Figure 1.--This German boy 15-year old German boy surrendered to advancing American soldiers near Giessen. He was in the Luftwaffe. U.S. Army. |
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German Führer Adolf Hitler withdrew from the League of Nations, denounced the Versailles Treaty, launched a massive rearmament program, and introduced conscription (March 16, 1935). Goering in the same month announces the creation of the Luftwaffe. Germany at the time was mired in the Depression an while some Germans had misgivings about their country's militarization, others saw it as a way of finding jobs for the unemployed. Hitler used the term “research for peaceful purposes".
The widest age range was in Germany who began inducting youths and older men when the War turned against Germany. Most of the younger boys and older men were inducted into the Volksstrum created late in the War (1944). As a last ditch effort to stave off defeat in October 1944, all males aged 16 to 60 were required to join the Volkssturm, or Home Guard. The Wehrmacht now disgraced in Hitler's eyes. Thus command of the Volkssturm was given to Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Many of the Volksstrum members were not given uniforms. but only arm bands. The Vollsstrum was sent into battle with little or no training. The Hitler Youth boys inducted into the Volksstrum had received some military training. Much of the defense of Berlin (April 1945) was conducted by the Volksstrum. While boys had to joint the Volkssturm at age 16 joined. We are not entirely sure with the crcumstance under which these younger children joined the Volksstrum. Many young children were caught up in the defense of Berlin. In some cases the Hitler Youth on a local level was involved in recruiting these boys. Many of these boys surrendered as soon as they encounteed Allied soldiers, especially on the western front. Others fought more tenaciously than regular Wehrmacht soldiers. We are are not entirely sure about the services in which these boys served.
German Führer Adolf Hitler withdrew from the League of Nations, denounced the Versailles Treaty, launched a massive rearmament program, and introduced conscription (March 16, 1935). Goering in the same month announces the creation of the Luftwaffe. Germany at the time was mired in the Depression an while some Germans had misgivings about their country's militarization, others saw it as a way of finding jobs for the unemployed. Hitler used the term “research for peaceful purposes". I do not yet have details on the German conscription law.
Even before the Volkssturm was formed, Hitler Youth boys were assigned to mand anti-aircract batteries defending German cities. I do not believe that they were given uniforms. They just wore their Hitler Youth uniforms. I'm not sure what age boys were assigned to thi duty. It was very dangerous work vecause it mwant that they were not in bomb shelters.
The widest age range was in Germany who began inducting youths and older men when the War turned against Germany. Most of the younger boys and older men were inducted into the Volksstrum created late in the War (1944). As a last ditch effort to stave off defeat in October 1944, all males aged 16 to 60 were required to join the Volkssturm, or Home Guard. The Wehrmacht now disgraced in Hitler's eyes. Thus command of the Volkssturm was given to Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Many of the Volksstrum members were not given uniforms. but only arm bands. The Vollsstrum was sent into battle with little or no training. The Hitler Youth boys inducted into the Volksstrum had received some military training. Much of the defense of Berlin (April 1945) was conducted by the Volksstrum.
While boys had to joint the Volkssturm at age 16 joined. We are not entirely sure with the crcumstance under which these younger children joined the Volksstrum. Many young children were caught up in the defense of Berlin. In some cases the Hitler Youth on a local level was involved in recruiting these boys. Surely it was not the parents who encouraged their children to enlist. Even ardent NAZIs would have for the most part attempted to protect their children. We assume many of the young boys who enlisted were involved in Hitler Youth units run by die-hard NAIZs, perhaps SS soldiers. In many cases wouunded soldiers, incapicated for front-line service were assigned to the Hitler Youth movement as adult youth workers.
Many of these boys surrendered as soon as they encounteed Allied soldiers, especially on the western front. Others fought more tenaciously than regular Wehrmacht soldiers.
We are are not entirely sure about the services in which these boys served. We believe that boys inducted in the Volksssturm went entirely or mostly into thh Wehrmacht. We have noted boys younger than 17 in other servives. The boy here wears a Luftwaffe uniform and he is only 15 years old. Presumably he voluntarily joined.
As Allied forces neared Germany, he NAZIs began training saboteurs and snipers to operate in occupied areas to disrupt occuption efforts. Some of the individuals trained were youth and children. Unlike the Volkssturm, these were not soldiers and did not wear uniforms, even arm bands.
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