13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian)

13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian)
13rd SS Division Logo.svg
Unit insignia of 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian)
Active 1943 - 1945
Country Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Branch Flag Schutzstaffel.svg Waffen-SS
Type Mountain
Role Anti-partisan operations
Size Division
Nickname Handschar
Motto Handžaru udaraj!
(Handschar strike!)
Engagements Operation Wegweiser
Operation Sava
Operation Osterei
Operation Maibaum
Battle for Stolice
Battle at Lopare

The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) was one of the thirty-eight divisions fielded as part of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Its recruits were composed of Bosnian Muslims and Croats. The Handschar[1] division was a mountain infantry formation, the equivalent of the German "Gebirgsjäger" (Mountain troops) units. It was used to conduct operations against Yugoslav Partisans in the Independent State of Croatia from February to September 1944.

Contents

History

After the fall of Sarajevo on 16 April 1941 to Nazi Germany, the extremist Croat-nationalist and Fascist Ante Pavelić (who had been in exile in Mussolini's Italy) was appointed Poglavnik or leader of a new Ustaše state - Nezavisna Država Hrvatska (NDH, the Independent State of Croatia). The Yugoslav provinces of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of Serbia were reconstituted as a pro-Nazi satellite entity under joint Nazi and Italian occupation. The Ustaše almost immediately launched a vicious campaign of violence directed at unarmed Serb civilians.

Pavelić ordered a property in Zagreb be converted into a mosque that he modestly named after himself in his efforts to secure the loyalty of the Bosnian Muslims, the Poglavnik's Mosque.[2] Despite Pavelić's assurances of equality, it wasn't long before many Bosniaks became dissatisfied with Croatian rule. An Islamic leader reported that not one Muslim occupied an influential post in the (local) administration. Fierce fighting broke out between Ustase and Partisans. A number of Ustaše units believed that the Bosniaks were communist sympathizers and burned their villages and murdered civilians. Serb victims of the violence were inclined to view the Bosniaks as collaborators.

Bosnian Muslim elite and notables issued resolutions or memorandums in various cities that publicly denounced Croat-Nazi collaborationist measures, laws and violence against Serbs: Prijedor (23 September), Sarajevo (12 October), Mostar (21 October), Banja Luka (12 November), Bijeljina (2 December) and Tuzla (11 December). The resolutions condemned the Ustaše in Bosnia and Herzegovina, both for their mistreatment of Muslims and for their attempts at turning Muslims and Serbs against one another.[3] One memorandum declared that since the beginning of the Ustaše regime, that Muslims dreaded the lawless activities that some Ustaše, some Croatian government authorities, and various illegal groups perpetrated against the Serbs.[4]

In fall of 1942, the SS Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler and SS-General Gottlob Berger approached Hitler with the proposal to raise a Bosnian Muslim SS division. Both the Wehrmacht and the SS were concerned about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the NDH that tied down German military personnel that could be better employed elsewhere. By the New Year of 1943 over 100,000 Bosnian Muslims had been killed (9% of all Bosniaks at the time) and 250,000 had been expelled from their homes - mostly by Serb Chetniks. "The Muslims" remarked one German General, "bear the special status of being persecuted by all others".[5]

Himmler fantasized that there was a fanatical, blind obedience in the Bosniaks.[6] He thought that Muslim men would make perfect SS soldiers as Islam "promises them Heaven if they fight and are killed in action."[7] As for their ethnic background and SS requirements, the widely accepted belief that the Bosniaks were in fact descendants of 6th century Goths was even supported by Himmler as well as Bosniak autonomists.

Himmler was also inspired by the noted successes of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Infantry in World War I. George Lepre wrote, "Himmler endeavoured to restore what he called "an old Austrian" tradition by reviving the Bosnian regiments of the former Austro-Hungarian army in the form of a Bosnian Muslim SS Division. Once raised, this division was to engage and destroy Tito's Partisan forces operating in North-eastern Bosnia, thus restoring local 'order'. To be sure, Himmler's primary concern in the region was not the security of the local Muslim population, but the welfare of ethnic German settlers to the north in Srem. "Srem is the breadbasket of Croatia, and hopefully it and our beloved German settlements will be secured. I hope that the area south of Srem will be liberated by [...] the Bosnian division [...] so that we can at least restore partial order in this ridiculous (Croatian) state."'"[8]

Hitler formally approved the project on 10 February 1943, and Himmler put Artur Phleps, commander of the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen, in charge with raising the first SS division composed of non-Germanic people.[9]

Recruitment

Soldiers of the Handschar with a brochure about "Islam and Judaism", 1943

The SS Standartenführer Karl von Krempler, a specialist in Islam, was charged by Himmler and Arthur Phleps with organising the recruitment of Muslims from Bosnia into the Waffen-SS.

"On 3 March [1942], Phleps met with fellow SS officer Karl von Krempler, who, together with Croatian government official Dr. Alija Šuljak, was to conduct the recruiting effort. The campaign began on the twentieth, when the multi-lingual von Krempler and Dr. Šuljak, accompanied by several other disgnitaries began an eighteen-day recruiting tour through eleven Bosnian districts."[10]

Dr. Alija Šuljak and von Krempler soon fell out over the aims and purposes of the proposed Division. The Bosniak doctor, an entirely political appointee, criticized von Krempler's spoken Serbian dialect and his use of traditional Islamic colours and emblems (green flags and crescent moons) rather than the new Ustaše symbols during recruitment. When he reached Tuzla in central Bosnia, von Krempler met the Muslim militia leader Major Muhamed Hadžiefendić, who was then officially serving in an under-equipped Croatian army unit. On 28 March Major Muhamed Hadžiefendić escourted von Krempler to Sarajevo, where he introduced him to the leader of the Islamic clergy in all Bosnia, the Reis-ul-Ulema, Hafiz Muhamed Pandža, and other leading Bosniak politicians not involved with the Ustaše. The Croatian regime and Envoy Siegfried Kasche of the Reich Foreign Affairs Ministry were furious, demanding von Krempler be removed immediately. However the SS ignored this and von Krempler continued to sign men up, including both Muslim and Catholic deserters from the Croatian armed forces.

In Spring 1943, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammad Amin al-Husayni, (aka Amin al-Husseini), was invited by the Nazis to assist in the organizing and recruiting Bosniaks into the Waffen SS and other units in Yugoslavia. He was escourted by SS Standartenführer Karl von Krempler, who also spoke fluent Turkish. the Mufti successfully convinced the Bosniaks to ignore the declarations of the Sarajevo, Mostar, and Banja Luka ulema (Islamic clerics), who in 1941 forbade Bosnian Muslims from collaborating with the Ustaše. Croatian Foreign Minister Dr. Mladen Lorkovic suggested that the Division be named "SS Ustasa Division", not an SS Division but a Croatian unit raised with SS assistance, and that its regimental names be given regional names such as "Bosna", "Krajina", "Una" etc.

Grand Mufti Mohammad Amin al-Husayni greeting Bosnian SS volunteers together with Nazi officers in November 1943.

The Encyclopedia of the Holocaust states that "The Germans made a point of publicizing the fact that Husseini had flown from Berlin to Sarajevo for the sole purpose of giving his blessing to the Muslim army and inspecting its arms and training exercises". According to Aleksa Djilas in The Nation That Wasn't that al-Husayni : "accepted, visited Bosnia, and convinced some important Muslim leaders that a Muslim SS division would be in the interest of Islam."[11]

Ante Pavelić, the Croatian leader, objected to the recruitment of an exclusively Muslim division and was concerned about a Muslim bid for independence, considering Muslim areas to be a part of the Independent State of Croatia. As a compromise the division was called "Croatian" and included at least 10% Catholic Croats.

Al-Husayni insisted that "The most important task of this division must be to protect the homeland and families (of the Bosnian volunteers); the division must not be permitted to leave Bosnia", but this request was ignored by the Germans.[12]

According to Chris Bishop, Himmler convinced himself that Balkan Muslims were neither Slavs nor Turks, but were really Aryans who had adopted Islam.[13] He believed the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be the same, racially, as the Croats, and saw Croats as descendants of Gothic and Persian stock.

Recruitment for the division fell as the war progressed and when rumors spread that the division was going to leave Bosnia, some Muslims deserted. Many times with their weapons, entire companies left with heavy weaponry to just make a last stand in Bosnia and not in a foreign country instead.

Hussein Biscevic (Husejin Biščević or Biščević-beg; born 28 July 1884) was the highest ranking (and perhaps the oldest) Bosnian military officer to volunteer. Biscevic had served in the Austro–Hungarian Army and the Nazis appointed him SS Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) assigning him to Flak Abteilung 13 in August 1943.[14]

At the end of 1944, the separate Kama division was merged into the Handschar division.

Service

The Bosnian Waffen SS units were recruited to combat Communist Partisans, including residents of villages from where many of the recruits themselves originated. They operated in north-eastern Bosnia and partly in Srem.

Training

Sent to France, they were in training until November 1943, when they were sent to the old Prussian military camp at Neuhammer, Silesia. The unit returned to Bosnia in February 1944.

Composition

The Handschar division was commanded by German officers, and composed of native Germans from Croatia (Volksdeutsche), Croat Christians and Bosniaks (considered ethnic Croats during WWII), who are Muslims from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was the largest of the Muslim-oriented divisions and the SS Divisions with 21,065 men, of whom 2,800 were Croat Christians and the remainder Bosnian Muslims. The number of Christians was higher than directed by Himmler, who had allowed a 10% Christian component only after the recruitment of sufficient Muslims proved difficult.[15] The division had a Muslim Imam for each battalion other than the all-German signal battalion.[16] Initially there was a small Albanian component. In 1943 a number of Albanians from Kosovo and the Sandžak region were recruited and teamed up into Battalion I/2 (later I/28). This was perhaps the best trained and equipped Nazi Albanian military formation during the war. Ironically, via rail on 17 April 1944, the formation was transferred directly from combat in Bosnia to Kosovo following the creation of 21st Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Skanderbeg (1st Albanian). The head of Waffen SS recruitment, SS Obergruppenführer Gottlob Berger reported to Himmler that the Albanians "...were quite sad about leaving."[17]

Villefranche-de-Rouergue Mutiny (September 1943)

On 17 September 1943, whilst the Handschar was garrisoned in Villefranche-de-Rouergue in France, a group of communist infiltrators staged a mutiny within the Pioneer battalion. Led by Ferid Džanić, they captured most of the German personnel and executed five German officers, failing to kill SS-Ostuf Michawetz, the pioneer battalion commander, who escaped. Apparently the mutineers believed that many of the enlisted men would join them and they could reach the western Allies. The revolt was put down with the assistance of the unit Imam, Halim Malkoć and Dr. Schweiger (unit physician). Imam Halim Malkoc told the Bosnian enlisted men of 1st Company that they were being deceived and rallied them to hunting down the instigators. Nevertheless, the mutiny did not spread as far as the exaggerated claims state. Approximately 20 of the rebels were killed summarily or after a trial. The Nazis were convinced that there were communists who had infiltrated the unit in order to disrupt it. Tito once suggested that his partisan followers enlist for police duty in Croatia where they could receive weapons, uniforms and superior training. Afterward there was a purge of members of the unit who were deemed "unsuitable for service" or "politically unsuitable". More than 800 were removed from the unit and sent to Nazi Germany for "labor service". It is likely that the bulk of these "unwilling" were Catholic Croats, because by the time the Division came back to Bosnia, only 300 Croats remained in the Division. Sauberzweig reorganized those 300 and sent them all to the Feldgendarmerie Trupp. Sauberzweig blamed the desertions on the Croats and units with Catholic Croat leadership and made it clear not to recruit any more or commission Croats. Of those, 265 who refused to work were sent to Neuengamme concentration camp where many of them died.[18]

Himmler later on said of the mutiny: "I knew there was a chance that a few traitors might be smuggled into the division, but I haven’t the slightest doubt concerning the loyalty of the Bosnians. These troops were loyal to their supreme commander twenty years ago so why shouldn’t they be so today." Himmler was referring to the Bosnian Muslim troops who had served in the Austro-Hungarian Habsburg army.[19] Himmler awarded the Imam Halim Malkoc an Iron Cross, Second Class, for his role in thwarting the mutiny. Bosnian Muslims Ejub Jasarevic and Adem Okanadzic were also decorated by Himmler.

When the city was liberated in 1944, they decided to pay tribute to the troops by naming one of its streets Avenue des Croates (Slavic Muslims being identified as Croats of Islamic faith) and commemorating "the revolt of the Croats" every 17 September. After the war the Yugoslav government requested it be changed "the revolt of the Yugoslavs", it was refused by the French for "historical truth".[20] The Villefranche-de-Rouergue mutiny is commemorated in the city with a monument designed by the Croatian sculptor Vanja Radauš.[21]

Commanders

Order of battle

Assignments

The Bosniak Waffen SS units were assigned to combat Tito's partisans, including residents of villages from where many of the recruits themselves originated in Bosnia. The Division was trained and armed as a German mountain division. It conducted operations against from February 1944 onwards.

Operations against Yugoslav Partisans

Handschar participated in the largest anti partisan sweep of World War 2 : Unternehmen Maibaum. The 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen was involved in this campaign. The Handschar Division also participated in Wegweiser, Save, Osterei, Maibaum, Maiglöckchen, Vollmond, Fliegenfänger, Heidrose and Hackfleisch operations from February to September 1944.[22]

Operation Wegweiser

From 10 to 12 March 1944, the target of Operation Wegweiser was a part of the Syrmia region, held by partisans who were constant threat to Zagreb-Belgrade railway in particular forests around Bosut and villages around Sava river. This was the first operation for the newly formed 13.SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division Handschar. ("der SS" title would be changed in the summer of 1944)The enemy was overwhelmed and forced to withdraw, suffering 573 killed and 82 captured. It was an overall success.

Operation Sava

Begun on 15 March 1944 with the goal of clearing partisans from Semberija region, in northeastern Bosnia, across the Sava River, and was the Handschar's first offensive action. The assault was led by Sauberzweig, who wrote to the Handzar troops: "We have now reached the Bosnian frontier and will (soon) begin the march into the homeland. [...] The Führer has provided you with his best weapons. Not only do you (have these) in your hands, but above all you have an idea in your hearts - to liberate the homeland. [...] Before long, each of you shall be standing in the place that you call home, as a soldier and a gentleman; standing firm as a defender of the idea of saving the culture of Europe - the idea of Adolf Hitler."[23]

Sauberzweig also ordered that as the Handzar units crossed the Sava River, each commander was to read a prepared message, which emphasized that the "liberation of Bosnia" and ultimately the liberation of "Muslim Albania" was a goal, and appealing directly to the Albanian troops in the Handschar Division. 27th Regiment for Handschar Division crossed Sava river at Sremska Rača on 15 March 1944 advancing across the Pannonian Plain through Velino Selo to Brodac. Disparate sources say that Bijeljina was taken anywhere between 16 March and 17 March, around noon. Regiment 27 then consolidated its position in the city whilst Regiment 28 bore the brunt of the fighting as it advanced through Pukis, Celic and Koraj at the Majevica mountains. Sauberzweig later recorded that II/28 "at Celic stormed the Partisan defenses with (new) battalion commander Hans Hanke at the point" and that the enemy forces withdrew after running out of ammunition and suffering heavy casualties.

Operation Osterei

Operation Osterei began on 12 April 1944 at 3 a.m. with the goal of clearing the Majevica mountain. 27th Regiment quickly captured Janja and through Donja Trnova reached an important objective, the Ugljevik mine. The II./27. reported 106 dead, 45 captured and 2 deserted enemy soldiers.

A Handschar reconnaissance detachment linked up with 1st Home Defense Mountain Brigade on western slopes of Majevica. 28th Regiment moved across Mackovac and after fighting around Priboj pushed 38th Division south.

Operation Rübezahl

The German assault on Sandzak (Operation Rubezahl) was commanded by Artur Phleps, who commanded Group Kommando Sandschak - consisting of the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen, the 1st Mountain Division, and the Handschar Division. The Handschar participated in the initial stages before transfer to the 2nd Corps, in order to protect the crossing of the Drina River (in eastern Bosnia), and the Skanderbeg Division.

Operation Maibaum

Operation Maibaum's ambitious goal was to destroy the entire Third Bosnian Corps of the Communist partisans. Certain units of the attacking force were put on the river Drina to prevent the enemy's retreat into Serbia and Zvornik. Main units were to surround and take Tuzla and Vlasenica. 25 April, Zvornik fell with few casualties. On 27 April the SS Division went into Kladanj and next day took Vlasenica. The 28 April would see the most bitter fighting between 13th SS and the partisans in the village of Sekovici. The battle lasted 24 hours ending with huge human losses on the partisan side, as well as many captured enemy weapons and ammunitions.

Operation Maiglöckchen

On 17 May 1944, the Division went south towards Stolica, where they met with the 17th Majevica brigade, which in the battle for Stolica lost average casualties of 16 dead and 60 captured.

Operation Vollmond

7 June 1944, the Germans believed the partisans aim was to either attempt an advance between the eastern flank of Regiment 27 and the Drina to assault Bijeljina or achieve a breakthrough in the direction of Obrijez. Little did they know that the entire western column (16th Vojvodina Division) was headed at full speed towards Lopare. The only SS units standing in front of the entire partisan division were Heinz Rudolph's I/28 battalion and the 6th and 7th batteries of AR13. I/28 was scattered after bitter fighting, and an organized attack from II/28 retook Lopare at the end of June 10, and so the Battle of Lopare had ended and Lopare was once again in German hands. Momentary control of the area by the partisans had costed them 1568 lives, compared to 205 men lost by Regt. 28 in the fighting. Sauberzweig boasted the enemy had lost 3,000 during the overall operation.

Operation Fliegenfanger

14 July 1944, the objective was to destroy a partisan makeshift runway and its garrison about 26 km southeast of Tuzla. The airstrip was being used by the Allied aircraft to bring in supplies and evacuate the wounded to Italy. Despite determinted resistance, the airstrip was taken within a day, 42 dead partisans were counted at a cost of 4 dead SS men and 7 wounded.

Operation Heidrose

While Unternehmen Fliegenfanger was underway, the Second Panzer Army sought to stop a large partisan force moving out of Bosnian into western Serbia. On 17 July 1944, the SS units from Handschar and Prinz Eugen began their long awaited operation to destroy the communist stronghold northwest of Sekovici. By all accounts Heidrose was a huge German success. 947 of the enemy were killed. Enormous equipment was captured; 1 anti tank gun, 2 mortars, 22 machine guns, over 800 rifles, and nearly 500,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. Erich Braun, the officer that had taken over as commander for Regiment 27 was put up for a Knight's Cross.

Unternehmen Hackfleisch

On 4 August 1944, the operation called for the partisans between the towns of Kladanj, Vlasenica, Sokolac and Olovo to be driven out. Hackfleisch was a German success, 227 dead communists were counted, over 50 prisoners were also taken. Partisan forces were once again detected near Sekovici. On the 9th of August, Regiment 27 drove them out of the area, inflicting 73 casualties.

Battle of Janja

At 05:00, 3 October 1944, 28th Slavonia Division assaulted a company sized base from Handschar at Janja. Soon Aufklarungs Abt. 13 and III/27 with a battery from AR 13 were rushing to relieve the pressure off the battered garrison. At the dawn of the following day, an additional four partisan brigades attacked the garrison in Janja. The attacks were eventually repulsed by the outnumbered force from Handschar. Jagdkommandos were sent after the fleeing enemy but were not able to inflict significant losses on them as they had already crossed the Drina.

First units are sent to the Ostfront

It was at this time that first units from Handschar were requested to be sent to the ostfront under the commands of other units. Two batteries from IV/AR13, the 1st Company of the Panzer Jager Abt. and five anti aircraft guns were sent to fight against the advancing Russians. They were returned to Handschar after hard fighting in late November. A 105mm battery from the Division also saw service with the Sturmbrigade von Rudno.

Ambush at Vukosavci

Hans Konig, a 21-year-old Westphalian, and leader of 9th Company, 28th Regiment was tasked with blockading the march of the entire XVII Majevica Brigade. Although severely outnumbered, it proved on the morning of 9 October that superior tactics can always turn the tide of battle and overwhelm any foe. The partisans were taken by surprise and fled, leaving scores of dead comrades. Sixty-seven dead communists were counted. Nine pack animals and even the commander's rucksack were captured. More interestingly were the documents found, which revealed the brigade's future plans.

Uniform

The uniform worn by the division was regular SS M43 field-jacket issue, with a divisional collar patch showing an arm holding a scimitar, over a swastika. On the left arm was a Croatian armshield (red-white chessboard). There was controversy over the chessboard armshield, especially with the Imams, who, after crossing the Sava river, took them off. Former SS personnel who were serving in the division were entitled to wear a Sig Rune badge that was attached to the breast pocket of the tunic. Unlike other SS divisions, no cufftitle existed for members of the Handschar.

Headgear was either the fez which was permitted to be worn by all ranks, while German officers had the option to wear the mountain cap (Bergmütze). The fez was chosen for the Division by Heinrich Himmler due to it having been worn by the Bosnia-Herzegovinian infantry regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1894 to 1918, as well as by the Austro-Hungarian Albanian Legion from 1916-18. There were two versions of the fez made: a field gray model to be worn in combat and while on duty, and a red colored model that was worn during parades, marching exercises, and while off duty. Both the fez and mountain cap bore the death's head and eagle of the SS, the mountain cap was also adorned with an Edelweiss flower patch, worn on the left side of the cap.

Division Hymn

(Set to the melody of "Bombs on England")

Sa Pjesmom u Boj[24]
 Into Battle With a Song
Pjesma jeci, sva se zemlja trese, A song is in the air, the entire earth is shaking,
SS-vojska stupa roj u roj, Columns of SS men march in step,
SS-vojska sveti barjak vije. SS men wave the sacred banners.
SS-vojska sve za narod svoj. SS men do everything for the people.
Daj mi ruku ti, draga Ivana, Give me your hand, dear Ivana,
oj s Bogom sad, oj s Bogom sad, oj s Bogom sad Follow God now, Follow God now, Follow God now
idem branit, idem branit, idem branit mili, I shall defend, I shall defend, I shall defend my beloved
rodni kraj, rodni kraj. Homeland, Homeland
U boj smjelo vi SS-junaci SS men are heroes in battle
pokazite domovini put! Show our homeland the way
Podjite putem slavnih pradjedova Follow the road of our glorious grandfathers
dok ne padne tiran klet i ljut. Until tyranny falls, cursed and bitter
Ljubav nasa nek u srdcu plamti, Let love burn in our hearts
i sa pjesmom podjimo u boj. And with a song let's enter battle
Za slobodu mile domovine To liberate our beloved homeland
svaki rado datce zivot svoj. For which anyone would gladly sacrifice his life.


Disintegration

Ultimately the Division essentially disintegrated mid-field in late 1944 owing to several important contributing factors. On 2 August (Muslim) Turkey broke off diplomatic relations with the Reich, severely undermining the confidence many Muslims of Bosnia had in Berlin. On 17 August 1944 Tito offered a general amnesty to all opponents and many men in the Division chose this point to defect. A week later in August Romania changed sides and the Red Army advanced deep into the Balkans, getting very close to Bosnia. Over 1 to 7 September the Allies undertook Operation "Ratweek" : in a rare, combined assault British and American air forces attacked important railways and bridges from Italy, in conjunction with hightened Partisan activity in the same areas. This undermined German supply and morale, necessitating specialised military and repair operations to secure transportation lines. On 17 September Communist Partisans seized the important (largely Muslim) town of Tuzla in central Bosnia following a mass defection by the "12th Ustaše Brigade" garrison to the Communist cause. Between 1 to 20 September over 2000 men deserted.[25]

Over 16 to 23 October 1944 the Division was, incredibly, moved out of the security zone in Bosnia where they were successfully maintaining law and order to eastern Slavonia in Croatia by foot and rail. This led many men to conclude that they were about to be thrown at the rapidly approaching Red Army of the USSR. Whilst on foot many men chose to desert - either joining Partisans or simply going home to defend their own families and villages. Some men from the Division returned to active service in the Croatian army and even the Ustaše militia.

On 20 October the Red Army occupied Belgrade and the following day the Divisional staff Imam, Abdullah Muhasilović, incited a mutiny and led 100 men back to Bosnia.[26] By November 1944 the Division, which had been 95% non-German in January, was now 50% German. On 10 November the Handschar was committed to action against the Soviets at Darda, Croatia. This fighting went on until 19 April 1945, with the Division being slowly pushed back across Hungary. On 5 May the remaining men, both German and Bosnian began to retreat eastwards towards Austria. On 8 May an order was sent to retreat to Wolfsberg, Carinthia.[27]

On 12 May 1945 Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Desiderius Hampel carried out surrender negoitations with the British and on 15 May most of the men were transported to Rimini in Italy, where (ironically perhaps) they were incarcerated with other PoWs from the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen and 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS.[28]

On learning of their retreat several "imams approached their commander, Hans Hanke, and requested that they and their men be discharged and be allowed to attempt to return to their homeland....Soon, all of the Bosnians remaining in the division were asked if they wished to remain."[29] Many of these men are alleged to have been murdered by Communist Partisans after the war.[30] Of the Bosnian men who did not return it is alleged that some moved to the Middle East and that some even fought in 1948 in Palestine.

Trial

Between 22–30 August 1947, trials by the Communist regime for the Handschar took place at a military court in Sarajevo. "Although the indictment accused the division of murdering some five thousand people, only seven of the thirty-eight defendants were charged with specific offenses."[31] The accused were all comparatively junior officers and were "defended" by three Yugoslav lawyers: two civilian and one military officer. All 38 men were found guilty and either sentenced to death (10) or long prison terms (28). SS-Gruppenführer Karl-Gustav Sauberzweig committed suicide on 20 October 1946 rather than be extradited to Communist Yugoslavia. SS Obersturmführer Imam Halim Malkoć was hanged in Bihać on 7 March 1947.

Those executed on 17 July 1948 included:[32]

Almost all the prisoners were released early in 1952 (following Tito's fallout with Stalin and the need to reapproach the West), except SS Sturmmann Wilhelm Mahn who died in captivity. SS-Brigadeführer Desiderius Hampel never faced a trial and survived the war. He died on the 11 January 1981 in Graz, Austria.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Handschar (Handžar) was the local word for the scimitar, a historical symbol of Bosnia and Islam. An image of the Handschar adorned the division's insignia.
  2. ↑ Malcolm, Noel (1996). Bosnia: A Short History. New York University Press. pp. 174–176. ISBN 0814755615. 
  3. ↑ Hoare, Marko Attila (2007). The History of Bosnia: From the Middle Ages to the Present Day. SAQI. p. 227. ISBN 0863569536. 
  4. ↑ Tomasevich 2001, p. 492.
  5. ↑ Lepre 2000, pp. 15-16.
  6. ↑ http://www.feldgrau.com/articles.php?ID=13
  7. ↑ Stein, George H. (1984). The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939-45. Cornell University Press. p. 182. ISBN 0801492750. 
  8. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 17.
  9. ↑ Tomasevich 2001, p. 496.
  10. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 24.
  11. ↑ Mousavizadeh, Nader (1996). The Black Book of Bosnia: The Consequences of Appeasement. Basic Books. pp. 23. ISBN 0465098355. 
  12. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 34.
  13. ↑ Bishop, Michael (2003). SS: Hell on the Western Front. Zenith Imprint. p. 70. ISBN 0760314020. 
  14. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 118.
  15. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 35.
  16. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 75.
  17. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 165.
  18. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 107.
  19. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 104.
  20. ↑ Cohen, Philip J. (1996). Serbia's Secret War: Propaganda and the Deceit of History. Texas A&M University Press. p. 102. ISBN 0890967601. 
  21. ↑ Čorak, Željka (12 October 2006). "Postavljen spomenik Vanje Radauša u Villefranche–de–Rouergueu". Matica hrvatska. http://www.matica.hr/Vijenac/vijenac328.nsf/AllWebDocs/knji78p. 
  22. ↑ "Hall Amin Al-Husayni: The Mufti of Jerusalem". Holocaust Encyclopedia. 25 June 2007. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10007257. Retrieved 19 October 2007. 
  23. ↑ Lepre 2000, pp. 151-152.
  24. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 365.
  25. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 252.
  26. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 266.
  27. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 300.
  28. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 304-308.
  29. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 302.
  30. ↑ K.W. Böhme, Die deutschen Kriegsgefangenen in Jugoslawien 1941-1949, vol.I of Die Die deutschen Kriegsgefangenen des Zweiten Weltkrieges, ed. by Dr Erich Maschke (Munich: Verlag Ernst and Werner Giesking, 1962, I/1:107-109.
  31. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 312.
  32. ↑ Lepre 2000, p. 313.

References

Further reading

External links