Germany's Last-Ditch Army of Civilians: the Volkssturm

The Volkssturm, established by the Nazis in October 1944, was a last-ditch effort to mobilize a civilian militia in Germany during the closing stages of World War II. Comprising primarily elderly men, teenagers, and those unfit for regular military service, the Volkssturm aimed to bolster Germany's dwindling military resources. Armed with a mix of outdated weapons, this hastily assembled force was tasked with defending the homeland against advancing Allied forces.
The Volkssturm played a limited and often desperate role in the waning days of the war. Lacking proper training and equipment, they faced overwhelming odds against well-equipped and battle-hardened Allied forces. Despite their limited impact on the outcome of the war, the Volkssturm reflects the desperation of Nazi Germany as it faced imminent defeat, highlighting the extreme measures taken to prolong resistance even as the military situation became increasingly untenable.

[@BHuang92]

One of the reasons why there were very few WW1 veterans after ww2.

[@marcboblee1863]

Stefan nice to hear your voice.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@kyspls9137]

Hello! Heard in one video that volksturm alone fought with big casualties always losing, but close to harsh formations and veterans they fought stubborn. Volksturm and hitlerjugend are by far the most serious war crimes commited by germans to germans. I also heard something about village volksturm members that didn t have weapons only showels and etc to fight soldiers with low morale and thefts

[@bigsarge2085]

Just had a conversation with my dad about the Volksturm in a history context the other day.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@thl7587]

Was hat er dazu gesagt?

[@Coppertie94922]

Interesting fact: The Volkssturm used a levy system consisting of 2 classes. 1st class were immediately sent to battle while 2nd class were only deployed in emergency to boost manpower.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@coling3957]

German home guard established just as British hone guard were being disbanded in October 44

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes indeed.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Wonderful explanation of German people's militia during Nazism regime rule.short Video clearly explained military circumstances of creation that militia( Volksstuarm). Thank you for an excellent ( History Hustle) channel for sharing ..introduced by 🙏 Sir Stefan

[@--Skip--]

It wasn't teens, but children eight-years-old and older. Teens were already serving.

[@HistoryHustle]

Not all I believe.

[@annedejong1040]

the did fight and held off attacks, in a strategic or tactical less relevant situation

[@15-Peter-20]

Actually some volkstrum units were very well equipped with the latest weapons, weapons that were needed by the battle harderend german troops on the front line.

[@mrnygren2]

That's probably a small kid at 11 or so.

[@HistoryHustle]

Very young for sure.

[@gumdeo]

Reminds me of the workers' militia in the USSR and similarly useless.

[@HistoryHustle]

Britain had a similar force.

[@annedejong1040]

​@@HistoryHustlethe Home Guard

[@HistoryHustle]

@@annedejong1040 yes.

[@coling3957]

​@@HistoryHustleyou should do a video on Dad's Army 😃

[@carloantonioambrosini]

Looks like Ukrain Zelelski's today !!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Explain.

[@carloantonioambrosini]

@@HistoryHustle 200000 people die alredy...now are taking people below 24 years and over of 50.....and people with sickness....Pope Francis say them...."Stop this nightmare before is too late".

[@laser69beam]

@@HistoryHustle🤣 don’t delete comments and the explanations will be right there for everyone to see. What are you afraid of..? The truth?

[@laser69beam]

@@HistoryHustleca-pi-tu-late

[@HistoryHustle]

Didn't delete anything. Guess YT thought your reply was nonsense..

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Nie wieder, 1918! Unsere Mauern mögen brechen, aber unsere Herzen niemals.

[@peterwodzianski1958]

Sad…

[@laser69beam]

…and now Zelenskiy is doing the same in Ukraine.

[@HistoryHustle]

Please explain.

[@laser69beam]

@@HistoryHustle not being able to leave the country, people forcefully grabbed on the streets, the conscription age going lower and lower, giving out guns to the civilians, with the cemeteries growing every day all the while people are being told that Ukraine is winning.
…just to scratch surface

[@therealkars1596]

​@@laser69beam and what would you recommend they do instead?

[@laser69beam]

@@therealkars1596 too late now to do anything but capitulate, they had 8 years to abide by the Minsk accords but they made their choice.
Felkom to ze Hitlerjugen… click click

[@laser69beam]

@@therealkars1596capitulate.
That, or it’s “Felkom too ze hitlerjugen”

[@user-uk1ty1gr8o]

Sounds similar to the people's militia in US during Revolution.