The SS-Kama – Forgotten Bosnian Muslim Waffen-SS Division

During WW2 the Nazis created the SS-Handschar Division which consisted of Bosnian Muslims. Another division was created and this was the SS-Kama. It was established in May 1944 and disbanded in October the same year. Himmler wanted to expand Waffen-SS recruiting in the Balkans. Officially called the "23. Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS "Kama" (kroatische Nr. 2)". It was acknowledged that if the SS-Kama would be pulled out of Bosnia desertion would increase as the men preferred to protect their own villages instead of fighting a foreign enemy in a foreign land. Ethnic Germans were added to the formation (we're talking about 500 16-18 year olds). It was no success and the unit would be disbanded before the year's end.