Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII maroon parade fez associated with the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS “Handschar” (1st Croatian). It retains its applied insignia, top tassel, complete leather sweatband, embossed interior logo, and stamped size 59 marking. The maroon wool felt remains especially well preserved, with only minor age toning and no visible moth holes.

The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS “Handschar” was formed in 1943 and recruited primarily among Bosnian Muslims from occupied Yugoslavia, together with personnel from Croatia and Herzegovina. German and ethnic German officers held many of the command positions, while selected uniform elements were intended to reflect the regional and religious background of the enlisted personnel.

The division was initially organized for operations against Yugoslav Partisan forces. Recruitment and conscription expanded the formation rapidly, and the fez became one of its most recognizable uniform distinctions.

Two principal colors of fez are associated with these formations. Field gray examples were intended for duty and field wear, while maroon examples were worn for parade, walking-out, and other dress occasions.

This example is made from maroon wool felt and remains in very good overall condition. The exterior shows only minor age toning and light wear. No holes are visible in the felt, an especially desirable condition feature for this type of wool headgear.

The applied insignia remain well preserved and are sewn to the fez with black thread in a manner consistent with other period examples. The silver colored embroidery shows light age toning and localized staining but remains clear and visually strong.

The top tassel remains present. Its central stem is still firmly attached to the fez, and the original tack stitches securing the tassel remain intact. The tassel ends show minor fraying. Several strands have pulled free from their original arrangement, though the tassel remains complete enough to display well.

The interior is fitted with a leather sweatband extending around the full circumference. The leather remains soft and supple, with no visible tearing. An embossed manufacturer or distributor logo is present toward the front of the sweatband, though the supplied information does not identify the marking.

The underside of the sweatband is stamped:

59

The stitching securing the sweatband remains fully intact, with no visible tearing, separation, or dry rot. There is a 21 marking also stamped on the underside, which we do not know the significance of.

This fez has been identified as an original period example based on its construction, materials, insignia application, interior features, and overall aging. As reproductions of Handschar fezzes are frequently encountered, the surviving sweatband, size stamp, stitching, felt construction, and consistent wear are important collector details.

With its desirable maroon parade color, applied Waffen-SS foreign volunteer insignia, intact tassel attachment, complete leather sweatband, embossed interior logo, size 59 marking, and unusually well preserved wool felt, this is an appealing example of Handschar division headgear. The minor age toning, light staining to the silver embroidery, tassel fraying, and displaced tassel strands are fully disclosed. It would display particularly well in a 13th Waffen-SS Mountain Division Handschar, Balkan foreign volunteer, Waffen-SS headgear, maroon parade fez, or advanced WWII uniform collection.