Horses and mules, both incredibly strong and durable animals, were some of the animals utilized in the second World War.  Despite often being considered skittish prey animals, the brave pack animals would help their human counterparts make it through the war.  While technology and transportation greatly expanded during World War II, horses and mules were still used to carry soldiers and supplies. In the very beginning of the war, it was estimated that the United States military would need 200,000 horses.  However, as the military began turning more and more to trucks and jeeps, the need for horses quickly decreased. From 1942-1945, only forty-nine horses were sent overseas from the United States. America employed the use of mules more than horses, but the more common mode of transportation for men and supplies still included machines. However, other countries sent many more horses and mules off to war. In Italy, they used these animals to overcome terrain that was too difficult for machines to cross. America followed suit by using mules to make it past rough terrain.

 

Other countries also used horses and mules extensively to carry supplies and soldiers.  The German military possessed an average of 1.1 million horses throughout the war. Despite boasting of their highly mechanized units, around the end of the war, only 42 of 264 German combat divisions were armed or motorized.  Most largely depended on their horses and mules to travel and carry supplies. This was especially true for the German units located in the mountains.

 

Japan also heavily depended on the use of horses and mules for transport.  A typical division contained approximately 22,000 men and 5,800 horses. The Soviet Union was similar, as their cavalry during this time is considered to be one of the world’s greatest cavalries.  The Soviet Union is believed to have used 300,000 horse cavalrymen during World War II.

 

Overall, through their strength and their ability to overcome rough terrain that machines could not cross, horses and mules made a significant contribution to World War II.