I have translated selected passages from the article:
"This picture was painted by artist painter Jerzy Kossak who passed away on 11 May 1955, last of the three famous battle scene painters. Painting itself was composed in 1940 and finished right after the "liberation".
Painting was composed based on eyewitness to the story : italian war corespondent Mario Appelius who wrote a book :
"Una guerra di 30 giorni. La tragedia della Polonia "
At some point in 1954 the previous owner was given a polish translation of a chapter "Kutno" from this book.
"All of a sudden a heroic group of cavalry about 200 riders came out galloping out of burning woods. They were attacking with flying colors in the middle. Polish cavalry was charging fast as on medieval paintings in front the commander with raised saber.
Tank cannons fire made a barrier about three hundred meters from german positions, one could see the distance between the Cavalry and the wall of german fire was getting shorter, it was insanity to continue this run to meet death.
Finally the group of Cavalry disappeared in the jets of flames, smoke, and exploding missiles.
When the smoke cleared there was no longer a Cavalry group, there were few Ulans miraculously surviving, madly attacking the german positions : some without helmets, some wearing field caps and to them the german tank crews were surrendering."
" Kutno by Jerzy Kossak was liked so much that even being pretty expensive the artist was made to paint a few more copies, always with small changes in detail and size.
The original painting (one pictured above) is 100cm x 180 cm.
Artist planned to paint the biggest battles of WW2 : Tobruk, Narvik, Monte Cassino, Lenino.
However these projects never gotten past the preliminary sketches. "
That is it for the article translation.
Well at some point later someone figured out what Mario Appelius saw.
It is believed that the chapter "Kutno " in Appelius book has to do with a charge by 14 Regiment Jazlowiecki Ulans by Wolka Weglowa.
On the way to Warsaw Commander of 14 Jazlowiecki Ulan Regiment Colonel Godlewski wanted to take a shortcut. along with the unit there was a part of 9th Regiment Ulans.
Both Regiments by village Wolka Weglowa run into germans resting in the open and Colonel Godlewski signalled charge.
Lt MIchal Walicki 3rd squadron commander was in the lead, and owing it to the surprise and bravery of Polish Ulans they broke through.... Unfortunately no one saw that in the forest by village Moscisk there were machine gun nests and tanks that opened fire on the Ulans....
Ulans took about 20% casualties, with Lt Walicki dying, however the charge was successful and both Regiments went on to Warsaw.
105 dead, 100 wounded on Polish side, 52 dead and 70 wounded on german side.
Approximately 1000 Polish Ulans versus 2300 germans and 37 tanks.
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