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Kroatische-SS-Freiwilligen-Division Kroatische SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division 13.SS-Freiwilligen-bosn.herzogow.Gebirgs-Division (Kroatien) 13.Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS ''Handschar'' (kroatische Nr.1) 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 . It was composed of recruits from the Independent State Of Croatia , primarily Muslims , who are now known as Bosniaks , from Bosnia And Herzegovina . Its خنجر): a historical symbol of Bosnia. HISTORY Formation and Training Heinrich Himmler and SS Brigadefuhrer Karl Gustav Sauberzweig during inspection of Waffen SS Division Handschar (Handzar) aka. Scimitar , Sarajevo, 1943]] In the fall of and Persian stock. Hitler formally approved the project on 10 February 1943 . Artur Phleps was charged with raising the division. The Croat fascist Ustashe objected to the recruitment of an exclusively Muslim formation. They were worried about possible independence and considered the Muslim areas a part of their " Independent State Of Croatia ". As a compromise the division was called "Croatian" and included at least 10% Catholic Croats . Amin Al-Husseini was involved in the recruitment effort. The uniform worn by the division was regular SS 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). Headgear was the Fez , in field grey (normal service) or red ("walking out"), with the ''Reich's eagle'' and the SS skull emblazoned. Non-Muslim members could opt to wear the regular SS mountain cap. The oval mountain troop Edelweiss patch was worn on the right arm. The division had a Muslim Imam for each Battalion and a Mullah for each Regiment . It was the largest of the Muslim oriented divisions (21,065 men). It conducted operations against Communist Partisans in the Balkans from February 1944 . ) and Croat soldiers]] The ''Handschar'' division was mainly commanded by German officers. In late 1943, it was sent to train at Villefranche-de-Rouergue , in Aveyron , France . On September 17-18, 1943, a number of soldiers staged a Mutiny , killed eight German officers, but were soon subdued by the Germans. The Germans blamed it on three suspected Communists who had infiltrated the division and downplayed the whole affair, stating that only some 14 soldiers participated in it. The captured mutineers were executed. Nevertheless, the 13th was the only SS division that ever had a mutiny, and this was the first armed revolt against the Germans within the main Nazi system. A few of the mutineers escaped and helped form the French Resistance in the area. The remainder of the division was soon relocated to Germany where they completed their training and in February 1944 shipped back to Bosnia. Service The ''Handschar'' was responsible for a number of Atrocities against civilians, mostly committed during its anti-partisan operations. ''Handschar'' participated in the largest anti partisan sweep of World War 2, Unternehmen Maibaum.Cooperating with 7.SS Prinz Eugen which did little in this operation. The Division participated in Wegweiser, Save, Osterei, Maibaum, Maiglöckchen, Vollmond, Fliegenfänger, Heidrose and Hackfleisch operations from February to September of 1944. Toward the end of the war, many of its members deserted, sometimes with their weapons. Many of the Muslims returned to Bosnia to protect their homes and families, while others defected to Josip Broz Tito 's partisans. The division was essentially disbanded by November 1944, although a small number continued to fight until surrendering to the British in Austria on 8 May 1945. COMMANDERS
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