The 13th Waffen SS Mountain Division "Handschar" (continued)
The Handschar uniform was the standard field/grey SS type but with the addition of special
insignia, this consisted of the curved Scimitar unit collar patch (already described on page 1.)
which was worn in the place of the normal Waffen-SS Sigrunes patch.
A red and white checkerboard armshield which took the form of the Bosnian National flag was
worn beneath the SS eagle on the left sleeve, no cufftitle was ever issued.
Headgear consisted of a red or grey fez which bore the SS eagle and skull insignia and usually
was adorned with a black tassel affixed to the crown, although these were sometimes
removed in combat, the red fez was worn for walking out dress or parade duties whilst the
grey type was strictly worn in combat.
The fez was Himmlers idea which came from the Austro/Hungary headress of WW1, it also
suited the Muslim members because it could still be worn while praying in the Muslim fashion
(head touching the floor), also because it had no peak apparantly did not hinder the wearers
eyes when facing towards Mecca in the east, Officers who were not Muslim had the choice
of wearing Officer type Schirmutze's or the Mountain cap (Bergmutze).
Attachment:
Handschar pic 9 (Combat equipment).jpg [ 35.7 KiB | Viewed 11986 times ]
The Handschar's main form of operations were to subdue the Mountainous regions of Croatia,
basically conduct "anti partisan warfare" against the Communist Serbian elements.
These operations continued from Feb to Sep 1944 and because of the terrain suited the
Handschar Div very well as they had been trained and equipped as a Mountain Infantry
formation, similar to the Wehrmacht equivalent (Gebirgsjager).
The Division was mostly commanded by German Officers recruited from other SS units with the
promise of promotion and also a cadre of experienced NCO's, the OR's consisted of native
Germans from Croatia (booty-Germans) and Muslims from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It was the largest Muslim orientated Division with only approx 10% from other religious groups,
the Division had a religious Iman for each Battalion and a Mulla (religious men) for each
Regiment which in total consisted of 21.065 recruits, Officers and men.
Attachment:
Handschar pic 6 (soldiers).jpg [ 28.47 KiB | Viewed 11944 times ]
In the spring of 1943 the Germans recruited the "Mufti of Jerusalem" Mohammad Amin al
Husayni in a bid to boost recruitment, he successfully convinced the Bosniaks to go against
the declarations of the Sarajevo Muslim clerics that had forbade Bosnian Muslims from
collaborating with thethe Ustase and Nazi's.
However his orders were that the Handschar Division must not leave Bosnia and must remain
to protect their homeland and families, but as the War progressed and rumours spread that
the Division was going to fight the Soviets the Muslims deserted in droves. At the end of
1944 the "Kama" Division was merged into the Handschar to boost manpower back to full
strength
Attachment:
Handschar pic 1 (Grand Mufti).jpg [ 21.74 KiB | Viewed 11939 times ]
.
In August 43 the Handschar Division were sent to Villefranche in France to retrain and refit,
while their on the 17th Sept a group of Communist infiltrators staged a mutiny led by Ferid
Dzanic.
The mutineers captured most of the German members of the Unit and executed five German
Officers, apparantly they believed that once started the Mutiny would encourage the other
members to join them and they could then desert to the Allies.
The revolt was put down by the rest of the Division and the local Gestapo/SD units and 20
rebels were caught and put on trial for mutiny then later executed.
Afterwards there was a purge of the Unit and those deemed unsuitable were sent back to
Germany for labour service and around 800 members were removed, in November 43 the Unit
was sent back to Bosnia.
When Villefranche was liberated in 1944 the people decided to pay tribute to the mutineers
by naming one of its streets "Avenue des Croates"
On their return the Handschar participated in operation "Maibaum" which was intended to be
the largest anti Partisan sweep in Bosnia where the Unit joined forces with the 7th SS Prinz
Eugen Regiment.
Later the Handschar Division participated in eight other operations from Feb to Sept 1944
called Operation Wegweiser, Save, Osterei, Maiglockchen, Vollmond, Fliegenfanger, Heidrose
and Hackfleisch.
Eventually in 1945 with the push of the Soviets from the East the Handschar Division later
disintergrated and those not captured went back to their farms and homeland.
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