GERMAN WWII VOLKSSTURM DEFENDERS

The Volkssturm is a German military formation of a militia or a mass movement from the end of World War II. The formation was established by a special order of Adolf Hitler in September 1944, due to the catastrophic losses of the German armed forces, especially on the Eastern Front. All capable men between the ages of 16 and 60 served in its ranks. Volkssturm members did not receive virtually any uniforms, except for special armbands, and their weapons were outdated rifles, pistols and machine guns, very often from the First World War. The only modern weapons used by the Volkssturm were the Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck anti-tank grenade launchers. Units of this formation were initially used to protect roads, railroads and fortifications, but from the beginning of 1945 they were already used on the front line - especially in the defense of Wrocław, Kołobrzeg and Berlin.