Rabbit Hole Journey Number 194,200:
Folks don't love the name 'horsemeat' perhaps because the genuine article sounds so unpalatable and weird.
But here's a little-known historical tidbit about a 20th Century war, horses and meat.
People think that WWII armies were mechanized. Not the German Army. They used more horses from 1939-45 than Napoleon did in the early 19th century. And the name Blitzkrieg notwithstanding, they traveled through Russia more slowly than Napoleon as well. Most of the big guns were moved by horse-power, as well as food and supplies.
In total, the German military employed well over two million horses and mules on the Eastern Front. At any given time (including the campaigns in the West), they had 1.1 million horses in service. Hundreds of thousands of horses were shot or blown up in action, died of exertion and lack of fodder, especially during the Russian winter, and had to be replaced.
And...there were times the Landsers couldn't get food.
In such cases the horses served two purposes.
Horsemeat was a big one.
"That's kind of disgusting, pal."
"Yeah, but it's true. Never turn your nose up at horsemeat. One day it might save your sorry ass."
One last thought, this one about our ancient ancestors:
Until people learned how to harness and ride horses in the Bronze Age, they were bred for food. Like cattle.
