Unfortunately for German civilians, it was not firing blanks in 1944.

Many German civilians were also sent to internment and labor camps.

It is estimated that 1.5 million German civilians died.

Approximately 130 German civilians were killed by the French occupation army during the events.

Some surviving allied aircrew were killed when they fell into the hands of German civilians.

Cooper came to a warehouse where German civilians were plundering.

During the war about 750,000 German civilians died from malnutrition.

As noted, the official ration for German civilians was 1,550, but often not met.

Or was this merely an excuse of the German civilians and generals for their failure to act?

The Army employs more than 50,000 German civilians, and by the middle of the decade that number will drop to about 33,000.