While these were haphazard formations, but what was the general battalion level organization like? What were their squads like? Most period photographs show them armed with Panzerfausts and bolt action rifles of various sorts. I'm sure that they were organized around a light machinegun, but how many men generally supported each gun?
I can't help with the question but the book Hitler's Last Levy: The Volkssturm 1944-45 by Hans Kissel (ISBN: 1874622515 // 978-1874622512) might be able to provide answers. I have a copy but it is at home while I am at work for the next few weeks.
i am not really sure but were they "specical task units? (like how the brits had) like they go ahead of the waffen ss and do damage to the allies ,so it make it alot easier for the waffen ss to fight the allies! there was a units that german suplied but i am not sure if it's called volkturm,please don't take my word fore it,wait for an expert.
Some newsreels especially the famous one of the Goebels speach to the Berlin Volksturm seems to show heavy MGs grouped together- rather like a WW1 MG company/batallion. ~Steve
By that stage of the war I think they were being armed with whatever was available, from MG 42's to WW 1 rifles.
I really don't think the Volksturm for the most part had much in the way of orgainzation. Effectively they were grouped under a leader (officer, nco, or party official) who took the group to wherever they were supposed to fight. Those that stayed with the group might put up a token resistance. Arms were whatever was available. Again, I severely doubt that there was some systematic issue of equipment to Volksturm units. I would think most got some sort of firearm and a few rounds of ammunition or a panzerfaust. Beyond that they probably didn't have much of anything in the way of firepower. Issuing machineguns would have been largely a waste of time as these would have required prodigious amounts of ammunition not likely available and worse, training that didn't exist in their operation.
Photos showing Volkssturm View attachment 6057 No helmets but interesting weapons Emra MP Vicker Bernither M1933 LMG and of course Panzer Faust View attachment 6058 Berlin Volsturm MG34 in foreground and Panzer Faust View attachment 6059 Frankfurt (probably am maine) with MG34 (actually its a MG42) View attachment 6060 Volkssturm with MG34
Other Volksturm photos View attachment 6061 View attachment 6062 View attachment 6063 View attachment 6064 Various photos of Panzer faust and a Panzer Shrek Steve
So these men didn't get even get helmets issued? YouTube - Der Deustche Volksturm There are some volksturm units wearing FJ smocks and helmets (some of which don't look German in origin).
I,ve seen alsorts of helmets in photos from WW1 m1916 to M1943 types Gladiator ARP types too, I just found the first photo of guys without head protection surprising. Yes I looked at the U tube thing and the odd looking helmets are the GLadiator types which are for auxillery brigades like Fire and ARP there is a good Helmet web site out there with probably all the information you would ever want-just cant find the link at the moment everything is running so slowly. ~Steve
My god, that really was an incredibly sorry looking bunch. Is there any report of fierce and skilled Volksturm resistance whatsoever? I didn't even find them to have success as speed bump. The first contact with aggressive troops almost always vaporized them in what I have read.
General Raus' writings does mention defensive feats by Volksturm against the Russians. (ie. defeating a Soviet tank attack, etc.). But these seem to be the exception rather than the norm. He also talks about how the Hiterjugend were more useful than the Volksturm due to their fanaticism.
What revealing photos those are; thanks for posting them. I've always understood this was a last ditch effort but looking at those pictures, the only word that comes to mind is desperation.
Wolfy Re German helmets go to, quite comprehensive www.german-helmets.com/LUFTSCHUTZ_HELMETS.htm Steve
Yes the 3rd photo of the old guy with PzFt is quite chilling, there are alot of good photos and sites on the volkssturm on the web in addition to some decent books that are certainly not glorifications. The U Tube Der Deusche Volkssturm is very good too most of it was used in the 1972 documentary the World At War. ~Steve
I'd take a guess and say that the few available machine guns were manned by WWI veterans, who were the only ones amongst the lot who had military training or experience... Other than that, I doubt we could say the Volksturm had a clear organisation or combat tactics...
http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-general/31258-german-newsreel-1-4-1944-a.html Timo, can you help summarize or translate the newsreel in my thread? I believe you are one of the Wehrmacht experts from the Feldgrau/Axishistory forum.
