Thank you for reference to the great Polish lancers (uhlans), whose history extends back to the famous Winged Hussars of Poland, whose glory was represented in the insignia of those WWII lancers.
There are many versions of the myth of Polish cavalry attacking tanks, which in many cases were perpetuated as German propoganda to diminish the gallantry of these troops. Apparantly the lance was considered optional by about 1937, but likely many cavalry did have them. In the attack mentioned I think it was actually the lancers attacking infantry or tank personnel out of the tanks, rather than a headlong attack into the tanks. Whatever the case may have been, the action went badly and the small contingent were killed. Another story I have read was that cavalry troopers often would approach a tank from obstructed view and slash the fuel line, but that I have not substantiated.
I once knew a Polish friend, whose father was in the Polish cavalry in WWII and spoke of his fathers huge shiny sabre. These Polish swords are well described in similar melancholy in the book by A.Nadolski, "Polish Arms-Side Arms", (Warsaw, 1974) where he describes his own fathers sword, having "disappeared in the flames of 1939".
One cannot help but honor the memory of these heroic horsemen.
All the best,
Jim
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