–21
establishes observation post at Hill 615 108–10
informed of Task Force Andrews situation 136–7
Hassatitz
satellite stud facility 60, 155, 162, 164
Harris, Captain
commanding officer at Asch 19–20
Hazslinsky-Krull von Hazslin, Lieutenant Colonel Ceza
fails to save Royal Hungarian Lipizzaners from Soviets 45
Hitler, Adolf
Takes over power in Germany 34
perceived threat from Count von Arco 5
Lipizzaner stallions join birthday parade 55
“German Greeting” 84–5
death by suicide 170, 181, 190
Hofburg Palace
original home of Spanish Riding School at Vienna 2, 8, 252
Hoffmann, Heinrich
Hitler Youth leader 6
Holters, Colonel Walter
demands to speak to a senior American officer 25–6
conversation with Sperl 26–7
talks to Reed 28–31
reveals his true identity 30
burial of records at Dianahof 30
the stud at Hostau 32–3
Nazi breeding program 33–6, 39
POWs 40–1
dangers to horses from Soviets 44–6
agrees to surrender to Americans in return for rescue of horses 51
joins Sperl in Operation Sauerkraut 65–8, 70
awaits Sperl’s return to Dianahof 69
surrender at Dianahof 70–1
writes note to Rudofsky at stud 73
Holz, Second Lieutenant Louis T. 49
Hostau
stud taken over by German Army in 1938 32–3
used by Germans for selective breeding 34–9
use of POWs to run the stud 40–1
arrival of Amassov 59–60
liberated by Americans 148–50
supply routes closed 170–1
infantry code name for Hostau 193
Soviets attempt takeover of stud 224–7
moving horses from Hostau 231–6
last days at stud for Rudofsky 243–5
I
Interrogation Prisoners of War (IPW)
IPW 10 mission to Dianahof 22–3, 65–7
temporary HQ at Vohenstrauss 26
J
Jackson, President Andrew
lineage of 2nd Cavalry Group 16
Jodl, General Alfred
signed unconditional German surrender at Reims 211
Jose, Corporal Pat
drives Stewart to see Hargis 114
K
Kalwaic, Captain Henry J. 160
Katyn Massacre 72
Kötzting
first destination for horses leaving Hostau 214
prisoner of war discharge center 238–9
Podhajsky at Kötzting 240–3
arrangements to move horses on from Kötzting 246–8
Kroll, Captain Dr.Wolfgang
personality 61
discussion of Holters’ proposal 74, 76–8
goes looking for Lessing 84
meets Stewart 94
accompanies Americans to stud 152
reports to Stewart on condition of horses 183
busy with refugees 188
reconnaissance mission to find suitable stables 212, 214–5
attends animals in convoy 233
action plan to distribute horses 239
discussion about moving horses to Reichersberg Airfield 247
accompanies horses to USA 251
post-war 254
L
Lessing, Captain Dr.Rudolf
appearance 60
adjutant to Rau 60–1
meets with Rudofsky and hears Holters’ proposal 74–6
instructed by Rudofsky to go to rendezvous point 77–8
crosses American lines 79–81
learns of Reed’s decision to rescue stud 81–3
attends meeting with Reed and Stewart 85–7
goes on mission with Stewart to negotiate with Americans 89–93
at Hostau with Stewart 93–4
meets with Rudofsky and tells of plan to save horses 94–5
meets with Schulz 95–7
mission to Schloss Gibacht 97
meets with Weisenberger 99–103
accompanies Stewart to meeting with Schulz 104–7
returns with Stewart to brief Reed 107–8
confronted by aggressive German troops 110–11, 113–14
waits for Kroll at forester’s hut 114
agrees to rest at von Dobirsch’s home 124–5
receives information of Americans close by 139
rides towards Hostau 139–40
arrives back at stud 142
surrenders to Americans 148–50
accompanies Americans to stud 152
takes Stewart to satellite studs 155–6
talks to Rudofsky about danger of staying in Czechoslovakia 207
organizes horses into evacuation groups 219
takes over convoy from Rudofsky 229–30
halted by partisans 233–5
into Germany with convoy 238–9
greets Podhajsky and Reed at Kötzting 240
believes stud should go to America 241
hears of Patton’s decision 241–2
gathers trucks with Quinlivan to get horses to Reichersberg Airfield 247
life at Mansbach 250
declines offer of berth to America 251
post-war 254
Lincoln, Abraham 6
Lipizzaner horses
description of breed and lineage 28–9
training at Spanish Riding School 28–30
the stud at Hostau 32–3
Rau identifies Lipizzaner as “purest” horse in Europe 35
used as transport for Stewart on mission to Hostau 91–2
total numbers at Hostau 160
evacuation of mares and foals organized by Reed 163
horses cross into Germany and safety 238–9
Hamilton selects horses and organizes shipment to America 250–2
Long, Colonel
Dispatches platoon to assist Verry 179
assists in evacuation convoy 228
M
McCaleb, First Lieutenant Robert
with Andrews at the assault on Asch 17–19
assumes command of Troop C 20
Troop C’s operations on Czech frontier 42–3
initial thrust towards Weissensulz to liberate allied prisoners of war 123, 128, 132–4
liberates POWs outside Waier 133
Troop C takes wrong turn 134–6
requests truck to collect German POWs and organizes defense of released prisoners 138–9
post-war 254
McFarland, Private First Class
wounded with Troop C at Czech frontier 43
MacArthur, General Douglas 121
Mansbach
horses moved to old German stud at end of war 249–50
Manz, Private First Class Raymond
defends unit against enemy fire 175–7, 170–80
posthumous award 180
Merkers
German gold reserves discovered 211
Montgomery, Field Marshall
21st Army Group takes surrender of North West Germany, Denmark and Netherlands 211
MSR (Main Supply Route) 128, 170, 172
Mussolini, Benito
shot by communist partisans 13
N
Neapolitano Africa 209–10, 212
O
O’Leary, Sergeant
drives Reed and Podhajsky to Kötzting 240
Operation Cowboy
border crossing confrontation during 233–5, 237–8
organization of 232
journey to border 231–8
naming of 228
participants in 228–9
Operation Sauerkraut
Sperl coins humorous name 23
Sperl commands IPW 10 in Operation Sauerkraut 65–71
P
Patterson, Robert
with Patton at Arco Castle 209, 216
Patton, General George S.
appearance 9
representing USA in 1912 Stockholm Olympics 22
ordered to turn south to subdue “Alpine Redoubt” 10
Third Army nicknamed “Ghosts of Patton’s Army” 16, 119
threat from 11th Panzer Division 53
permission requested to rescue horses and POWs 71
position on Russia and Communists 72
gives unofficial order for horse rescue 73
receives report from Reed about the value of the herd 153
pushes Eisenhower for permission to strike on Prague 186–7
given green light to enter Czechoslovakia 201–2
ordered not to enter Prague 206–8
receives news of German surrender 211
hears Podhajsky’s plea for Spanish Riding School 215–16
gives official protection to Riding School 217
listens to Podhajsky’s plea for brood mares at Hostau 217
meets with Hamilton to discuss the horses in Germany 250
post-war 255
Peter of Yugoslavia, King
favorite Lippizanner of King ridden by Stewart 92
Piber Stud
brood mares moved from Piber Castle to Hostau 3
Podhajsky argues Austrian horses should go back to Piber 241
Pilsen
Skoda Works 101
Podhajsky, Colonel Alois
birthplace 1
bronze medal winner in 1936 Berlin Olympics 1, 205
defense and protection of Lipizzaner stock 7–8
conflict with Rau over breeding plan 36–8
relationship with Rudofsky 57
with Lipizzaner stallions at St. Martin 57, 62–3
defense of Arco Castle 158
meets with Weingart for last time 161–2
ordered to take command of forces in St. Martin 200–3
orders men into civilian clothes as American troops arrive 204
discusses plight of horses at Arco and Hostau 205–6
performance with Lipizzaners for Patton 209–12
requests help from Patton to save Spanish riding School 215–17
hears of chaotic beginnings of evacuation 232
invited to inspect horses 239
learns of Patton’s order to evacuate horses to Bavaria 239, 241
discusses ultimate destination of horses 241–2
considers problems of housing horses 242–3, 245
bids farewell to Reed 242
gets permission from Collier to move to Reichersberg Airfield 245–6
arrival of horses to Reichersberg 248
return of stallions to Mansbach 249
Mares and young transferred to Wels 252
post-war 255–6
Q
Quinlivan, First Lieutenant William
commands Troop A 2nd Platoon in mission to Hostau 117–18
role in Task Force Andrews 128–9
goes ahead with Troop A towards Hostau 136–7
arrives on the outskirts of Hostau 143–5
tests defenses 145–6
unit liberates Hostau 148–9
2nd platoon take up guard duties at stud 156–7, 162
given responsibility for security 164
maintains discipline at Hostau stud 189
necessity to move horses into American-occupied Germany 207
put in charge of moving mares in foal by Reed 212–3
mission to find transport to move horses from Hostau 218–9
prepares vehicles for convoy 228
rides Lotnik 232
demands opening of partisan barrier 234–5, 237–8
recruits German POWs to assist with convoy to Reichersberg Airfield 247
summer at Mansbach 250–1
post-war 256
R
“Radar” radio operator
drives Verry to resupply point 173
into trouble outside Weissensulz 174–5, 179–80
under attack from SS again 190, 192
Rau, Colonel Gustav
significance to horse-breeding program 34–9
appropriates stud at Hostau for his experiments 57
relationship with Podhajsky 57, 62–3
visits stud at Mansbach after war 250
Reed, Colonel Charles Hancock “Hank”
appearance 21
early life and education 21
equestrian skills 21–2
orders German car to be escorted to HQ 25–7
conversation with Holters 28–36, 39–41, 44–6
agreement with Holters 51
informed of success of Operation Sauerkraut 71
receives unofficial order to rescue horses 72–3
makes plans for rescue 73–4
a proposition made to Lessing and a guarantee to protect horses 81–4
speaks to Stewart about going to Hostau 85–7
receives report from Hargis about increased German defenses 108
receives radio briefing from Stewart 115
briefs Andrews on mission 115–18
armored support given 115–20
receives news of liberated Allied POWs 133
organizes truck to evacuate Allied prisoners 139
informed of capture of stud 153, 155
reviews tactical situation of Task Force Andrews 157
arrives at Hostau and meets Rudofsky 159
inspects Lipizzaner horses 160
taken on tour of other facilities 161
leaves Rudofsky in command of studs 189
moves south with 2nd Cavalry 172
orders Stewart not to engage with Panzer division 198
secures passes along German–Czech border 206
plan for moving horses 212–5, 219–20
concerns about unauthorized visitors to stud and Rudofsky’s involvement 216–17
response to reports of tank movements 220–1
impasse with Russians outside Hostau 223–8
receives final orders to move horses 228–30
invites Podhajsky to inspect horses at Kötzting 239, 240, 242
informs Lessing of Patton’s decision to return mares to Austria 241
Reed, Janice (wife) 22
Reichersberg Airfield 245–7
Rhodes, Technician Fifth Class Malcolm E.
wounded at Rosendorf 180
Riefenstahl, Leni
Triumph of the Will 11
Reims
Eisenhower HQ 211
Rothschild, Baron de
seizure of Brantome, Thoroughbred racehorse, in 1940 33
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Yalta agreement 187
Roosevelt, Teddy
Rough Riders 16
Rose, Colonel
arrangements made for Verry to visit 387th CP 173
Royal Hungarian Riding School 45
Rudofsky, Lieutenant Colonel Hubert
appearance and manner 56–7
relationship with Podhajsky 57
facing artillery fire at Hostau 58–60
arrival of Amassov and Cossacks 58–60
shelling of Hostau 63–4
reaction to shelling of stud 67
receives note from Holters 74
discusses Holters’ offer with Lessing and Kroll 75–8
confrontation with Schulz over whereabouts of vets 83–4, 87–8
informs Lessing of Schulz’s plan to defend the town 94–5
prepares to surrender stud 142, 146
surrenders to Americans 148–50
informs Americans about satellite studs 155
reaction on first meeting Reed 159
shows Lipizzaner horses to Reed 160
receives orders for evacuation 162–4
concern at orders to accompany horses to Bavaria 195–7, 199, 206–7
discusses logistics of moving Lipizzaner mares 212–5
denies allegations of involvement with communists 216
organizes horses into evacuation groups 219
confronts Reed about going on convoy 229–31
arrest 244–5
called to testify before Third Army staff 250
post-war 257–8
S
Saint Martin im Mühlkreis (also St. Martin)
Lipizzaner stallions moved to safety of Arco Castle 57
refugees flood into village 62
refugees vie for food 158
Podhajsky ordered to set up defenses in village 200–1
Schmolau
Allied prisoners escape captivity 50
liberation of POWs 138
Schulz, Brigadier General
demands to see the vets at Hostau 83–4, 87–8
confrontation with Lessing 96–7
Stewart’s opinion of Schulz on first meeting 104–5
meets with Stewart and Lessing 105–7
leaves Hostau Castle 142
Schulze, Veterinary Corps General Dr. Curt
tells Rudofsky to stay put and prepare defense barriers 75–6
Seventh Army Interrogation Center 13
Ski Infantry Battalion 101
Spadafino, Sergeant Vito 242, 250
Spanish Riding School of Vienna
Podhajsky appointed director of school at Hofburg Palace 1
dressage training of Lipizzaner 28–30
movement of stallions to St. Martin 5
performance for Patton 210, 215–7
Sperl, Captain Ferdinand P.
birth 12
arrival in America 12
“Ritchie Boy” 11
IPW 10 unit 12–13
receives news of Red Army on outskirts of Berlin 13
arrives at 2nd Cavalry Group HQ at Vohenstrauss 21–2
hears account of Lipizzaner horses 29–33
conversation with Reed regarding Operation Sauerkraut 22–3
Operation Sauerkraut 65–71
running POW discharge center at Kötzting 238–9
post-war 258
Steinmetz, Major Rollin 231
Stewart, Captain Thomas M.
appearance 85
home and education 86
approached about mission to Hostau 86–7
mission to Hostau 89–94
idea of how horses could be turned over to Americans 104–6
impression of Schulz 105
Schulz gives permission for rescue operation 106–7
returns with Lessing to brief Reed 107–8
confronted by German troops 110–11, 113–14
contacts Reed to report on mission 115
riding with Andrews in Troop A 128–9, 136
orders collection of German weapons 151
secures stud 152
tours satellite studs 155–6
dispels unrest at Zwirschen 156
evaluates strength of forces left at Hostau 162–3
takes command of Task Force Stewart 165
“Stewart’s Foreign Legion” 166–7, 169, 170–1
SS presence confirmed and assessed 171–2, 177
SS attack at Hostau 178, 187–8
orders Walker to prepare platoon 190–1
informed of Hitler’s death 191
into action to rescue Verry 191–3
briefed about German tank division passing Hostau 198
involvement in plan to move horses 212–3, 219–20
response to reports of tank movements 220–1
impasse outside Hostau 223
Operation Cowboy 228–34
arrives at Kötzting, Germany 238
testifies before Third Army HQ staff 250
post-war 258–9
Stollbrock, Colonel Karl 52–4
Sutton, Sergeant Owen W. 180
T
Teller mines 144
Trost, Lieutenant Colonel 99
U
US Army Remount Service 118
V
Verry, Captain
sent to 387th CP 173
Vohenstrauss 47, 72, 81, 84, 137, 139, 164
von Arco auf Valley, Count Anton 5
von Arco auf Valley, Countess Gabriele (wife) 5
von Bismarck, Prince 186
von Buttlar-Brandenfels, Brigadier General Treusch 51–52, 55, 143
new commander of 11th Panzer 197
von Dobirsch, Baron 124–5, 139–40
von Schirach, Gauleiter Baldur 6–8
von Stauffenberg, Count
failed plot to topple Nazis 75
von Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg, Prince
military stud appropriated by Rau 57
von Wietersheim, Major General Wend
relieved of command of 11th Panzer 52
agrees surrender to Americans 197–8
W
Waffen-SS
unit in Hostau area 171
fails at Hostau 180–1
surrender to Stewart 190–2
Walker, Lieutenant General Walton H. “Bulldog”
suggests Lipizzaner performance for Patton 206
Walker, Sergeant
fights off attack on Verry 190–2
Wastl, Oberst
Volkssturm commander at Waier 130
sees groups of men fleeing Waier 132
Wehrkreis XIII Headquarters 97, 99
commander General Schulz 83–4
Weiden
Stalag XIII-B 40–1
Weingart, Major General Erich 161–2
Weisenberger, Lieutenant General Karl
appearance 99
meets with Lessing to hear of American offer 99–103
reviews situation relating to bulge in defense line 184–6
receives news of Hitler’s death 189–90
changing command of 11th Panzer 198–9
defense units fall to pieces 206
post-war 259
Weissensulz
taking town first objective of Task Force Andrews 123–4
McCaleb advances on town 128, 134–9
reviews defenses of unit 186–7
news of Hitler’s death 189–90
Windisch-Grätz, Prince 97
Y
Z
Zinkovy 212
Zwirschen
Stewart inspects satellite facilities 156
Reed decides to occupy with American soldiers 162
Quinlivan responsible for security of stud 164