September 1991 (Croatia)[1] 21 August 1992 (Bosnia)[2]
Country
Croatia Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Allegiance
Croatian Party of Rights
Branch
Army
Size
8,000[3]
Headquarters
Zagreb, Croatia Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nickname(s)
Blacks (Crnci)
Motto(s)
Za dom spremni
Colors
Black
March
Himna HOS-a – Za dom spremni[4]
Engagements
Battle of the Barracks Battle of Gospić Battle of Vukovar Siege of Dubrovnik Siege of Mostar Battle of Posavina Siege of Sarajevo
Commanders
Notable commanders
Dobroslav Paraga Blaž Kraljević
Insignia
Flag
Military unit
The Croatian Defence Forces (Croatian: Hrvatske obrambene snage or HOS) were the paramilitary arm of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) from 1991 to 1992, during the first stages of the Yugoslav wars. During the Croatian War of Independence, the HOS organised several early companies and participated in Croatia's defence. At the peak of the war in Croatia, the HOS was several battalions in size. The first HOS units were headed by Ante Paradžik, a HSP member who was killed by Croatian police in September 1991. After the November 1991 general mobilisation in Croatia and the January 1992 cease-fire, the HOS was absorbed by the Croatian Army.
The HOS units in Bosnia and Herzegovina consisted of Croats, Bosniaks and foreign volunteers led by Blaž Kraljević.[5] On 9 August 1992, Kraljević and eight staff members were assassinated by Croatian Defence Council (HVO) soldiers under the command of Mladen Naletilić.[6] The HOS was disbanded shortly afterwards, and absorbed by the HVO and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of the Croat-Bosniak War.[5] The last HOS unit was dissolved on 5 April 1993 in central Bosnia.[7]
^Absorbed into the Croatian ground army
^Absorbed into the Croatian Defence Council and Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
^Veselinović 2014, p. 70-71.
^"Himna HOS-a". YouTube. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
^ abNigel Thomas, Nigel Thomas (2006). The Yugoslav Wars: Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia 1992–2001. Osprey Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 1-84176-964-9.
^Ramet 2006, p. 343.
^Shrader 2003, p. 46.
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Global Information
Croatia
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina