13. Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS Handschar (kroatische Nr. 1) was formed to use Bosnian Muslims to defend their home region against the partisans and Chetnik forces. Due to their islamic faith they were allowed Imams in the division.

During the training in France, a minor mutiny occured Sep 1943, but the training was completed and it returned home Feb 1944.

When the German forces retreated from this region Sep 1944 many of the soldiers remained behind. The unit took on Germans from various smaller units in the Balkans and fought in Croatia and Hungary but was only brigade size. It surrendered to British forces near St. Veit an der Glan at the end of the war.

The first Handschar mutiny occurred in Villefranche de Rouergue on 16-17 September 1943 within SS-Geb.Pi.Btl.13. An infiltrated communist agent started the affair and five German officers were murdered (SS-Obersturmführer Julius-Friedrich Galantha, SS-Obersturmbannführer Oskar Kirchbaum, SS-Obersturmführer Gerhard Kretschmer, SS-Hauptsturmführer Heinrich Kuntz & SS-Obersturmführer Anton Wolf, all from SS-Geb.Pi.Btl. 13). The mutiny was quelled within hours by elements of the battalion loyal to the Germans and order was quickly restored.
Two mutineers were killed in armed fighting: Ferid Dzanic and Lutfija Dizdarevic, fourteen others were shot after court-martial proceedings.

A second Handschar mutiny occured on 21 October 1944 within the Div. Stabsjäger Kompanie. The men simply deserted en masse. The Germans managed to contact the mutineers but the latter refused to return to the division. They later joined the Partisans.

This unit took part in anti-partisan operations in Croatia.

Known war crimes
Soldiers from the division killed 22 Jews in Tuzia in the summer of 1944.

38 Hanschar soldiers were put on trial in Yugoslavia 20-30 August 1947 for war crimes though only seven of them were charged with specific offenses. All were found guilty, seven were executed and the rest sentenced to prison terms ranging from five years to life in prisorn. In the end they were released early and last prisoners were released in 1952, one of them died in prison.

Honor titles
Handschar is the German spelling for Handžar, a Croat term of Turkish origin meaning a scimitar which also featured on the Bosnian coat-of-arms. An armored fist holding a Handschar also appeared on the divisional collar patch, along with a swastika, and Handžar was also the name of the divisional newspaper.

Holders of high awards
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (5)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (1)
  Wambsganß, Karl, 30.04.1945, SS-Hauptsturmführer, Adjutant 13. W-Geb.Div. d. SS “Handschar”
Holders of the Knight's Cross (5, all unofficial/unconfirmed)

Holders of other notable badges & decorations
Holders of the Anti-Partisan Badge in Bronze (1)
  Wirkert, Georg, ??, SS-Rottenführer, 13. Waffen-Geb.Div. dSS "Handschar"

Order of battle (1943)

Stab
Kroatisches SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 1
Kroatisches SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 2
Kroatisches SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment
Kroatische SS-Kavallerie-Abteilung
Kroatische SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon
Kroatische SS-Radfahr-Bataillon
Kroatische SS-Panzer-Abteilung
Kroatische SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
Kroatische SS-Flak-Abteilung
Kroatische SS-Pionier-Bataillon
Kroatische SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung

Order of battle (spring 1944)

Stab
SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 27
SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 28
SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 13
SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 13
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 13
SS-Pionier-Bataillon 13
SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 13
SS-Freiwilligen-Flak-Abteilung 13
SS-Gebirgsjäger-Ausb.u.Ers.Bataillon 13
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Zug

Order of battle (1944)

SS-Waffen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment der SS 27
SS-Waffen-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment der SS 28
SS-Waffen-Artillerie-Regiment der SS 13
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 13
SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung (mot) 13
Waffen-Gebirgs-Pionier-Abteilung der SS 13
Waffen-Gebirgs-Nachrichten-Abteilung der SS 13
Waffen-Flak-Abteilung der SS 13
SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 13
Kroatische SS-Radfahr-Bataillon
Kroatische SS-Kradschützen-Bataillon
SS-Divisionsnachschubtruppen 13
Versorgungs-Regiment Stab 13
SS-Verwaltungs-Bataillon 13
SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 13
SS-Krankenkraftwagenzug
SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Veterinär-Kompanie 13
SS-Feldpostamt 13
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 13
SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 13
SS-Feldersatz-Bataillon 13
SS-Kraftfahr-Lehr-Abteilung 13

Notable members

Hermann Behrends (SS-Gruppenführer, Reichstag deputy, deupty head of the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle, VOMI, Höhere SS und Polizeiführer Serbien, Sandschack und Montenegro 1944)

Officers serving in the Einsatzgruppen and Concentration Camps
Concentration Camps 9
(includes officers serving in the Einsatzgruppen or Concentration Camps either prior to or after service in this unit)

Insignia

Members of this division was not allowed to use the SS runes and in late 1943 a collar tab with a swastika and a hand holding a simitar was introduced.

Photo © The Ruptured Duck

Soldiers of the Handschar division wearing the special collar tab and fez

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

A felt fez was used instead of the regular visored caps, a field-grey fez was used with the battle dress and a maroon fez with the dress uniform.

Propaganda & Culture
Lyrics to the divisional song Sa Pjesmom u Boj (Into battle with a song)

Recruitment poster

(Courtesy of Daniel)

Soldiers of the Handschar division

(Courtesy of Thomas S)

Soldiers from the Handschar Division on parade

(Courtesy of Die Deutsche Wochenschau/Ivan)

Soldiers of the Handschar division reading antisemitic propaganda

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Amin al Husseini visiting the division 1943

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Amin al Husseini visiting the division 1943

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Published sources used

John R. Angolia - Cloth insignia of the SS

Roger James Bender & Hugh Page Taylor - Uniforms, Organization and History of the Waffen-SS, vol 3

Georges M. Croisier - Waffen-SS (PDF)

Terry Goldsworthy - Valhalla's Warriors: A history of the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front 1941-1945

Jill Halcomb & Wilhelm P. B. R. Saris - Headgear of Hitler's Germany, Vol 2

Dr. K-G Klietmann - Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation

David Littlejohn - Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, vol 3

James Lucas - Hitler's Mountain Troops: Fighting at the extremes

Antonio J. Munoz - The East came West: Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Volunteers in the German Armed Forces 1941-1945

Marc J. Rikmenspoel - Waffen-SS Encyclopedia

George H. Stein - The Waffen-SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War 1939-1945

Frank Thayer - SS Foreign volunteer collar insignia and their reporductions (in The Military Advisor, Vol 4 No 2)

Gordon Williamson - German Security and Police Soldier 1939-45

Gordon Williamson - The Waffen-SS: 11. to 23. Divisions

Mark C. Yerger - Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, corps and divisional leaders of a legend (2 vol)

Reference material on this unit

Ilai Benino - Singa Bosnia: Sejarah Divisi SS Handschar, 1943-45 (Jakarta, Gaco Books, 2009)

Mirko D. Grmek & Louise L. Lambrichs - Revoltes de villefranche: Mutinerie d'un Bataillon de Waffen-SS Septembre 1943

George Lepre - Himmler's Bosnian Division: The Waffen-SS Handschar Division 1943-1945

Antonio J. Munoz - The East came West: Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist volunteers in the German Armed Forces

Amandine Rochas - La Handschar: Histoire d'une division de Waffen-SS bosniaque