Last modified: 2003-07-05 by dov gutterman
Keywords: bosnia and herzegovina | croatia | croatian party of rights | hsp | croatian defence forces | hos |
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The image above is representation of the flag of HSP, as seen
used by some (para?)military unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina in
early 1990's. I would guess that the white bend was inscribed
with letters HSP and possibly there was some symbol (wattle or
other ornament) over the shield, but since the flag was most
probably home made it might be that it was somewhat simplified
and not following the HSP customs to the last.
Anyway, HSP (Hrvatska Stranka Prava, the Croatian Party of
Rights) is a right wing party (right here and 'rights' in the
name have no connection, though) follower of the party of the
same name founded in 19th century being the oldest Croatian
political party (established 1861). It was renewed around 1990,
both in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (also there were
several parties, or fractions, which claimed the name and
herittage, but this is of no great importance for the issue).
Soon after the begining of the war in Croatia, and later in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized military units to fight as
protection against aggression, and maintained good relations and
included not a few Bosniaks/Muslims (when the
"official" HDZ ingaged in hostilities). The HSP army
was called HOS Hrvatske Obrambene Snage, Croatian Defence
Forces). However, it is also believed that some units (or
members) of HOS might be responsible for certain war crimes.
As the Croatian state evolved from the first days, the HOS units
were eventually disbanded or integrated in the croatian Army.
Similarly, but more slowly the same was done in Bosnia and
Herzegovina (where they were integrated in the Croatian Council
of Defence, HVO, and finally in the Federal Army).
The HSP uses the Croatian tricolour with the party emblem in the
middle - shield divided per bend, chequy and blue with white bend
bearing the initials of the party, and above the shield a
tripple-wattle ornament. Several fractions and other parties
claiming the same name (or similar one, adding differenciating
attribute) use similar flags with minor differences.
. Zeljko Heimer, 2 March 1999
The flag was used with some variations, most notably with
larger symbol and without the circular wreath. HOS was military
organization of Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), whose flag was
also used (tricolour with shield tierced per bend sinistre chequy
red-white, white with golden initials HSP and blue). The
(para)military organization was active both in Croatian and
B&H at the begining of the war, but latter was disbanded,
some of the units included in the regular army.
Zeljko Heimer
The HOS used a black flag with the emblem in the middle, with
a circle of tripple-wattle within which is a chequy shield (with
white first square) over a four-sided blue-white triple wattle
(similar to the one used as Ustasha symbol, on flags of the
Independent State of Croatia in World War II), above the
inscription HOS, below HSP, ZA DOM SPREMNI (motto also used in
World War II Croatian state).
Zeljko Heimer, 2 March 1999