Printed "Deutscher Volkssturm Wehrmacht" Cotton Armband for the German People’s Militia.

The Volkssturm was a Militia force formed in the last few months of WW2. Formed from men 16 to 60 who were not already serving in the military. Due to the chronic lack of equipment that faced Germany this late in WW2 many members of the Volkssturm had only an armband for uniform. They recieved very little training and were often used to hold Soviet and Allied forces long enough for regular units to retreat and reorganise.

During the Battle of Berlin boys as young as 13 were drafted into the Volkssturm and fought against battle hardened Soviet troops.