Volkssturm

Volkssturm , of the German Volk (People) and Sturm (Storm, Storm, Attack).

German popular Lifting the purpose of which was to mitigate the lack of manpower of the Wehrmacht at the end of the Second world war.

On suggestion of the General Heinz Guderian and in order to fill manpower of the bloodless regular units, Hitler creates Volkssturm in the form of a branch of NSDAP and under the control of the Gauleiter (chief of district of the Nazi party) instead of putting it under that of the command of the armed forces. They are often teenagers, children, old men or patients who compose it.

Of a poor combative value, because little or badly involved and often badly armed, it was during the last weeks of the conflict one of the main components of the defenders of Berlin during the Bataille of Berlin. Nevertheless, it made undergo some damage with the Soviet armoured tanks, thanks to the Panzerfaust which it held in rather great number.

See too

Battle of Berlin#Garnison of Berlin

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