Seidler, Franz W. Deutscher Volkssturm. Das letzte Aufgebot 1944/45

The formation, organisation, training and leadership of the German Volkssturm in the final phase of the Second World War. The author deals with equipment and support, finance, medical services, legal system, use and deployment of these German militia troops. Important chapters deal with the relationship to the Wehrmacht and with propaganda. Informative photos, reprints of documents, extensive references, further literature as well as an index of places and subjects round off the account.

Autumn 1944: Germany is under severe pressure. The allies Romania, Bulgaria and Finland have changed sides, the Romanian oil fields are no longer available to the German war economy, the Red Army is storming the borders of the Reich in the east, the Western Allies in the west. The German Wehrmacht finds itself in desperate defensive battles against an overwhelming enemy force. At the twelfth hour, the Reich government tries to mobilise even the very last reserves and establishes a people's militia: the German Volkssturm, in whose ranks men from 16 to 60 years of age who have not yet served are to defend their homeland.