a German mountain infantry division of the Waffen-SS during World War
II. Raised in the Independent State of Croatia, it was given the title
Handschar after a fighting knife carried by Turkish policemen when the
region was part of the Ottoman Empire. From March to December 1944, it
fought a counter-insurgency campaign against communist-led Yugoslav
Partisan resistance forces. The first non-Germanic Waffen-SS division,
it was composed of Bosnian Muslims with some Catholic Croat soldiers and
mostly German and ethnic German officers and non-commissioned officers.
It swore allegiance to Adolf Hitler and the Croatian leader Ante
Pavelić. It established a designated "security zone" in north-eastern
Bosnia but fought outside the zone on several occasions. It gained a
reputation for brutality and savagery during combat operations and
atrocities against Serb and Jewish civilians. After late 1944, non-
German members began to desert in large numbers, particularly once they
had retreated inside the Reich frontier. Others surrendered to British
forces. Thirty-eight officers were extradited to Yugoslavia, and ten
were executed.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Waffen_Mountain_Division_of_the_SS_Handschar_(1st_Croatian)>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1014:
Irish forces led by Brian Boru clashed with the Vikings in the
Battle of Clontarf.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Clontarf>
1661:
Charles II, King of England, Ireland, and Scotland was crowned
at Westminster Abbey.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_II_of_England>
1954:
Batting against Vic Raschi of the St. Louis Cardinals, Hank
Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves hit the first of his record-setting 755
home runs in Major League Baseball.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Aaron>
1968:
Students protesting the Vietnam War at Columbia University in
New York City took over administration buildings and shut down the
university.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_protests_of_1968>
1979:
Activist Blair Peach suffered fatal head injuries when he was
knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration in
Southall, London, against a National Front election meeting in the town
hall.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Blair_Peach>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
bardolator:
(usually pejorative) One who loves or worships the works of William
Shakespeare.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bardolator>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Know thus far forth: By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune
— Now my dear lady — hath mine enemies Brought to this shore; and by
my prescience I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star,
whose influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever
after droop.
--The Tempest
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Tempest>
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