I read a great series about the Eastern Front in WW1 from the 'Axis' perspective [1] and the use of donkeys and horses was a critical part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later German armies offence (and later defence) against the Russians.
Their entire front against Russia was eventually reliant on their ability to drag heavy artillery and supplies through the dangerous mountain passes of the Carpathian mountains. An example of what they went through for their country: https://www.amazon.com/Collision-Empires-Eastern-General-Mil...
Their entire front against Russia was eventually reliant on their ability to drag heavy artillery and supplies through the dangerous mountain passes of the Carpathian mountains. An example of what they went through for their country: https://www.amazon.com/Collision-Empires-Eastern-General-Mil...
[2] https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Barbarossa-Germanys-Cambrid...