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In order to supplement the defense of
Germany during the last days of World War II, Adolf Hitler proclaimed
the creation of the "People's Army" (Volkssturm) on 18 October 1944.
As head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler was made the overall commander of
the Volkssturm and its related functions. The Volkssturm consisted of
all able-bodied men (and some women) between the ages of 16 and 60 who
were not already employed in the defense of the Fatherland. In
essence, the Volkssturm was an ad hoc and ill-equipped national
militia organized under the authority of the General-SS (Allgemeine-SS).
Members of the Volkssturm were supported by all relevant National
Socialist Party organizations to include the Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilung-SA),
the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jungend-HJ), the Order Police (Ordnungspolizei)
and many others capable of providing training to civilians armed for
combat.
Civilians serving in the Volkssturm were
treated under the same military code as soldiers of the Armed Forces (Wehrmacht).
Leadership and recruitment of Volkssturm units was directly under the
control of local National Socialist Party leaders in each town and
district. Members were drawn into service based on political
pressure by their local area leaders and the threat of punishment
employed by the SS or Ordnungspolizei. Morale within the ranks
of the Volkssturm was extremely low and many chose to desert or
surrender when the time came. The most fanatical members of the
Volkssturm were young members of the Hitler Youth who had been trained
to a fervor regarding the National Socialist cause. Duties of
those who served included surrounding and containing enemy forces
during invasion, eliminating agents and defending against sabotage,
reinforcing depleted German Army (Heer) units, and provide auxiliary
police and security duties.
Those who served in the Volkssturm were
required to supply their own uniforms and equipment save for the
weapons supplied to them during times of combat. Uniforms were
often of vintage World War I or Reichswehr style although many
Volkssturm members simply wore civilian clothing. Helmets worn
by Volkssturm members were drawn up from any supply source that could
be found. This often included vintage World War I era helmets
and many civic model police and Air Protection Warning Service (Luftschutzwarndienst)
helmets. Larger units were sometimes provided standard combat
helmets including the M1935, M1940 and M1942 patterns. Nearly 6
Million people served in the Volkssturm from its inception until May
1945.
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