Editing Volkssturm (section)

{{short description|Nazi German militia of World War II}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name         = ''Volkssturm''
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1971-033-15, Vorbeimarsch des Volkssturms an Goebbels, Berlin.jpg
| image_size        = 260px
| caption           = ''Volkssturm'' marching. Most of the men marching are carrying [[Panzerfaust]] launchers; the man at the bottom carries a [[MG34]], November 1944.
| type              = [[Militia]]
| country           = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
| command_structure = {{flagicon image|Flag of the NSDAP (1920–1945).svg}} [[Nazi Party]]
| commander5        = [[Heinrich Himmler]] (Military training and equipment)<br />[[Martin Bormann]] (Administration and indoctrination)
| start_date        = 18 October 1944
| disbanded         = 8 May 1945
}}
The {{lang|de|'''Volkssturm'''}} ({{IPA|de|ˈfɔlksʃtʊʁm|-|De-Volkssturm.ogg}}, {{lit|people's storm}}){{sfn|Fritz|2004|p=ix}}{{sfn|Kershaw|2011|pp=86–88}} was a ''[[levée en masse]]'' national [[militia]] established by [[Nazi Germany]] during the last months of [[World War II]]. It was set up by the [[Nazi Party]] on the orders of [[Adolf Hitler]] and established on 25 September 1944.{{sfn|Stargardt|2015|p=456}} It was staffed by conscripting males between the ages of 16 and 60 years, who were not already serving in some military unit. 

The ''Volkssturm'' comprised one of the final components of the [[Total war#Nazi Germany|total war]] promulgated by [[Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda|Propaganda Minister]] [[Joseph Goebbels]], part of a Nazi endeavor to overcome their enemies' military strength through force of will.{{sfn|Kershaw|2001|pp=713–714}} ''Volkssturm'' units fought unsuccessful battles against [[Allies of World War II|Allied forces]] at the end of the war. On several occasions, its members participated in atrocities, accompanied by German civilians and the [[Hitler Youth]], which were overseen by members of the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]] or ''[[Administrative divisions of Nazi Germany|Gau]]'' leaders.