Volkssturm
Overview
The Volkssturm was a national militia established by Nazi Germany during the last months of World War II. It was set up by a decree issued by Adolf Hitler on October 18, 1944, which mandated that all males between the ages of 16 and 60 who were not already serving in some military unit be conscripted into the Volkssturm. The Volkssturm represented the last-ditch effort by the Third Reich to defend itself against the advancing Allied forces.
Formation and Organization
The formation of the Volkssturm was ordered by Hitler in October 1944, as the situation for Germany was becoming increasingly dire. The order was given in a decree titled "Mobilization of the Last Reserves," and it called for the creation of a militia force that would draw upon the remaining able-bodied men within the German population. The Volkssturm was placed under the control of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), with Heinrich Himmler, the Reichsführer-SS, in overall command.
The organization of the Volkssturm was largely left to the local party leaders, or Gauleiters, who were responsible for conscripting men into the force. The Gauleiters were given wide latitude in how they organized their local units, which resulted in a great deal of variation in the size, structure, and effectiveness of Volkssturm units across the country.
Role and Deployment
The primary role of the Volkssturm was to serve as a home guard, defending Germany against the advancing Allied forces. However, due to the desperate situation, Volkssturm units were often thrown into combat with little training or preparation. They were typically used in a defensive role, tasked with holding key positions or acting as a reserve force to bolster regular army units.
Volkssturm units were deployed on all fronts, from the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union to the Western Front against the British, American, and other Allied forces. They were also used in the defense of Berlin during the final days of the war.
Equipment and Training
The equipment provided to the Volkssturm was often of poor quality or outdated. Many Volkssturm soldiers were armed with old World War I-era rifles, while others were given foreign weapons captured during the course of the war. Some units were even armed with makeshift weapons, such as the Volkssturmgewehr, a cheaply made assault rifle designed for mass production.
Training for the Volkssturm was minimal at best. Many units received only basic instruction in military drill and the use of their weapons. Some units received no training at all before being sent into combat.
Legacy
The Volkssturm is often seen as a symbol of the desperation of the Nazi regime in the final days of World War II. Despite the lack of training and equipment, many Volkssturm soldiers fought with determination and courage, often in the face of overwhelming odds. However, the Volkssturm was ultimately unable to halt the advance of the Allied forces, and its formation marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.