Hitler's last stand was made up of minors. Fueled by war propaganda, many Hitler Youth believed they could still bring about a final victory and save Germany from destruction. By 1943, around 200,000 air force helpers aged 15 and older were defending German cities almost single-handedly; in the fall of 1944, the Volkssturm became mandatory for all aged 16 and older, and in 1945, the Nazi leadership even exploited 14-year-olds as fillers and cannon fodder in tank destruction units. In the final weeks of the war alone, over 60,000 child soldiers fell. The survivors still suffer from repressed war traumas, and most of them could or would never speak about it. At the end of their lives, 13 eyewitnesses candidly recount their childhood experiences during relentless battles or grueling captivity.

As is his custom, Christian Hardinghaus, in the third part of his "Generations Series," addresses the youngest fighters of World War II—now the oldest members of our society—with courageous precision, providing historical context while also reflecting on current tensions.