Muslime in der Waffen-SS: Erinnerungen an die bosnische Division Handžar (1943–1945)

The 13th Waffen-Gebirgs-Division of the SS "Handžar" consisted for the most part of 15,000 Bosnian Muslims who had volunteered. The division was established on March 1, 1943 and was used in northeastern Bosnia against Tito partisans and Serbian Chetniks. The training took place initially in the south of France and then on the military training area Neuhammer on the Queis in Silesia. During training in the south of France, a mutiny took place in the town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue under the leadership of two Croatian and two Bosnian Communists, during which the mutineers shot five German officers. After a few hours, the mutiny could be crushed. For many years, the author has analyzed numerous documents and questioned contemporary witnesses about this event. He describes as one of the last survivors below the background of the formation of this "non-Germanic" SS unit and the role of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin el-Husseini. His cooperation with Heinrich Himmler still gives rise to controversial discussions about the relationship between Islam and National Socialism. The author Zvonimir Bernwald worked as an interpreter in the divisional staff of "Handžar". In addition to his notes and memories, his work also contains many unpublished pictures and documentary material. His book may well be the last work on the subject of Muslims in the Waffen-SS from the hands of a directly involved.

Hardcover: 416 pages

Language: German

Size and / or weight: 15.7 x 3 x 23.6 cm