Second World War Wehrmacht Cavalry Saddle

Second World War Wehrmacht cavalry saddle with a wooden tree covered in leather.

The set includes its stirrup leathers and iron stirrups, one of which is stamped with the Waffenamt (armament office) acceptance mark.

This is the saddle model without rear cantle blocks.

The saddle is marked with the manufacturer code “DDE” and dated 1943.

Saddle size 3.

The set is in fairly good condition.

Although the image of World War II is often associated with tanks, horses played an important role in certain campaigns. On the Eastern Front in particular, German troops used horses to transport goods, equipment, and weapons, especially during the winter months when mud and snow made roads impassable for vehicles.

The mountainous terrain of the Balkans also saw considerable use of horses, as motorized vehicles had difficulty moving in those areas.

In the later phases of the war, as Germany faced shortages of fuel and vehicles, the use of horses saw a resurgence, even on the Western Front, notably in Normandy.