Hitler's Last Levy: The Volkssturm 1944-45

(Paperback, New edition)

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A companion volume to our very successful In a Raging Inferno - Combat Units of the Hitler Youth, Hans Kissel's study offers a highly detailed account of the German Volkssturm, or Home Guard. Formed from men unfit for military service, the young, and the old, this ad-hoc formation saw extensive combat during the desperate defence of the Reich, 194445. The author describes the Volkssturm's training, leadership, organisation, armament and equipment, in addition to its active service on both the Eastern and Western fronts. The text is supported by an extensive selection of appendices, including translations of documents and many fascinating eyewitness combat reports. This edition also includes over 150 previously unpublished b/w photos, and 4 pages of specially commissioned colour uniform plates by Stephen Andrew. AUTHOR: Major-General (ret'd) Hans Kisselwas born in 1897. During the First World War he served as a Leutnantin Inf. Rgt. Nr. 142 (7. Baden). Following demobilisation he attended university, served as an officer in theLandesschtzen and from 1935 was company commanderin Inf. Rgt. 34. By the outbreak of the Second World War he was in command of a battalion. During the war he rose to command a regiment before being appointed the Chef des Fhrungsstabes Deutscher Volkssturmin November 1944. Following his release from a POW camp after the war he became a military author and partner in a business. 4 pages colour plates, 161 b/w photos, 1 b/w map

Author Bio

Hans Kissel (19 February 1897 - 30 November 1975) was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.