Hadžiefendić Legion
The Hadžiefendić Legion (Serbo-Croatian: Hadžiefendićeva legija) or Muslim Legion was a Bosniak self-defence militia and Croatian Home Guard unit based in the predominantly Muslim Tuzla region of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) during World War II. The brigade–sized force was formally a "Volunteer Home Guard Regiment", and was raised in late December 1941 under the command of the former Royal Yugoslav Army reservist Major Muhamed Hadžiefendić, who had been commissioned into the Croatian Home Guard. By the end of the year, the Legion had commenced forming battalions in six towns in northeastern Bosnia.
| Hadžiefendić Legion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1943 |
| Disbanded | October 1943 |
| Country | Independent State of Croatia |
| Branch | Home Guard |
| Type | Infantry (militia) |
| Role | Defence of the Bosnian Muslim population |
| Size | 5,000–6,000 |
| Headquarters | Tuzla |
| Nickname(s) | Muslim Legion |
| Engagements | World War II in Yugoslavia (northeastern Bosnia) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Muhamed Hadžiefendić |
The Legion was the most powerful and successful Muslim militia in the Tuzla region, and fought Yugoslav Partisans and Chetniks in northeastern Bosnia between December 1941 and October 1943. By April 1942 it was effectively operating outside of the control of the Croatian Home Guard, although they continued to supply arms and ammunition to the Legion. Members of the Legion formed the core of the volunteers that joined the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) in mid–1943, and the resultant weakening of the Legion contributed to its destruction during the Partisan liberation of Tuzla in October 1943.