Final phase right|thumb|Two members of the Volkssturm after surrendering to British troops near Bocholt, 28 March 1945 While Iron Crosses were being handed out in places like Berlin, other cities and towns like Parchim and Mecklenburg witnessed old elites, acting as military commandants over the Hitler Youth and Volkssturm, asserting themselves and demanding that the defensive fighting stop so as to spare lives and property. Despite their efforts, the last four months of the war were an exercise in futility for the Volkssturm, and the Nazi leadership's insistence to continue the fight to the bitter end contributed to an additional 1.23 million (approximated) deaths, half of them German military personnel and the other half from the Volkssturm.
final phase right|thumb|two members of the volkssturm after surrendering to british troops near bocholt 28 march 1945 while iron crosses were being handed out in places like berlin other cities and towns like parchim and mecklenburg witnessed old elites acting as military commandants over the hitler youth and volkssturm asserting themselves and demanding that the defensive fighting stop so as to spare lives and property despite their efforts the last four months of the war were an exercise in futility for the volkssturm and the nazi leadership's insistence to continue the fight to the bitter end contributed to an additional 123 million (approximated) deaths half of them german military personnel and the other half from the volkssturm