Bosniaks in Germany

The Bosniak Corps (German: Bosniakenkorps, Bosnian: Bošnjački korpus) was a Prussian Army unit of lancers of Bosnian origin. In 1745 they were organised in the 1st Hussar Regiment "von Ruesch".[3]

The army has frequently performed functions of a Gendarmerie, or as the military police of the modern military. Bosniak army soldiers wore distinctive, high fur hats, decorated pony tails and ropes, they wore emblems of the province in which they served. As for weapons, they used their swords and spears, as well as their counterparts in the Imperial Army - Cossacks.[4]

The first time they fought was during the Seven Years' War, and numbered nearly 1,000 people. Later, during the war because of the Bavarian allocations, as well as in Kostyuk uprising in 1796.

The ethnic composition of the Prussian Bosniaks has not been finally clarified. Originally, it was assumed in the literature that they were all Bosnians because of the name , i.e. they came from Bosnia and were exclusively or predominantly Muslim Bosnians.[4][5][6]

During World War I, Bosnia and Herzegovina were under Austro-Hungarian rule, and Bosnian soldiers fought on the side of the Central Powers, including Germany. However, the extent to which Bosnians willingly supported the Austro-Hungarian regime and its war effort is a matter of debate.

While Bosnians were conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian army and sent to fight on various fronts, including the Eastern Front against Russia and the Italian Front, it is difficult to determine how many of them did so voluntarily. Some Bosnians may have been motivated by a sense of duty or loyalty to their rulers, while others may have been coerced or forced to fight.[7]

According to some estimates, around 150,000 Bosnians fought in the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I. However, the exact number is uncertain, and it is possible that some Bosnians also fought on the side of the Allied Powers, particularly those who were opposed to Austro-Hungarian rule.[8]

In addition to serving as soldiers, Bosnians were involved in various other aspects of the war effort, including as workers in factories producing war materiel and as part of the logistics and transport units supporting the military. Some Bosnians also played important roles as interpreters and guides for Austro-Hungarian forces in the Balkans, drawing on their knowledge of local languages and terrain.

It is worth noting that not all Bosnians supported the Austro-Hungarian regime or its war effort. Some Bosnians, were opposed to Austro-Hungarian rule and sympathized with the Allied Powers. The war also had a profound impact on Bosnian society and politics, contributing to the rise of nationalist movements and tensions that would shape the region for decades to come.[9][10][11][12]

After World War I and the subsequent dissolution of the German Empire, Bosnians migrated to the Weimar Republic in search of better economic opportunities, despite the economic situation of Weimar Republic being heavily unstable due to the accrued debt the state inherited from the Empire. While their numbers were relatively small compared to other immigrant groups, Bosnians played a significant role in the social and cultural life of German cities such as Berlin and Hamburg.[13]

Many Bosnians worked in industries such as construction, mining, and agriculture, where they often faced difficult and dangerous working conditions. Some Bosnians also worked as domestic servants, a common occupation for female immigrants at the time. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice from some Germans, many Bosnians were able to build successful lives for themselves and their families in Germany.[14]

Bosnians living in Germany during the Weimar Republic period also played an important role in the cultural and intellectual life of the country. Bosnian writers and artists such as Safvet-beg Bašagić and Mesa Selimović gained recognition for their works, and Bosnian musicians and dancers performed at events and venues across Germany.[15]

However, the rise of Nazism in the early 1930s had a profound impact on Bosnians and other immigrant groups in Germany. Discrimination and violence against immigrants increased, and many Bosnians were forced to leave Germany or face persecution.[16][17]

During World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina were part of the Axis-aligned Independent State of Croatia, a puppet state established by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Bosnians played a complex role in the political and military struggles of the time, with some supporting the Ustaše regime and others actively resisting it.

The Ustaše regime, which was dominated by Croat nationalists, implemented policies of persecution and genocide against Serbs, Jews, Roma, and other groups considered "undesirable" by the regime. While many Bosnians were not directly involved in these atrocities, some actively participated in them, particularly in the Ustaše-run concentration camps such as Jasenovac.

However, not all Bosnians supported the Ustaše regime or Nazi Germany. Many Bosnian Muslims and some Bosnian Croats were opposed to the Ustaše's policies and resisted the regime in various ways. Some joined the Yugoslav Partisan resistance movement led by Josip Broz "Tito", which fought against the Ustaše and its allies, including Nazi Germany.

Bosnians were also involved in various other aspects of the war effort, including serving as soldiers in the Croatian Home Guard and as laborers in German-run factories and mines. Some Bosnians who were conscripted into the German army may have fought on various fronts, including the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union and the Western Front against the Allies.

The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS "Handschar" was a division of the Waffen-SS that was formed in 1943 and included Bosnian Muslims as its main constituent. The division was named after the Handschar, a curved dagger that was previously used as a coat of arms during Austro-Hungarian Empire's occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The division was formed as part of Nazi Germany's efforts to recruit non-German soldiers into the Waffen-SS. The Bosnian Muslims were seen as a potential ally of Nazi Germany due to their shared opposition to the Yugoslav royal government and their perceived shared interests with Germany, along with Hitler's supposed fascination of Islam through the Syrian imam Izz ad-Din al-Qassam and the Palestinian mufti Amin al-Husseini touring the Balkans to recruit young Bosnian Muslims to join their cause.

The Handschar division was initially intended to be deployed in the Eastern Front, but due to manpower shortages, it was instead deployed to the Balkans to fight the Yugoslav Partisans and Chetniks. The division was involved in several major operations, including the suppression of the Partisan uprising in Bosnia in early 1944.

The division was known for its brutality towards civilians, particularly Serbs, Jews, and Roma. Some members of the division also committed war crimes, including the killing of civilians and prisoners of war. The division's involvement in these atrocities has been a source of controversy and debate, with some arguing that the Bosnian Muslims who joined the Handschar division did so out of a desire to defend their homeland from Partisan attacks, while others argue that they were active collaborators with Nazi Germany.

In the aftermath of World War II, many former members of the Handschar division were tried and convicted of war crimes, including crimes against humanity and genocide by SFR Yugoslavia.

Bosnians began arriving in Germany in the 1950s as part of a broader wave of migration from southern Europe. In West Germany, they were employed in the booming manufacturing and construction industries. In East Germany, they worked mainly in agriculture and the textile industry.[18]

The gastarbeiter (or guest worker in English) program provided an opportunity for Bosnians to earn higher wages and support their families back home. For many Bosnians, Germany offered the chance for a better life, but the experience of being a guest worker was not always positive. Some would face discrimination and poor living and working conditions.[19]

In West Germany, the guest worker program was terminated in 1973, but many Bosnians chose to stay and became permanent residents. In East Germany, the program continued until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The reunification of Germany in 1990 led to significant changes in the lives of Bosnian guest workers, including increased opportunities for travel and resettlement.[20][21]

During the reunification of Germany in 1990, the Bosnian community faced significant changes. Many Bosnians who had been living and working in East Germany found themselves unemployed after the collapse of the communist regime. According to a report by the Berlin Institute for Empirical Integration and Migration Research, Bosnians in East Germany faced significant challenges after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many were initially granted asylum or temporary residence permits, but as the economic situation worsened, many were forced to leave due to lack of job opportunities and social exclusion.[22]

On the other hand, Bosnians living in West Germany were affected by the economic slowdown that followed reunification. According to a study by the German Federal Employment Agency, the unemployment rate among Bosnians in Germany increased from 13% in 1990 to 22% in 1993.[23]

The Bosnian War, which started in 1992, led to a significant influx of Bosnian refugees into Germany. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 350,000 Bosnians sought asylum in Germany during the war. The German government granted asylum to many of them and provided temporary protection for others. Germany became the largest host country for Bosnian refugees in Europe during the conflict.[24] However, the experience of being a refugee was not always positive, and many faced discrimination and exclusion. A study by the Berlin Institute for Empirical Integration and Migration Research found that Bosnian refugees in Germany faced significant challenges in the areas of education, employment, and social integration. Many were unable to find work, and those who did often had jobs that were below their skill level.[25][26]

The Bosnian community in Germany played an important role in providing support and assistance to Bosnian refugees, and many organizations were established to address their needs. The Bosnian Association in Germany (BAG) was founded in 1992 to represent the interests of Bosnians in Germany and to promote their integration into German society.[27][28][29]

The Bosnian community in Germany has continued to grow since the 1990s, and has become an integral part of German society. According to a report by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, there were approximately 195,000 Bosnians living in Germany in 2020, making it one of the largest diaspora communities in the country.

Despite their contributions, Bosnians in Germany continue to face challenges related to discrimination and social exclusion. A study by the Berlin Institute for Empirical Integration and Migration Research found that Bosnians in Germany were more likely to be unemployed and to experience discrimination in the job market than other immigrant groups. In addition, many Bosnians face difficulties integrating into German society due to language barriers and cultural differences.

Bosnians in Germany also maintain strong ties to their homeland. Many Bosnian immigrants in Germany send remittances back to their families in Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing a significant source of financial support for their home country.

According to a report by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, as of December 2020, there were approximately 195,000 people of Bosnian origin living in Germany, making them one of the largest migrant groups in the country. Bosnians in Germany are primarily concentrated in urban areas, with the largest populations residing in Berlin, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt. The report also notes that many Bosnians in Germany are highly educated, with a large number holding university degrees. Additionally, Bosnian-owned businesses in Germany have been on the rise, with over 4,000 registered businesses as of 2020. These businesses contribute significantly to the German economy and provide employment opportunities for both Bosnians and Germans.[30][31][32]