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The ''Volkssturm'' ((:ˈfɔlks.ʃtʊɐ̯m), "people's attack"〔Fritz (2004). ''Endkampf: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Death of the Third Reich'', p. ix.〕〔Kershaw (2011). ''The End: The Defiance and Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1944-1945'', pp. 86-88.〕) was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was set up, not by the traditional German Army, but by the Nazi Party on the orders of Adolf Hitler and its official existence was not announced until October 18, 1944.〔Burleigh (2001). ''The Third Reich: A New History'', p. 786.〕 It conscripted males between the ages of 13 and 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard. Embodying a last-ditch effort and a call for a heroic defense, the ''Volkssturm'' comprised one of the final components of the Total War promulgated by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, part of a Nazi endeavor to overcome their enemies' military strength through force of will.〔Kershaw (2001). ''Hitler: 1936-1945, Nemesis'', pp. 713-714.〕 ==Origins and organization== The new ''Volkssturm'' drew inspiration from the old Prussian ''Landsturm'' of 1813–1815 〔Hertzstein (1986). ''The War That Hitler Won'' p. 246.〕 that fought in the liberation wars against Napoleon, mainly as guerrilla forces. Plans to form a ''Landsturm'' national militia in Eastern Germany as a last resort to boost fighting strength initially came from ''Oberkommando des Heeres'' Army Chief, General Heinz Guderian in 1944.〔Guderian (2001) (). ''Panzer Leader'', p. 362.〕 Because the Wehrmacht lacked manpower to stop the Soviet advance, men in jobs not deemed necessary, those previously deemed unfit for military service, youth too young to fight previously, and injured soldiers recuperating from their wounds, were now called to arms.〔Moorhouse (2012). ''Berlin at War'', p. 351.〕 The ''Volkssturm'' had existed, on paper, since around 1925, but it was only after Hitler ordered Martin Bormann to recruit six million men for this militia that the group became a physical reality. The intended strength of six million was never attained. Joseph Goebbels and other propagandists depicted the ''Volkssturm'' as an outburst of enthusiasm and will to resist.〔Hertzstein (1986). ''The War That Hitler Won'' pp. 251-252.〕 It did create some morale, but this was undermined by their visible lack of uniforms and weaponry for the fight.〔Hertzstein (1986). ''The War That Hitler Won'' p. 248.〕 Nazi themes of death, transcendence, and commemoration were given full play to encourage the fight.〔Hertzstein (1986). ''The War That Hitler Won'' p. 252.〕 However, many also realized that this was a desperate attempt to turn the course of the war. A popular joke and an occasional comment about the ''Volkssturm'' are telling in this regard. Sardonic old men would remark, "''We old monkeys are the Führer’s newest weapon''"; whereas the joke went, "''Why is the Volkssturm Germany's most precious resource?''" to be answered by: "''Because its members have silver in their hair, gold in their mouth, and lead in their bones.''"〔Fritz (2004). ''Endkampf: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Death of the Third Reich'', p. 36.〕 In order for these militia units to be effective, the Nazis counted not only on strength in numbers, but also on fanaticism.〔Benz (2007). ''A Concise History of the Third Reich'', p. 254.〕 During the early stages of ''Volkssturm'' planning, it became apparent that if militia units lacked morale they would lack combat effectiveness. To achieve the envisaged fanaticism, ''Volkssturm'' units were placed under direct command of the local Nazi party, meaning local ''Gau''- and ''Kreisleiters''. The new ''Volkssturm'' was also to become a nationwide organization, with Heinrich Himmler, as Replacement Army Commander, responsible for armament and training. Though normally under party control, ''Volkssturm'' units were placed under Wehrmacht command when engaged in action. Aware that a 'people's army' would not be able to withstand the onslaught of the modern army wielded by the Allies, Hitler issued the following order towards the end of 1944: ::Experience in the East has shown that ''Volkssturm'', emergency and reserve units have little fighting value when left to themselves, and can be quickly destroyed. The fighting value of these units, which are for the most part strong in numbers, but weak in the armaments required for modern battle, is immeasurably higher when they go into action with troops of the regular army in the field. ::I, therefore, order: where ''Volkssturm'', emergency, and reserve units are available, together with regular units, in any battle sector, mixed battle-groups (brigades) will be formed under unified command, so as to give the ''Volkssturm'', emergency, and reserve units stiffening and support.〔Trevor-Roper (1964). ''Blitzkrieg to Defeat'', p. 204.〕 With the Nazi Party in charge of organizing the ''Volkssturm'', each ''Gauleiter'', or Nazi Party District Leader, was charged with the leadership, enrollment, and organization of the ''Volkssturm'' in their district. The largest ''Volkssturm'' unit seems to have corresponded to the next smaller territorial subdivision of the Nazi Party organization—the Kreis. The basic unit was a battalion of 642 men. Units were mostly composed of members of the Hitler Youth, invalids, the elderly, or men who had previously been considered unfit for military service.〔Hans Jürgen Massaquoi, of Liberian and German parents, had been rejected by the ''Jungvolk'' and the Wehrmacht on racial grounds, but was called by the Volkssturm. Hans J. Massaquoi, ''Destined to Witness, 1990.〕 Further desperation showed when on 12 February 1945, the Nazis conscripted German women and girls into the auxiliaries of the ''Volkssturm''.〔Hildebrand (1984). ''The Third Reich'', p. 82.〕 Correspondingly, girls as young as 14 years began receiving instructions on the use of small-arms, bazookas, machine guns, and hand grenades from December 1944 through May 1945.〔Kater (2004). ''Hitler Youth'', p. 238.〕 Like many aspects of the Nazi ''Volksgemeinschaft'' (people's community), the organization of Germany for war was all inclusive, reaching almost all levels of society as the establishment and expansion of the ''Volkssturm'' reveals. Municipal organization: * A ''Bataillon'' (battalion) in every Kreis (roughly equivalent to a U.S. county; there were 920 ''Kreise'' in Greater Germany) * A ''Kompanie'' (company) in every Ortsgruppe 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Volkssturm」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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