The Volkssturm

[Kurttis Thomas]

I found it while looking at a website with some really strange German wepons I mean really strange and it was there I'll give you the website it's Unusual German Small Arms and Infantry Weapons of World War II type it in on google and it will take you right to it.

[Horch]

Originally Posted by Kurttis Thomas

I found it while looking at a website with some really strange German wepons I mean really strange and it was there I'll give you the website it's Unusual German Small Arms and Infantry Weapons of World War II type it in on google and it will take you right to it.

Thats a great site there Kurttis. A lot of stuff!

[Hagen]

More HJ in Berlin

[Kurttis Thomas]

Originally Posted by Hagen

More HJ in Berlin

You know the one in the center of this picture that kid looks alot like the first picture of the Hitler Youth the one hitler is shaking hands with do you think that thats the same kid.

[Kurttis Thomas]

I just can't resist telling you guys about the movie Downfall it is mostly about Hitlers last days but it has a great depiction of The Hitler Youth and the Volkssturm. You guys should check it out the hole movie is in German It' really good it won lot's of awards for best Foriegn movie.

[McCoy]

Originally Posted by Jim O

Some Volkssturm photos:

Originally Posted by Kurttis Thomas

Hey Jim the Photo you posted with all the Volkssturm members walking with each other holding there wepons take a look at the guy in the back suporting a large gun with his sholder does that look like a BAR to you or not.

It's not a B.A.R. But it's still an old weapon from the mid twenties. It's rather hard to identify it but I think that it's an Vickers-Berthier Mk III, it was mainly used by the Indian army (they saw action on all fronts that Commonwealth was engaged in) but also Latvia had over 800 of 'em in 1940. How ever I'd say that it's an rather unusual weapon to see in the hands of a Volkssturm man considerin' the logistics with .303 Mk. VII British.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Kurttis Thomas

You know the one in the center of this picture that kid looks alot like the first picture of the Hitler Youth the one hitler is shaking hands with do you think that thats the same kid.

berlin45561b6hi.jpg 19450420_Hitler_65bd_awards_HJ_Iron_Cross.jpg
Here they are side by side. They look like they could be the same boy.



Here are the next two in the sequence. I believe these were all from Hitler's 65th birthday in April of 1945, taken right need his bunker. It was his last public appearance.

Hitler_20April1945.jpg hitleryouth.jpg

[Kurttis Thomas]

Thanks guys.

[Kurttis Thomas]

I found out what that kid did he was supposedly one of the biggest HJ tank busters during the beging of the battle he suposedly knocked out 6 T34's and one IS2 4 with Panzerfaust 60 and then the other three with a Panzersriek quitw impressive for a lttle boy very much so his fate is unknown to this day.

[Kurttis Thomas]

A well armed HJ


www.taskforcebaum.de/germany/vs1.jpgolkssturm at Hammelburge.


Volkssturm carrying a MG34.


volkssturm Gladiator helmet