Croatian Defence Forces

Croatian Defence Forces Hrvatske obrambene snage
Flag of the Croatian Defence Forces
Active	22 January 1991 – 16 April 1993
Country	Croatia Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Allegiance	Croatia  Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Branch	Army
Size	8,000
Headquarters	Zagreb, Croatia Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nickname(s)	Blacks (Crnci)
Motto(s)	Za dom spremni
Colors	Black
March	HOS – Za dom spremni
Engagements	Battle of the Barracks Battle of Gospić Battle of Vukovar Siege of Dubrovnik Siege of Mostar Battle of Posavina Siege of Sarajevo
Disbanded	September 1991 in Croatia 21 August 1992 in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commanders
Notable commanders	Dobroslav Paraga Blaž Kraljević

The Croatian Defence Forces (Croatian: Hrvatske obrambene snage, HOS) were the military 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 organized several early companies and participated in Croatia's defense. At the peak of the war in Croatia, the HOS was several battalions in size. The first HOS units were headed by Ante Paradžik, an HSP member who was killed by Croatian police in September 1991. After the November 1991 general mobilization 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. On 9 August 1992, Kraljević and eight staff members were assassinated by Croatian Defence Council (HVO) soldiers under the command of Mladen Naletilić. 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. The last HOS unit was dissolved on 5 April 1993 in central Bosnia.

The frequently used Croatian abbreviation of the organization, "HOS" (Hrvatske obrambene snage), is identical to the abbreviation for the military of the World War II Nazi puppet state, the Independent State of Croatia. The military of the Independent State of Croatia were the Croatian Armed Forces (Hrvatske oružane snage), also abbreviated "HOS" in Croatian.