GERMAN WWII CROATIAN 13th WAFFEN SS MOUNTAIN DIVISION "HANDSCHAR" OFFICER COLLAR TABS

SS Handschar OFFICER collar tabs for the 13th Waffen SS division.  Himmler’s Bosnian Muslim volunteers unit.

SS Handschar bullion collar tabs shows a Swastica next to a hand holding a sword on a black wool base.

The collar tabs are mounted on a tan buckram backing.

The 13th Waffen SS Mountain Division "Handschar" (1st Croatian Division) was approved to form as an SS unit February 13, 1943, as the first non-Germanic SS foreign volunteer division. These men were not authorized wear of the SS runic emblem, and they wore this distinctive collar insignia instead.

26,000 men were recruited by mid-1943. In February 1944, the division served in Bosnia, Serbia, and Sirmium completing anti-Partisan operations.

Late 1944, the Division served in southern Hungary in front-line fighting against the advancing Russians.

May 8th 1945 the division surrendered to British troops.