A cavalry officer under the command of Patton, another old, actual horse cavalry officer, a historian at that, who also hated the Reds. Of course, Patton is gonna authorize the op. That scene in Patton of him riding a Lippizzaner makes SO MUCH more sense now. As does all those world tours of the Lippanzers. It wasn’t just a beautiful horse show, it was anti-Communist propaganda.
Horses are often treated pretty badly during wartime, so this story is very heartwarming. Such beautiful horses and their offspring were spared the cutely of war.
castle itrer to me is far less crazy since it kinda makes sense that in the closing parts of the war some germans would defect THIS story is far crazier because tehy allied over...horses...and also joined foces with an anti communist former prince to defend said horses
The reason General Patton authorized this was because he was an avid horseman himself, and when he was told about this, he stepped in to save one of the most famous and legendary breed of horses in the world.
You do realize that a world war is not going on at the moment, right? I don't see why horse girls would join forces to murder random people in these times
long before the internet, I remember reading a snippet about Patton saving a bunch of prized stallions from the advancing Soviets, it is great to finally hear the full story!
"how did y'all end up here?" "injured liberating France" "blew up while storming Normandy" "shielded an orphan from a motar shell" "...fancy horses, 2 dudes really liked fancy horses"
that germans love for horse made him the luckiest sob ive seen he got a recon regiment to allied with him over horses and others to help, god i love horses
Stewart's Foreign Legion was one part of Operation Cowboy that I found interesting to see. Men from so many different nations chose to work to help in rescuing these fine horses (and doing something so noble). And this was not mentioned but the Soviets executed the personnel at the Royal Hungarian Riding School. If the horses were to be captured by the advancing Soviets, they'd be probably eaten since the hunger the Red Army felt was enormous. It'd be great to see a movie being released of this event (Disney did a movie in 1964, but only loosely based on it).
Fight each other because you’re on opposite sides? ❎ Fight with each other because you’re both big horse lovers and don’t want these beautiful creatures abused? ✅
As a horse lover myself, I'm amazed that such an event actually happened and so happy that all the Lipizzaners made out safely. Fun fact about this breed: When a Lipizzan horse is born, the foal's coat is either bay or black and becomes lighter as the horse gets older.
Because it's overshadowed by Castle Itter. Things went very smoothly in this operation. In Castle itter, it is a true underdog story, where there was some struggle, including the heroic straight out of a movie death of the commander of the German forces by his own men. People just prefer hearing stories about the underdog winning, the same reason Overlord overshadow Dragoon
@archimedesfromteamfortress2 I see what you're saying for sure, but every single video I've seen on Castle Itter says it was the only time US and Wermacht forces fought the SS. Maybe it's bc this one is new to me but it's a way cooler story too.
I recommend watching the British historian Mark Felton's episode about Castle Itter, his final words on that video reveals that it is not the only time where they worked together. He wrote a whole book about Operation Cowboy
There must've been lots of times where the Allies and Wehrmacht worked together against the SS and its sadly not been recorded but I'm glad so far we got Castle Itter and the Epic Horse
It makes sense when you think about it they're mostly were people who against the Soviet Union and they had to suffer the same fate it had a reminder that we suffered from the flower girl incident and it pretty much made us not really care about Russians regime your enemy of your enemies your friend but your enemy is the most f.cked up individual so when you finally find in the Allies to actually save people he would drop it on a hat I would do too personally I despise the Soviet Union and Nal.zi Germany equally I still do
More like germans were scared shitless for what would come to those “distinguished gentlemen” for years of rape and pillage of USSR and so they chose ant excuse to run away to the embrace of the “”””””Allies”””””. To US and Britain those may have looked like noble people, but to Russia they were worse than deranged fiends, murderous and off the leash, allowed to do any crime against “inferior” peoples.
I hope someone, somewhere, will make a movie about this episode of history, a time when people of different backgrounds, creeds, and loyalties came together to save the lives living creatures who could not defend themselves, we need these kind of stories now more than ever. Thank you to everyone at Simple History for brining this story to light so viewers like me can appreciate the miracle!
You're talking about the Battle of Castle itter and yes that did happen. It happened after 2 weeks of Hitler blowing his brains out. The German army fought with the American army against German SS who were trying to kill political prisoners at Castle itter. Simple history did a video on it several years ago
This was exceptional, as always you've exceeded my expectations Simple History. Operation Cowboy is one of the best examples where we see the light in the dark tunnel, where in war there are people of different allegiances and nationalities fighting side by side for a common goal. It really touched my heart seeing the allies and the Heer troops fighting to save those horses from suffering a horrible fate at the hands of either the SS or the Red Army. May all those valiant men rest in peace🫡🕊.
Why isn't both this and Castle Itter both movies, to show how good people can still band together to do what is right against real evil as happened both times
Patton had three motivations for charging into Czechoslovakia. 1) He wanted to save the Lizipanner stallions from the Russians. 2) He wanted to liberate and secure the Pilsen brewery so his boys could have cold beer. 3) He wanted his boys to end the war in Czechoslovakia, a “friendly” country, so that they could freely “fraternize” with young Czech women, instead of technically hostile German women. Ike kept ordering Patton not to cross the demarcation line, but Patton, who was dyslexic, replied, “Ike, you know I have enough trouble reading English. How I the $&@# am I supposed to figure out Czech signs?” Go see the Lizipanner Stallions perform. At the conclusion of the show, a lone rider dressed as Patton will ride around the area to the “Patton” movie theme. The White Stallions know how to thank.
This is one of the three times Germans and Allies worked together in WWIII, the other was Castle Itter, and the third one was when German POWs provided escort to a British unit.
Having served as a member of the second squadron second Calvary regiment I can say that every year on that date there is a celebration and fest honoring operation cowboy and what was done to save the horses
And I was thinking Castle Itter was the battle we fought with Germans against the SS but nope this one shocked me basically fighting against 2 enemies the SS and time
Wehrmacht: Cant believe im gonna die fighting side by side with an American. US GI: What about side by side with a friend? Wehrmacht: Ja… I can do that.
Hitler’s hand twitch at 1:31 is such a good detail, I think he had Parkinson’s or something but I can’t remember exactly. Also I found out about Operation Cowboy from the Commando comic “Four Horsemen”, it’s really good
Operation Cowboy is, in my eyes, a beautiful illustration of the notion that, no matter the nation we may swear fealty to, we are all stewards of God's kingdom, and all that dwells within it must be looked after and taken care of. If any life can be saved, then it absolutely must be. Colonel Reed and Lt. Colonel Holters understood the assignment and carried it out flawlessly.
War really is the time where we are the most human, the best and worst of us come to the surface. May our greatest failures and damage be forgiven in time, and may our greatest triumphs and bonds be remembered.
There is a book, The Perfect Horses, that explains this rescue mission and how Patton put the riding school under protection of the Army. It details how the lipizzaners were save and a few thousand other horses including Polish cavalry mounts and draft horses being bred at the farm. It is a really well written book worth a read.
Realy intresting story. However, its quite sad when you realize that those cossacks whom holped americans in this operation after surrender to allies were turned over to Stalin despite promises given to them by British and Americans, and subsequently were wiped out almost completly in gulags
Correction at both 1:27 and 1:48. Corsica is wrongly shown to be under German/Axis control while in reality it was liberated by a joint French-Italian operation between September and October 1943
This video was made possible thanks to everyone on the Simple History Patreon: www.patreon.com/simplehistory
Like video
What a stupid thing to do
An officer looking to save horses encountering a cavalry regiment is so serendipitous it's like something from a movie or book.
A cavalry officer under the command of Patton, another old, actual horse cavalry officer, a historian at that, who also hated the Reds. Of course, Patton is gonna authorize the op.
That scene in Patton of him riding a Lippizzaner makes SO MUCH more sense now.
As does all those world tours of the Lippanzers. It wasn’t just a beautiful horse show, it was anti-Communist propaganda.
Disney made a movie about it. Miracle of the White Stallions 1963.
@@adamb5436is it any good ?
Not only that, but being joined by *Cossacks* , a people whose entire culture revolved around horses.
I would recommend watching the movie. @@branden9537
They really said "Yeah we're outnumbered and wanna go home but horses..."
Horse people are the craziest
Love of horses greater than life itself
Gotta save the Aryan horses
Many people die fighting off poachers just to save and protect animals, but this was a crazy example.
"We were so tired of death and destruction. We wanted to do something beautiful." Col. Reed. I am touched, what a beautiful story.
A well made movie about this would fill theaters up.
be cool to have made this back when John Wayne was alive
A mix of cowboys and war history: Hollywood would fucking have a field day with this kind of film.
Would be cool if that movie starred Robert Taylor and was released by Disney. In 1963
@@AntonGudenus What is the title???
Miracle of the White Stallions
Horses are often treated pretty badly during wartime, so this story is very heartwarming. Such beautiful horses and their offspring were spared the cutely of war.
This and Castle Itter are some of the craziest stories to come out of WW2.
These stories are why I love history. It's the story of mankind, and that story has some serious twists in it.
@ Well said
These stories need to be told to the public; they deserve movies.
@@MrBud1911 Agreed
castle itrer to me is far less crazy since it kinda makes sense that in the closing parts of the war some germans would defect
THIS story is far crazier because tehy allied over...horses...and also joined foces with an anti communist former prince to defend said horses
The reason General Patton authorized this was because he was an avid horseman himself, and when he was told about this, he stepped in to save one of the most famous and legendary breed of horses in the world.
Castle Itter has been quiet since this dropped
OOF
Loll
Hoping that they make a Remake of that story it's my favorite of WW2
If they can do a remake of the Attack of the Dead Men video, surely they can remake the Castle Itter video
You missed the e in letter
My dad got to see the Lipizzaner horses perform while he was on a business trip to Austria back in the late 70s. He sent me a postcard from there.
When horse girls meet : rides in circles
When horse boys meet : join forces to kill the enemies of the horses
What's it like to be a walking Planned Parenthood ad?
Who gave Lil' Bro mom's phone
You do realize that a world war is not going on at the moment, right? I don't see why horse girls would join forces to murder random people in these times
long before the internet, I remember reading a snippet about Patton saving a bunch of prized stallions from the advancing Soviets, it is great to finally hear the full story!
"how did y'all end up here?"
"injured liberating France"
"blew up while storming Normandy"
"shielded an orphan from a motar shell"
"...fancy horses, 2 dudes really liked fancy horses"
May the men of Different nations who fought together rest in peace
Amen✝️🕊️🙏🏻
Amen🕊️✝️🙏
Amen🕊🙏✝️
Amen🙏🕊✝️
Amen
what a WILD thumbnail
This needs to be a movie like NOW . Possibly a mini series
Definitely a mini series. A movie would try too hard to be Oscar bait and a series could explore so much more w/re story and characters.
There is. "Miracle of the White Horses" 1963
55 Days at Peking and Battle of Itter Castle and now this...
Don't forget the Battle Of Halbe.
@@Danzel_Gaming why?
Yeah but in Peking they were all allies not former enemies
@@sterkriger2572 I know dammit!
This would make a pretty dope Tarantino film.
Inglorious Bastards
@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401 Inglorious Bastards part 2 "Horsing Around"
Unfortunately, I think he only has one movie left in him. He always said he was only going to make so many, and he only has one left I believe.
@@kendoWTL I hope Quentin Tarantino will bringing back as the director if he's out from retirement
Tarantino can't differentiate Wehrmacht vs SS. Poor choice.
that germans love for horse made him the luckiest sob ive seen he got a recon regiment to allied with him over horses and others to help, god i love horses
sabaton made a song about castle Itter but they now need to make a song about this
They have a song about Castle itter. The song called "The Last Battle" in the Last Stand album
I was just about to ask if that song was about this event.
@Richard-dz4pm rather, the op wanted a song for this rescue mission as he did mention sabaton already made one for castle itter
Stewart's Foreign Legion was one part of Operation Cowboy that I found interesting to see. Men from so many different nations chose to work to help in rescuing these fine horses (and doing something so noble). And this was not mentioned but the Soviets executed the personnel at the Royal Hungarian Riding School. If the horses were to be captured by the advancing Soviets, they'd be probably eaten since the hunger the Red Army felt was enormous. It'd be great to see a movie being released of this event (Disney did a movie in 1964, but only loosely based on it).
Oh really? What's it called?
O@@bennywark3103Miracle of the White Stallions.
@kristoffermangila thank you
Fight each other because you’re on opposite sides? ❎
Fight with each other because you’re both big horse lovers and don’t want these beautiful creatures abused? ✅
As a horse lover myself, I'm amazed that such an event actually happened and so happy that all the Lipizzaners made out safely. Fun fact about this breed: When a Lipizzan horse is born, the foal's coat is either bay or black and becomes lighter as the horse gets older.
This is up my alley I grew up around horses taking care of them and riding them. Even bareback which is very hard.
So Castle Itter wasn't the only time US, Allied and Wermacht fought the SS. I don't see why this isn't more well-known.
Because it's overshadowed by Castle Itter. Things went very smoothly in this operation. In Castle itter, it is a true underdog story, where there was some struggle, including the heroic straight out of a movie death of the commander of the German forces by his own men.
People just prefer hearing stories about the underdog winning, the same reason Overlord overshadow Dragoon
@archimedesfromteamfortress2 I see what you're saying for sure, but every single video I've seen on Castle Itter says it was the only time US and Wermacht forces fought the SS. Maybe it's bc this one is new to me but it's a way cooler story too.
I recommend watching the British historian Mark Felton's episode about Castle Itter, his final words on that video reveals that it is not the only time where they worked together. He wrote a whole book about Operation Cowboy
History. Add a space.
We need a Wikipedia compilation of all the times the Allies and the turncoat Wehrmacht joined together against the SS
There must've been lots of times where the Allies and Wehrmacht worked together against the SS and its sadly not been recorded but I'm glad so far we got Castle Itter and the Epic Horse
It makes sense when you think about it they're mostly were people who against the Soviet Union and they had to suffer the same fate it had a reminder that we suffered from the flower girl incident and it pretty much made us not really care about Russians regime your enemy of your enemies your friend but your enemy is the most f.cked up individual so when you finally find in the Allies to actually save people he would drop it on a hat I would do too personally I despise the Soviet Union and Nal.zi Germany equally I still do
Salute to every soldier who risked their lives to save thise beautiful animals
Seems like everyone hated the soviets
Even the horses
Commies aren't people
More like germans were scared shitless for what would come to those “distinguished gentlemen” for years of rape and pillage of USSR and so they chose ant excuse to run away to the embrace of the “”””””Allies”””””.
To US and Britain those may have looked like noble people, but to Russia they were worse than deranged fiends, murderous and off the leash, allowed to do any crime against “inferior” peoples.
I love history stories like this where men of different countries joined together for their survival against a common enemy
Cossacks and US cavalry... What a dynamic duo to save horses lol
I hope someone, somewhere, will make a movie about this episode of history, a time when people of different backgrounds, creeds, and loyalties came together to save the lives living creatures who could not defend themselves, we need these kind of stories now more than ever. Thank you to everyone at Simple History for brining this story to light so viewers like me can appreciate the miracle!
It’s unbelievable stories like these that keep me coming back. When enemies put differences aside to fight for the greater good.
Didn't they yeet SS remnant forces at some castle after WW2?
No but if they came to settle the score for this matchup then im in for this episode
The battle of castle Itter. In Austria.
@@heribertoruizjr.5296they did.
You're talking about the Battle of Castle itter and yes that did happen. It happened after 2 weeks of Hitler blowing his brains out. The German army fought with the American army against German SS who were trying to kill political prisoners at Castle itter. Simple history did a video on it several years ago
@@manicmechanic448 Yeah that one.
This was exceptional, as always you've exceeded my expectations Simple History. Operation Cowboy is one of the best examples where we see the light in the dark tunnel, where in war there are people of different allegiances and nationalities fighting side by side for a common goal. It really touched my heart seeing the allies and the Heer troops fighting to save those horses from suffering a horrible fate at the hands of either the SS or the Red Army. May all those valiant men rest in peace🫡🕊.
Beautiful story of men of different countries coming together to save the horses.
Why isn't both this and Castle Itter both movies, to show how good people can still band together to do what is right against real evil as happened both times
I've been trying to get a screenplay figured out for one about Itter
@@Sumschmuck Sounds good
Operation Cowboy WAS made into a movie (albeit with creative license) by Disney in 1963, titled "Miracle of the White Stallions".
Patton had three motivations for charging into Czechoslovakia.
1) He wanted to save the Lizipanner stallions from the Russians.
2) He wanted to liberate and secure the Pilsen brewery so his boys could have cold beer.
3) He wanted his boys to end the war in Czechoslovakia, a “friendly” country, so that they could freely “fraternize” with young Czech women, instead of technically hostile German women.
Ike kept ordering Patton not to cross the demarcation line, but Patton, who was dyslexic, replied, “Ike, you know I have enough trouble reading English. How I the $&@# am I supposed to figure out Czech signs?”
Go see the Lizipanner Stallions perform. At the conclusion of the show, a lone rider dressed as Patton will ride around the area to the “Patton” movie theme. The White Stallions know how to thank.
I'd never heard of this story, fantastic episode. Cheers!
Disney did make it into a movie back in 1963.
@kristoffermangila bednobs and broomsticks?
@@Jimmy-gd5ho no. Its title is "Miracle of the White Stallions", starring Robert Taylor.
Is no one gonna talk about the horse shadding in the thumbnail
so convenient, US Cav nearby
This is one of the three times Germans and Allies worked together in WWIII, the other was Castle Itter, and the third one was when German POWs provided escort to a British unit.
Woah, I've never heard of the last incident, what happened in that one?
2.7k views in 10 minutes? Bro will never fell off
Having served as a member of the second squadron second Calvary regiment I can say that every year on that date there is a celebration and fest honoring operation cowboy and what was done to save the horses
These NEEDS to be made into a movie! By all means!
Imagine getting a condolence letter that said your son died for some horses 💀💀💀
You'd rather hear that your son froze to death and was eaten by his comrades because they were all starving?
Wow i never knew this, thank you for sharing.
And I was thinking Castle Itter was the battle we fought with Germans against the SS but nope this one shocked me basically fighting against 2 enemies the SS and time
Wehrmacht: Cant believe im gonna die fighting side by side with an American.
US GI: What about side by side with a friend?
Wehrmacht: Ja… I can do that.
Thanks for that. Really need stories like this now more than ever.
What an amazing story! Love the fact that you guys keep finding fascinating stories to hungry history geeks like myself. Thanks again Simple History!
Real good story, as usual well presented by the King of documentaries simplehistory.
Hitler’s hand twitch at 1:31 is such a good detail, I think he had Parkinson’s or something but I can’t remember exactly.
Also I found out about Operation Cowboy from the Commando comic “Four Horsemen”, it’s really good
Plus it was known that the used drugs to take off the stress
Best World War II story I’ve heard in many years, thank you for sharing it.
One movie with private Ryan's quality about that would be awesome
I love hearing stories like this. Truly the greatest Generation.
An absolutely inspiring video. Thank you.
When true humanity shines through, it really shows how pointless war is. A great story
Nice video and nice history ^^ !!!
Also was a brony Mission Quest : ) !!!
A German Aristocrat, an American Cowboy and a Kossack Prince is the ultimate union of horse girls.
Thank you for this original episode
Cossaks mentioned 👍😊
The difference between Simple History and History Channel at 3am: because it happened.
Operation Cowboy is, in my eyes, a beautiful illustration of the notion that, no matter the nation we may swear fealty to, we are all stewards of God's kingdom, and all that dwells within it must be looked after and taken care of.
If any life can be saved, then it absolutely must be. Colonel Reed and Lt. Colonel Holters understood the assignment and carried it out flawlessly.
"We were so tired of death and destruction, so we wanted to do something beautiful."
Sabaton needs to make a song about this!
I remember watching a movie based on the events spoken about above. Thanks for showing this history of WW2.
War really is the time where we are the most human, the best and worst of us come to the surface.
May our greatest failures and damage be forgiven in time, and may our greatest triumphs and bonds be remembered.
This is why I follow this channel
Thumbnail image and video goes hard 🥶🔥💯
Of course Patton would agree to this mission. He was an old cavalryman.
There is a book, The Perfect Horses, that explains this rescue mission and how Patton put the riding school under protection of the Army. It details how the lipizzaners were save and a few thousand other horses including Polish cavalry mounts and draft horses being bred at the farm. It is a really well written book worth a read.
Has this story been made into a movie yet? This story like many is worthy of being made into an Oscar winning film.
Disney did this into a movie in 1963, titled "Miracle of the White Stallions", starring Robert Taylor.
(Classic) Disney Studios made a movie about this: “The Miracle of the White Stallions.” I found it on RUclips.
There is a movie about this. It's called Miracle of the White Stallions. It came out in 1963
Now this can make a good movie.
Almost feels like something Disney would do. Cause it's people coming together to rescue horses
Amazingly, they did!
The Miracle of the White Stallions
@@bizmen81oh okay! Cool
I love stories involving a large number of men from different backgrounds and nationalities fighting together
And here I thought Castle Itter was the only time this happened.
Hiyo Silver!!!
What is the goddamned holdup Mister Sobel!!!???!!!
This needs to be a movie.
Realy intresting story. However, its quite sad when you realize that those cossacks whom holped americans in this operation after surrender to allies were turned over to Stalin despite promises given to them by British and Americans, and subsequently were wiped out almost completly in gulags
They chose their bed when they joined nazis against their own people. If they wanted to live they should have stayed out of war.
"Lipizaners" are properly called "lipicai" horses, and they're an ancient Hungarian breed. The West knows them by their German (Austrian) name.
3:40 Doesn't that M1 Garand look a little too long?
No
Eh, not long enough
@@vinteb7987I'm talking about that Garand that middle soldier between the soldier with an M1 Carbine and the one with a Tommy gun infront of the Jeep
Woow great story!
Want a short movie about this, it’s such a heartwarming story
There is one. It's called Miracle of the White Stallions and is made by disney and can be found on youtube.
Wow this needs a movie
It looks like I will have to take a visit on this Lipizzaner Horses in Austria. Very cool story
This is why we love horses! ❤ Even in war, their beauty and grace unite us
Yes, this needs to be a movie.
Imagine making friends because you love horses
this is it. always wanted to know about this,but too lazy to read the wikipedia of this. thank you
THis could be a great movie, with a great cast too!
Starring john wayne and clint east wood and chuck norris
Disney made a movie, or maybe episodes on his TV show about this. I remember seeing it.
This story needs to be a film!!!
Correction at both 1:27 and 1:48. Corsica is wrongly shown to be under German/Axis control while in reality it was liberated by a joint French-Italian operation between September and October 1943
Found it.
The movie is "Miracle Of The White Stallions" and was released in 1963 by Disney. It was based on Operation Cowboy described in this video.
'Ghost Riders' is a great book about this extraordinary event!
This needs to be made into a movie.
Really looking good and especially in these trying times now.
Now THIS would make a fine uplifting ww2 movie!!
Officers: So we all like horses 🐎
Soldiers: Yes
Officers: we all hate Red Army
Soldiers: im picking up what you're throwing down 😏😏😏