Braithwaite draws comparisons with the vietnam war. The mujahideen groups were backed primarily by the united states, saudi arabia, and pakistan. The book consists of separate chapters on various aspects of the war, including the experiences of various components of the soviet army. Inside the hidden worldwide struggle between america and its enemies is that the events of 911, the afghanistan war and the iraq war, are all interrelated and form a coherent pattern. While the soviets never released official casualty figures for the war in afghanistan, u. Jun 28, 2008 in july 1973, afghanistans former prime minister, sadar mohammed daoud, seized control of the government with the backing of soviet trained afghan military officers and a moscownurtured afghan communist political faction. He served as a special advisor to the late ambassador richard holbrooke during his final mission to the region and still serves the obama administration under holbrookes successor, ambassador marc grossman.
Throughout the cold war, the united states and the soviet union competed for power and influence in different areas of the world. The sovietafghan war lasted over nine years from december 1979 to february 1989. The entry of the soviet union into the country caused an. Oct 09, 2014 within this trajectory, the soviet invasion of, and subsequent war with afghanistan 19791989 stands out in particular, as a lasting legacy of the cold war. The rationale for the decision was article 4 of the sovietafghan treaty of friendship, good neighborhood and cooperation of december 5, 1978, article 51 of the. Poverty, corruption, weak government, lack of health services, mental and psychological problems and illiteracy are all outcomes of more than three decades of war. For the soviet union, the intervention proved extraordinarily costly in a number of ways. Jimmy carters lasting cold war legacy the conversation. The significance of the afghanistan war diary history news. The carter administration enacted economic sanctions and trade embargoes against the soviet union, called for a boycott of the 1980 moscow olympics, and increased its aid to the afghan insurgents. Svetlana alexievich brings us the truth of the sovietafghan war. Krivosheev, soviet casualties and combat losses in the twentieth century london. Mikhail gorbachev attempted to reform the soviet economy, but discovered that you cannot give people a little bit of freedom and starting in 1989 the warsaw pact nationas spurned communism in a. Soviet voices from the afghanistan war by svetlana alexievich, the sovietafghan war.
The soviet union began trying to build its influence in afghanistan. Afghan men walk amongst the remains of russian military vehicles on the outskirts of kabul on february 14, 2009 on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the withdrawal of soviet troops from afghanistan. Apr 10, 2012 similarly, if you wanted to add in americas first afghan war, the ciafinanced antisoviet war of the mujahideen from 1980 to 1989, you might once again have a longest war competition. Sipa pressrex features putin has, however, recently sought to rehabilitate the memory of the war in the minds of russians. The sovietafghan war was a conflict wherein insurgent groups known collectively as the mujahideen, as well as smaller maoist groups, fought a guerrilla war against the soviet army and the democratic republic of afghanistan government for over nine years, throughout the 1980s, mostly in the afghan countryside. What is most important to the history of the world. The sovietafghan war lasted over nine years, from december 1979 to february 1989. Im sure there are a lot of books covering the afghanistan war against the soviets in general and with some good topics about usa intervention. Primer on russian afghan war, 19791989, lessons learned dave shunk 26 december 2008 col dave shunk, usaf, ret.
Abdullah azzams bookspart i combating terrorism center. Afghanistan and the origins of islamist terrorism, i have discussed the kgbs infiltration into afghan society in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the soviet security services role before and after the december 1979. The afghanistan war and the breakdown of the soviet union. The soviet afghan war was a conflict wherein insurgent groups known collectively as the mujahideen, as well as smaller maoist groups, fought a guerrilla war against the soviet army and the democratic republic of afghanistan government for over nine years, throughout the 1980s, mostly in the afghan countryside. Insurgent groups known collectively as the mujahideen, as well as smaller maoist groups, fought a guerrilla war against the soviet army and the democratic republic of afghanistan government, mostly in the countryside. Lester grau and michael gresss expert english translation of the general staffs study offers the very. History nerds of reddit, what is your favorite obscure conflict. In gripping detail, he vividly depicts the invasion of a volatile country that no power has ever successfully conquered.
Jan 06, 2019 it was an intervention at the behest of the government of afghanistan at that time that morphed into a full blown counterinsurgency operation lasting more than nine years. Rubin has dedicated much of his career to the study of this remote mountain country. It it interesting to read between the lines that only when the mujahedeen turned out to be pretty resilient insurgents, did the cia ratchet up its support for the afghans. Outnumber 10 to 1, the us soldiers must clover around their vehiclesexcept for their commander, ltc tom. The translation of this important book, written by a general of the soviet red army, must be celebrated as a most important contribution by dr najam ul sahar butt. The 10year intervention cost around 15,000 soviet lives, a. Why was the soviet invasion of afghanistan significant in. The afghan war diary makes a major contribution to that debate. The mujahideen were backed primarily by the united states, saudi arabia, pakistan.
Dozens of books and hundreds of articles dealing with the war and the afghan resistance have already been published. Lithuanian kgb reveals his behind the scenes significance as an ideologicallydriven individual outside of the confines of government helping to shape us policy during the soviet afghan war, thereby hinting at a reason the cold war ended the way that it did. The soviet invasion had enormous implications on the global stage. Most important is the pakistani version, written by the isi commander of the battle, mohammad yousaf, with mark adkin in the bear trap. Without proper equipment and training, the afghanistan government was unable to resist the opposition,called the mujahedeen, eventually seeking the aid of the soviet union. The soviet union intervened in support of the afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist muslim guerrillas during the afghan war 197892 and remained in. In december 1979, the soviets invaded afghanistan in response to the assassination of the soviet backed afghan leader, nur mohammad taraki. What are some of the best books to know about the role of the soviet union in world war ii. In the sovietafghan war the russian general staff takes a close critical look at the soviet militarys disappointing performance in that war in an effort to better understand what happened and why and what lessons should be taken from it. President trump claimed the soviet union went to war in 1979 to battle terrorists. The significance of the afghanistan war diary history. Passing interest following the soviet invasion in 1979 and the subsequent struggle of the mujahideen against its occupation was soon replaced by war weariness and disinterest.
In the great gamble, gregory feifer examines the conflict from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground. The war in afghanistan and its effects on the soviet economy. The photos, starting in 1988, span afghanistans immediate postsoviet era, the agonizing civil war of the 1990s, the period of taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, the u. The war put immense stresses on the faulty, centralized economic system of the nation, and along with the radical social reforms set by mikhail gorbachev, led to the collapse of the nation. War is a humanmade disaster, it destroys everything. The soviet union intervened in support of the afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist muslim guerrillas during the afghan war 197892 and remained in afghanistan until midfebruary 1989. Feb 09, 2002 to many observers of the afghan conflict, it seems as if the world suddenly discovered afghanistan after 11 september 2001. The soviet invasion and the afghan response, 19791982. The fundamental premise of george friedmans recent insightful book americas secret war. Abdullah azzams bookspart i combating terrorism center at. Etts working with the fledgling afghan national army, are ambushed at a derelict former soviet tank park called the bone yard by militia of a local warlord. This proved to be a pivotal juncture in afghanistans development as a cold war battlefield. Foreign mujahidin would take shelter in rural areas and villages.
Afghanistan war, international conflict beginning in 2001 that was triggered by the september 11 attacks. The soviet war in afghanistan 19791989 is something nobody in russia likes to recall now unless they have to. How did the soviet invasion of afghanistan impact the cold. Best books about the soviet invasion of afghanistan. Operation enduring freedom and reconstruction begins, 20012003. This event began a brutal, decadelong attempt by moscow to subdue the afghan.
Russians knew that there is no way to talk afgans into any intelligent conflict resolution in a peaceful manner. Part i of the series will look into his book entitled ayyat alrahman fee jihad alafghan gods signs in the afghan jihad. The september 11th sourcebooks national security archive. The peshawar seven insurgents received military training in neighboring pakistan and china, as well as. Primer on russian afghan war, 19791989, lessons learned. Today, america is fighting a talibanled insurgency in. Just as false, according to the documents, were the repeated u. The intense images of afghanistans long and distant war. The afghan civil war despite the geneva accords and the withdrawal of soviet forces, civil war continued in afghanistan as the mujahadeen continued. Why its so difficult to win a war in afghanistan history. The historical significance of this event is mainly embodied in the collapse of the soviet union twelve years after the invasion of afghanistan. It was fought over nine years, from december 1979 to february 1989, mostly in the afghan countryside.
Also, a large number of refugees traveled to refugee camps in peshawar, pakistan. Azzams aim was to mythologize and market the conflict by giving interpretations from the korn regarding the sovietafghan war and its significance. Jan 29, 2019 the premier treatment of the full length of the soviet war in afghanistan is by artemy kalinovsky in his book, a long goodbye. As a part of the cold war, the mujahideens were openly supported by the us government and nato. Are there any good books about the sovietafghan war. The sovietafghan war by members of the russian general staff, and translated by lester grau and michael gross, is a summary overview of the soviet experience in the afghan invasion and war of the 1980s. The number grows even more when taking into account increases in the base budgets for the department of defense and the department of veterans affairs. Globally, its outcome continues to plague international society in the current struggle between the western liberal democratic order and islamic extremism. In historical terms, the significance of these documents is comparable to that of the mitrokhin files uncovered nearly two decades ago. What the afghan war has in common with the vietnam war. In the brutal nineyear conflict, an estimated one million civilians were killed, as well as 90,000 mujahideen fighters, 18,000 afghan troops, and 14,500 soviet soldiers. Sovietafghanistan war overview history of war in the. May 09, 20 one of our foremost authorities on modern afghanistan, barnett r. Soviet voices from the afghanistan war by nobel prize winner svetlana alexievitch.
University of california press, 1995 isbn 9780585249766. Svetlana alexievich brings us the truth of the soviet afghan war. Sovietafghan war wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Dec 10, 2016 the effects and impacts of war are tangible almost in all of the aspects of society in afghanistan. Soviet troops killed amin and installed babrak karmal as the soviets puppet head of government. Part of the cold war, it was fought between sovietled afghan forces against multinational insurgent groups called the mujahideen, mostly composed of two alliances the peshawar seven and the tehran eight. The war in afghanistan began in 2001 and has cost the u. Soviets bombed villages in rural areas which resulted in the death of many innocent women and children. We aim to produce four documentaries this summer, please help us reach this goal by becoming a patron.
The increased soviet defense spending and the war in afghanistan combined with a moribund economy forced the soviets to make difficult decisions. At the end of december 1979, the soviet union sent thousands of troops into afghanistan and immediately assumed complete military and political control of kabul and large portions of the country. The trail went deep inside afghanistan in the decisive phase of the cold war in the 1980s. Similarly, if you wanted to add in americas first afghan war, the ciafinanced antisoviet war of the mujahideen from 1980 to 1989, you might once again have a longest war competition. Best iraq and afghanistan war books some of the best books out there about the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Afghanistan, and bin laden from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 by. Apr 16, 2019 a soviet convoy under attack during the afghan war. In his enlightening and refreshing book, largely based on russian sources, rodric. May 20, 2010 in the 1980s, the cia engineered a covert operation to defeat the soviet army in afghanistan working from a safe haven in pakistan.
They were two biggest wold powers and opponents at the time. Apr 27, 2015 the translation of this important book, written by a general of the soviet red army, must be celebrated as a most important contribution by dr najam ul sahar butt. Soviet invasion of afghanistan, military action carried out in late december 1979 by soviet troops. Sometimes referred to as the soviets version of the vietnam war, the soviet war in afghanistan ended up being a losing battle for the soviet union, and in many ways, accelerated the dissolution of communism in the east. The dissolution of the soviet union, or collapse of the soviet union, was the process of internal disintegration within the union of soviet socialist republics ussr, also referred to as the soviet union, which began in the second half of the 1980s with growing unrest in the national republics and ended on 26 december 1991, when the ussr itself was voted out of existence by the supreme soviet. The sovietafghan war was a conflict wherein insurgent groups known collectively as the mujahideen, as well as smaller maoist groups, fought a guerrilla war against the soviet army and the democratic republic of afghanistan government. The soviet withdrawal from afghanistan harvard, 2011, which both provides lessons for todays u.
The wests war in afghanistan increasingly resembles the soviet unions. The soviet war in afghanistan, 1979 1989 the atlantic. The book is divided into four chapters that cover the primary phases of the war in afghanistan. Similarly, the soviet unions occupation of the region between 1979 and 1988 was bound up in its competition with american during the cold war.
The soviet war in afghanistan reprint by gregory feifer isbn. Zinky boys offers a unique, harrowing, and unforgettably powerful insight into the realities of war. Why did the soviet union go to war with afghanistan. Feb 23, 2004 the first half, roughly until 1990 or so, is a great read on the afghan war against the soviet. The soviet war in afghanistan was a war initially fought between the forces of the afghanistan government and afghan assistance fighters, supporter from abroad. The soviet invasion of afghanistan in december 1979 was roundly denounced by western.
The soviet experience, of course, isnt proof that the same fate will befall the united states, which is now more than eight years into its afghan war. The sovietafghan war had an important impact in popular culture in the west, due to its scope, and the great number of. The nine year war between soviet army and afghan mujahideens cost over one million lives in total. The soviet side of the war has long been neglected but finally received attention from gregory feifer in the great gamble. But a newly published cable underscores moscows fear that afghanistan would switch loyalties to the west. The sovietafghan war of 19791989 marked the end of the soviet era with a sore wound. Realise that i do not know if this is a reliable book, still was the only one ive found about usa intervention on the war. Short summary of the soviet war in afghanistan synonym. Aug 04, 2014 in the brutal nineyear conflict, an estimated one million civilians were killed, as well as 90,000 mujahideen fighters, 18,000 afghan troops, and 14,500 soviet soldiers. Jan 29, 2019 president trump claimed the soviet union went to war in 1979 to battle terrorists. Soviet war in afghanistan simple english wikipedia, the.
Why did the soviet union invade afghanistan in 1979. The soviet invasion of its neighbour afghanistan in december 1979 sparked a bloody nineyear conflict in that country until soviet forces withdrew in 198889, dooming the communist afghanistan government to defeat at the hands of the mujahideen, the afghan popular resistance backed by the usa and other powers. This event began a brutal, decadelong attempt by moscow to subdue the afghan civil war and maintain a friendly and socialist. The documents presented here shed light on the most important moments in the history of the soviet war in afghanistanthe afghan governments requests for assistance, the soviet unions initial refusal of troops, the reversal of this policy by a small group of the politburo and the soviet decision to invade. In early january 1988, 39 soviet paratroopers were positioned on a cliff overlooking the gardezkhost road in southeastern afghanistan. The soviet war in afghanistan was a grueling debacle that has striking lessons for the twentyfirst century.
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