The soviet war in afghanistan, 1979 1989 the atlantic. The impact of the afghansoviet war on pakistan imrana. Originating in afghanistan during the mid1970s, it was nurtured by the u. The long and costly war left the soviet economy in shambles. What are the best books about the soviet war in afghanistan from 1979 to 89.
The soviet army was driven from afghanistan 30 years ago. The soviet war in afghanistan was a grueling debacle that has striking lessons for the twentyfirst century. Best books about the soviet invasion of afghanistan history. The war in afghanistan, code named operation enduring freedom 200114 and operation freedoms sentinel 2015present, followed the united states invasion of afghanistan of 7 october 2001, when the united states of america and its allies successfully drove the taliban from power in order to deny alqaeda a safe base of operations in afghanistan. The soviet invasion and the afghan response, 19791982. This is a provocative and important book, telling us what the soviet military was thinking and feeling as it lost its war in afghanistan. Not only does it give them a summary of afghanistans colorful geography and history, but it also presents an uptodate picture of where the war is heading and an informed discussion of the range of choice for afghanistan and its allies. In many ways this book attempts the same as artyom boroviks the hidden war. Specifically books that arent too dry and also focus on the american supported afghani mujahedeen that fought against the soviets. First published in 1985, this is a book written at the height of the. 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.
Throughout the cold war, the united states and the soviet union competed for power and influence in different areas of the world. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. It also fueled the rise of a free press and open dissent among not only ethnic minorities but also from russians who had lost loved ones in the fighting. This event began a brutal, decadelong attempt by moscow to subdue the afghan civil war and maintain a friendly and socialist. The soviet war in afghanistan was a war initially fought between the forces of the afghanistan government and afghan assistance fighters, supporter from abroad.
In the great gamble, gregory feifer examines the conflict from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground. Check the online book by m hassan kakar, afghanistan. The author analyses their deliberate policy of migratory genocide through a. The intense images of afghanistans long and distant war. This report on the soviet army in afghanistan focuses on morale, discipline, motivation, and cohesion. Based on scrupulous research and firsthand accounts by key government, intelligence, and military personnel both foreign and american, ghost wars details the secret history of the cias role in afghanistan including its covert operations against soviet troops from 1979 to 1989, the rise of the taliban, the emergence of bin laden, and the failed efforts by u. The us has repeatedly misdiagnosed the war in afghanistan. The main body of the book is about soviet army and air force tactics, operations, and armaments. The soviet war in afghanistan reprint by gregory feifer isbn.
Soviet and mujahideen uniforms, clothing, and equipment in the sovietafghan war, 19791989. Andrew exum recommends the best books for understanding the war in afghanistan. Although it was not the only factor, certainly the soviet war in afghanistan helped to hasten the end of one of the two superpowers. See also whats at wikipedia, your library, or elsewhere.
The phantom pain is largely set in a soviet occupied region of northern kabul, afghanistan during the war. Are there any good books about the sovietafghan war. The sovietafghan war is a recurrent theme in the tv series the americans. The soviet union left afghanistan deep in winter with intimations of panic among kabul officials. More broadly, the term also encompasses military activity within afghanistan after 1992but apart from the afghanistan war 200114, a u. Best iraq and afghanistan war books some of the best books out there about the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Aug 04, 2014 an emotional mother embraces her son, a soviet soldier who has just crossed the soviet afghan border in termez, during the withdrawal of soviet army from afghanistan, on may 21, 1988. The soviet union, china and angloamerican intelligence in the afghan war library of middle east history only 1 left in stock more on the way. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The conflict had its origins in the 1978 coup that overthrew afghan president sardar muhammad daud khan, who had come to power by ousting the king in 1973. In the russian film cargo 200 the sovietafghan war serves as a story backdrop. The soviet withdrawal from afghanistan 1989 national. In early january 1988, 39 soviet paratroopers were positioned on a cliff overlooking the gardezkhost road in southeastern afghanistan.
Briefing book on the soviet intervention in afghanistan. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Based on five clandestine trips into afghanistan with the resistance, the book examines why the soviets invaded in 1979 and what they were seeking to defend. When i was interviewing veterans of the sovietafghan war for my doctorate, many and horrifying were the accounts of parties fueled by aftershave, rosewater, and rubbing alcohol. This heading may be further subdivided by the subdivisions used under individual wars. 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. The making of a marine officer by nathaniel fick, war by sebastian. This is the first book to study the impact of the war on russian politics and society. 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.
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. Boozing through the sovietafghan war was more horrifying. Soviet voices from the afghanistan war by svetlana alexievich, the soviet afghan war. Not trumps terrorists, nor zbigs warm water ports january 29, 2019. The russianukrainian film the 9th company, for example, became a blockbuster in the former ussr earning millions of dollars and also representing a new trend in russia in which some domestic films are drawing russian audiences away from hollywood staples. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books the. A russian journalists account of the soviet war in afghanistan. The intense images of afghanistans long and distant war photojournalist robert nickelsberg has been documenting afghanistan since 1988. Soviet invasion of afghanistan questia online library. Apr 03, 20 the common western narrative holds that once soviet forces crossed their southern border into afghanistan in december 1979, they were modernday cossacks waging a war of unmitigated brutality. The prime minister, hazifullah amin, tried to sweep aside muslim tradition within the nation and he wanted a more western slant to afghanistan. First published in 1985, this is a book written at the height of the soviet war in afghanistan in the 1980s. The sovietafghan war had an important impact in popular culture in the west, due to its scope, and the great number of countries involved. The soviet unions last war was played out against the backdrop of dramatic change within the ussr.
Nik spender in graphic novel format, introduces the soviet war in afghanistan. 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. In christmas 1979, soviet paratroopers landed in kabal, the capital of afghanistan. The kite runner by khaled hosseini, one bullet away. The entry of the soviet union into the country caused an. Afghanistan war, 197892, conflict between anticommunist muslim afghan guerrillas mujahidin and afghan government and soviet forces. Nov 12, 2012 first published in 1985, this is a book written at the height of the soviet war in afghanistan in the 1980s. Soviet combat tactics in afghanistan had help deciphering the russian general staff papers from gress, a soviet migr who served in the soviet army. Im interested in history especiall military history and am looking to expand my library. Soviet invasion of afghanistan history learning site. Dec 22, 2014 what are the best books about the soviet war in afghanistan from 1979 to 89. The soviet invasion of afghanistan in december 1979 was roundly denounced.
This conflict illustrates several lessons which the marine corps should study. The soviet war in afghanistan was a nineyear period involving the soviet forces and the mujahideen insurgents that were fighting to overthrow afghanistans marxist peoples democratic party of afghanistan pdpa government. Robert young peltons, the worlds most dangerous places. After decades of relative stability, the overthrow of daoud khan in 1978 and the subsequent invasion by soviet forces in 1979 marked the beginning of a lengthy and exhausting period of war in afghanistan that is now close to its 40th year. Records on the afghan war furnish many insights applicable to the new war against terrorism, in which afghanistan has become the first major battlefield. The war in afghanistan 19791989 has been called the soviet unions vietnam war. Well, i hate to say this, but the wikipedia article on the soviet war in afghanistan is a good starting point for research, and it is one of the few comprehensive accounts on the web, with some good references included. Soviet invasion of afghanistan, military action carried out in late december 1979 by soviet troops.
The soviet war in afghanistan was written by a person known as the author and has been written in sufficient quantity massive of interesting books with a lot of help the great gamble. The afghan resistance was poised to attack provincial towns and cities and eventually kabul, if necessary. Soviet voices from the afghanistan war by svetlana alexievich, the sovietafghan war. Thirty years ago, the soviet union withdrew from a disastrous nineyear war in afghanistan. Mar 27, 20 william dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan. Soviet war in afghanistan simple english wikipedia, the. The report examines major factors that negatively affect. A history of the soviet unionafghan war, 19791989 brewminate. Like borovik, the soldiers interviewed are primarily from the russian and government afghan side, unlike borovik, the work has not been carried out during the hostilities but afterwards. A specially equipped c141 starlifter transport carrying william casey touched down at a military air base south of islamabad in october 1984 for a secret visit by the cia director to plan strategy for the war against soviet forces in afghanistan. The author analyses their deliberate policy of migratory genocide through a combination of aerial bombardments, political.
The russians in afghanistan, 197989 main by braithwaite, sir rodric isbn. The best books on understanding the war in afghanistan five. Afghanistan and the soviet withdrawal 1989 20 years later. During the last years of the cold war, the soviet union sent some of its most elite troops to unfamiliar lands in central asia to fight a vaguely defined enemy, which eventually. Soviet afghanistan in original ww ii russian medals, pins. Russia in afghanistan 1979 to 1989 part 1 of 3 youtube. With a focus on the 1980s, the impact of the afghan soviet war on pakistan delves into both afghanistan s history and the involvement of superpowers in shaping its present situation. The country was already in the grip of a civil war. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history by crile, george. He is the author of nine published books on topics such as history, martial arts. Maulvi jalaluddin haqqani and his son sirajuddin haqqani lead the group. Understanding war in afghanistan is an excellent book for journeyman students of afghanistan. The soviet war in afghanistan was a grueling debacle that has stri. Soviet invasion of afghanistan a case of mission creep, according to new book and original soviet documents october, 2012.
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. Discover the best afghan war military history in best sellers. Sep 03, 2019 the civil war continued in afghanistan after the soviet withdrawal. Since december 1979, when soviet troops first entered afghanistan, the country has remained a focal point in regional and global politics. Best books about the soviet invasion of afghanistan. A russian journalists account of the soviet war in afghanistan to portray the soviet war in afghanistan from a soldiers perspective. The war in afghanistan 19791989 has been called the soviet unions vietnam war, a conflict that pitted soviet regulars against a relentless, elusive, and ultimately unbeatable afghan guerrilla force the mujahideen. Short summary of the soviet war in afghanistan synonym. Just as false, according to the documents, were the repeated u.
Afghanistan, and bin laden from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 by. I would prefer books that arent too dry but are still fairly informative. Former soldier, andrew exum, tells us about flawed policy, unhappy outcomes and what could and should have been different. It is based on interviews with former members of the soviet armed forces in afghanistan, interviews with afghan reistnnce leaders and former officers, and a literature search. 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. Summary the air war in afghanistan has provided us with a good look at soviet war fighting methods and capabilities.
Persia and afghanistan in 19334 being recognised as the greatest of all pre war travel books. List of books and articles about soviet invasion of afghanistan. As it should now be clear to you, dear reader, soviet soldiers were not that discriminating when sourcing their sauce. Based on extensive use of soviet official and unofficial sources, as well as work with afghan veterans, it. An afghanistan war veteran himself, yerin has spent decades collecting war memorabilia for the museum, where soviet rockets and canned beef rations compete for. The soviet war by ed girardet available from rakuten kobo. As the mujahedin became more effective, there was an increase in fatalities and wounding of soviet soldiers. In subsequent years, his policies would moderate soviet engagement in the war, due to both internal and external pressures. The soviet war in afghanistan in pictures, 19791989.