The Germans wanted to recruit a second SS division from the Muslims of Bosnia, as part of Himmler's goal to expand "Waffen-SS" recruiting in the Balkans. His plan was to form two corps of two divisions, with one corps to operate in the Bosnian region of the Independent State of Croatia and the other in Albania. These corps would then be combined with the "Volksdeutsche" 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division "Prinz Eugen" and together would form a Balkan SS mountain army of five divisions. On 28 May 1944, Hitler gave his formal approval for the creation of a 23rd SS Division, with its formation to begin on 10 June and training to be complete by the end of 1944. Himmler followed the advice of the commander of the 13th SS Division "Handschar", "SS Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of Waffen-SS" (Brigadier) Karl-Gustav Sauberzweig, and agreed to form the division in the neighbouring Bácska () region annexed by Hungary instead of Bosnia. Sauberzweig believed that if the division was raised in the NDH, the Ustaše would undermine the morale of the recruits. The new division was named "Kama" after a small dagger used by Balkan shepherds.