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Article by Liz Mero,
2007 Youth Representative
The setting is
during World War II in Poland's Janow Podlaski Stud. A beautiful mare
named Federacja gives birth to a handsome bay colt boasting a large
star, snip, and 4 perfectly neat white pasterns. The mare has a lovely
grey coat, but something occupying her withers is of a different color.
It is known to the Bedouin tribes of the desert as a "bloody shoulder,"
or the "mark of Allah," and any horse that bores this red brown patch is
destined to do great things and sire (or produce) extrordinairy and
stellar foals. Federacja would prove this marking through her bay colt,
Witez II.
Witez II's sire, Ofir, was one of the greatest racing Arabians of his
time, setting early records for many 2 1/2 mile races. He influenced
much of the blood in Europe and North America, and was one of the best
sires in the great country of Poland, who was renowned for breeding
wonderfully conformed and athletic Arabian horses for hundreds of years.
Witez (pronounced VEE-tez), with his great looks and bloodlines was a
truly magnificent horse, yet he had quite the beginning.
Born in World War II, many of the followers of Hitler (the Nazis)
were closing in on Poland, and by September 1st, 1939, the Nazi Army and
Hitler invaded. The Janow managers tried everything they could to keep
their prized Arabian horses unknown to the soldiers. They even once
covered Witez totally in mud to disguise his true quality, but his
unmistakable royal crown brand revealed him, and he was seized. Other
horses were dispersed throughout Poland. Many were returned to Janow by
the German soldiers, and still more were taken by Russians and used at
their Tersk Stud farm.
In 1940, Witez began his new life as a two-year-old under Nazi
Occupation. It was almost the same as being under Janow Podlaski, being
trained to ride, jump, drive, and with a little work, to race, although
the war would ruin his chances of ever starting in an actual race. With
maturity, he proved to be an outstandingly athletic and superior
stallion.
Following breeding successfully to many mares at the Nazi stud, he
was shipped to a new stud farm established by the Nazis in Hostau, on
the Witez (con.)
German-Czechoslovakian border in 1943. With over 600 of Europe's finest
horses-including 100 Arabians- housed there, the goal was to breed elite
super horses for the elite German "super" race. Witez II was almost
right at home with the rest of the "greats" of the horse world.
In early 1945, the war was coming to a close and the owners of the
Hostau stud (including some respected German veterinarians) were
beginning to fear for the horses' lives, especially from the hungry
Russian troops advancing from the East as the Americans and their allies
closed in from the west.
On April 26, 1945, a German intelligence was captures close to
Hostau. Its commander pleaded with Colonel Charles Reed of the second
Armored American Cavalry, to free the horses from Hostau and its other
residents, which included Witez II and the other Arabian horses. Colonel
Reed then contacted Gen. George S. Patton of the U.S. third Army for
permission. Patton instantly ordered their rescue. One German
veterinarian, Capt. Rudolph Lessing, crossed enemy lines under the cover
of night and met with the Americans to plan the safe surrender of Hostau
and their horses.
On April 28, 1945, more than 200 Lippizans, Thoroughbreds, Arabians,
and more were moved across the border. The cavalry rode the stallions,
while the mares and young stock were shipped in open army trucks, that
eventually arrived 200 miles away at the safety of Monsbach Stud.
The war ended just days later on May 9 when Hitler surrendered. The
continent lay in his wake, filled with tragedy, disaster, and millions
dead. Even more were alive and in despair. There were, indeed, many of
Europe's finest Arabians lost or dead, but a small handful-including
Witez II- survived. Now, it was Witez II's time to be shipped somewhere
else-across the Atlantic to America.
Email Liz with any questions or suggestions and
check back to this page often to see news and information!
newstartfarms@yahoo.com
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