"Volkssturm Small Arms" Topic

"As a last-ditch measure in the nearly lost war, on 18 October 1944 the Deutscher Volkssturm was mobilized – a German national militia. To arm them under conditions of depleted manpower and limited available production capacities the Primitiv-Waffen-Programm ("primitive weapons program") was initiated. It called for weapons that were as easy as possible to produce. Walther designed the Volkssturmgewehr VG 1 rifle, Spreewerk Berlin the VG 2, Rheinmetall the VG 3, Mauser the VG 4 and Steyr the VG 5 (a.k.a. VK 98). Best known is the Volkssturmgewehr by Gustloff which was a gas-delayed blowback semi-automatic rifle.

In 1944 and 1945 Nazi Germany's declining fortunes necessitated the formation of the Volkssturm (People's Army), composed of men too old, young, or infirm to serve in the traditional armed services. The Nazi military intended the Volkssturm as a rearguard or even as disposable buffer troops to protect its better-trained front-line troops in desperate situations. To arm the Volkssturm, the government set up a program to develop and manufacture appropriate and equally disposable weapons-the Volksgewehr (People's Rifle) and the Volkspistole (People's Pistol). Although cheaply made, Volkssturm weapons exhibited considerable ingenuity in design. The Volksgewehr program saw limited success in that a small number of rifles were manufactured and saw some degree of combat, whereas the Volkspistole project produced only a few prototypes before the war's end…"

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Armand

"composed of men too old, young, or infirm"
Not exactly. The VS had physical standards and everyone got a physical exam and many did not pass and did not serve. Also many who did serve were of military age but were in restricted professions. Government workers, factory workers and others who were generally exempted for regular service. But once the war came to their neighborhood were expected to serve. And prior to that to attend training meetings and learn to be soldiers.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

Thanks.

Armand