The Croatian Defence Forces (Croatian Hrvatska obrambene snage or HOS) was one of the first armed forces assembled by the Croats during the Croatian Homeland War and the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. HOS was eventually absorbed into the Croatian ground army. Croats (Croatian: Hrvati) are a south Slavic people mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. ... The modern period in Croatian history begins in 1990 with the countrys change of political and economic system as well as achieving independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. ... The calledBosnian War is the common name for an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 6 April 1992 to 14 September 1995. ... Croatian Ground Army (Croatian: Hrvatska kopnena vojska), commonly referred as Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska) is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. ...

HOS was formed by the Croatian Party of Rights' leadership, Dobroslav Paraga and Ante Paradžik. The force was formed to combat Greater Serbian aggression in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Croatian Party of Rights (Croatian Hrvatska Stranka Prava, HSP) is a right-wing political party in Croatia, the oldest in the country. ... Dobroslav Paraga (born December 9, 1960) is a Croatian politician. ... Greater Serbia is a name for a Serbian nationalist concept. ...

HOS's goal was to create a political union between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This soon put the forces at conflict with the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia and its own forces, the HVO. The Herzeg-Bosnia leadership preferred a division of Bosnia and Herzegovina into ethnic enclaves which had already been carried out by the Serbs with their Republika Srpska, as did the Croatian government led by President Franjo Tuđman. Because of these disagreements HOS eventually lost influence and merged into the Croatian Army in 1992. Coat of Arms of Herzeg-Bosnia Flag of Herzeg-Bosnia The Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia (locally Hrvatska Republika Herceg-Bosna) was an unrecognized entity in present day Bosnia and Herzegovina existing between 1991 and 1994 as a result of secessionist politics during the Bosnian War. ... Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Official language Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian Official script Cyrillic alphabet, Latin alphabet Capital de jure Sarajevo de facto Banja Luka Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water  24,811 km²  n/a Population  â€“ Total (2005)  â€“ Density  1,411,000  60/km² Ethnic groups (2005 est. ... The Government of the Republic of Croatia (Vlada Republike Hrvatske), commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government (hrvatska Vlada), is the main element of the executive branch of government in Croatia. ... Franjo TuÄ‘man (May 14, 1922 - December 10, 1999) was the first president of Croatia in the 1990s. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...