The British Home Guard, initially known as the Local Defence Volunteers, was a defence organisation of the British Army during World War II in case Nazi Germany invaded. They were armed with anything they could get hold of; as most Home Guard soldiers were either retired, or had physically demanding jobs such as farmers, bakers, carpenters, lumberjacks, butchers and fishmongers, most of the weaponry the Home Guard started with were an array of double-barrelled shotguns, hunting rifles, WWI-era weapons, knives, cleavers (usually from a butcher or a fishmonger), hammers, axes (usually from a lumberjack), pitchforks and spades/shovels (usually from a farmer or a gardener).
Sometimes the soldiers of the Home Guard had normal jobs as well as their voluntary military service which sometimes meant that the arsenal of a Home Guard platoon would vary depending on the normal jobs of the soldiers prior to volunteering. Prior to government funding the Home Guard would be lawfully allowed to raid local armory museums to acquire crossbows, longbows, swords and early firearms which meant that it wasn't uncommon for a Home guard unit to use old weapons from crossbows to repeating rifles for a while. Government funding then allowed for up to date firearms to be delivered, sometimes from overseas.
Battle vs. Volkssturm (by Deathblade 100)[]
Volkssturm:
Home Guard:
Rhineland, Germany, 1945
Five Home Guard soldiers are scouting out a small German town. Two of them have SMLE rifles and another carries his M1917 Enfield rifle. The other subordinate has a Thompson M1928 while their commander has his Webley Mk VI from WW1 in his hand.
Inside a darkened house, a group of Volkssturm are preparing to counterattack against the Allied forces. By the light of a flickering candle, one of the Volkssturm loads his Kar98k, while another two members load their Volkssturmgewehr 1-5 semi-auto rifles. The remaining subordinate looks in disgust at the shoddy design of his MP-3008 submachine gun, as his commander sits back, Walther P38 in hand, watching through the gap in the curtains for any danger.
As the Home Guard advanced past the house the Volkssturm were in, a shot from a VSG 1-5 caught a British soldier in the chest. The Home Guard return fire with their rifles and Tommy Gun, killing one of the younger fanatical Germans. "Für das Deustcher Vaterland!" (For the German Fatherland!) one of the Volkssturm yelled out, before a shot to the head from a SMLE cut him short.
As the remaining Germans retreated out of the back door, a Molotov Cocktail flew through the window and ignited the room. A burst of fire from a MP-3008 wounded a British soldier which was followed by a shot from a Kar98k, that caught the wounded soldier in the throat. A shot from the Webley hit the German Submachine Gunner in the chest, mortally wounding him.
As the German submachine gunner went to grab hold of his SMG, a shot from the M1917 Enfield cut his life short. A shot from the Kar98k quickly wounds a British soldier, followed closely by a shot from the Walther P38. The remaining rifleman on the Home Guard's side sights and fires at the Volkssturm rifleman, puncturing a lung.
The Volkssturm leader fires two shots at the Brits, just as a burst from the Tommy Gun kills the fatally wounded German. The Volkssturm leader runs back inside the house and grabs the Einstossflammenwerfer 46. As a Home Guard trooper turned the corner, a half second burst of flame spurted towards him.
As the British Home Guard officer entered the house, a single shot from the P38 caught him in his left eye. The Volkssturm officer raised his pistol in the air and yelled "Deutschland!" in victory.
Expert's Opinion[]
The Volkssturm won due to better firepower from their semi-automatic Volkssturmgewehr rifle and quicker reload of the Walther P38 pistol. While the Home Guard were definitely prepared to fight, the more fanatical Germans snatched victory due to their indoctrination forcing them to fight harder.