| 16th Muslim Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Propaganda poster for the 16th Muslim Brigade, showing a Muslim insurgent carrying an MG 42 | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Allegiance | Yugoslav Partisan Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 4 battalions |
| Part of | 17th East Bosnia Division (1943-1944), 27th East Bosnia Division (1944-1945) |
| Engagements | World War II in Yugoslavia
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Salim Ćerić [1] [2] |
The 16th Muslim Brigade (Serbo-Croatian: XVI Muslimanske Brigade), also called the 16th Muslim Assault Brigade, was a Yugoslav Partisan infantry formation composed of Bosnian Muslims that fought in World War II in Yugoslavia.
The origin of the unit was in a previous Muslim battalion, created from separating out Muslims serving in several other partisan divisions. The 16th Muslim Brigade was officially created on 21 September 1943, originally named the 3rd Muslim Brigade, [3] as part of the 17th East Bosnia Division. The brigade was established in large part to propagandize Muslims to join the partisan resistance movement of Tito. [4]
The brigade was soon put into action, helping capture the town of Tuzla from the occupying forces in autumn 1943, although this soon reversed when on 11 November the German 1. Gebirgs-Division recaptured Tuzla. It conducted harassing attacks during this time, such as ambushing and eliminating a German motor column.
The Brigade would be significantly engaged in December 1943 by the German counter-insurgent operation ‘Kugelblitz’ and its follow-up operation ‘Schneesturm’ designed to encircle and destroy large partisan forces in eastern Bosnia, during the course of which it would counter-attack and capture the town of Kladanj, and escape the encirclement along with the rest of its division. In January 1944 it would participate in the failed partisan offensive to re-capture Tuzla.
Throughout the rest of 1944, from 15 March 1944 onward as part of the 27th East Bosnia Division, it was engaged at various times, sometimes by the Handschar Division of the Waffen SS, and also engaged the SS Prinz Eugen Division and various Ustaše and Chetnik forces. In September 1944 some Bosnians of the Handschar division even defected to the ranks of the 16th Muslim Brigade. [5]
In March and April 1945, it participated in the Sarajevo Operation, with the brigade being the one to capture Sarajevo itself from retreating German and collaborationist forces. [6] [7] In April and May 1945 it fought in the Battle of Odžak against Ustaše forces; [8] Odžak was the final battle of the European theatre of World War II.
