Croatian Defence Forces

Croatian Defence Forces Hrvatske obrambene snage
Patch of the Croatian Defence Forces
Active	22 January 1991 – 5 April 1993
Disbanded	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

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]