Afghanistan, the war. The Afghan War (1979-1989)

Favorable geographical position and backwardness in the development of Afghanistan have always only contributed to the fact that other countries were claiming territorial possessions of this state. Repeatedly Afghanistan was subjected to invasions of enemy troops, there were many wars. But there is an unprecedented event in this country when the government of the state personally asked for help from the USSR to eliminate the unfolded civil unrest in the Republic of Afghanistan. The war, about which there are still different opinions, has begun. The entry of Soviet troops only contributed to the development of the conflict with the civilian population, and the confrontation affected the whole world.

Prerequisites

One of the main reasons for the invasion of Soviet territory in Afghanistan, as claimed by the authorities of the USSR, was the desire to support the adherents of the socialist conception, which reigned at the top positions of the state after the April Revolution, but later experienced strong resistance from the opposition. A lot of work has been written about the war in Afghanistan, but many of them contradict each other.

However, most researchers agree that, nevertheless, the Soviet Union decided to take part in the military conflict, because it intended to neutralize the Islamic fundamentalists, who gained power in this territory after the revolution that took place in Iran in 1979.

International Background

The ideological mood of the USSR also contributed to the emergence of the conflict. Afghanistan, the war in which would have flared up and without the invasion of the Soviet troops, could deal a serious blow to the positions of the commonwealth, serving as an impetus to the overthrow of the pro-Soviet government. In addition, the spread of fundamentalism, apart from destabilizing the political situation, could significantly affect Central Asia. According to the statements of the USSR, taking part in the military conflict, the state was guided by "proletarian internationalism". The Politburo, in order to justify its actions to other states, stated that the invasion was due to the repeated appeals of the Afghan government for help in the fight against anti-government forces.

How did the war begin?

About Afghanistan is said a lot, but it is difficult to understand what is true and what is false, because any military action develops under the influence of at least several factors. The confrontation of 1979-1989 is only one of the stages of the civil war in Afghanistan, during which Soviet troops were present on the territory of the state, trying to establish peace. On one side of the barricades were the forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, on the other - armed members of the opposition, known as mujahideen, or dushmans. The victorious party would have total control over the territory of the whole country.

Limited contingent, 40th Army

The general name of all the units of the Soviet troops stationed on the territory of Afghanistan is the Limited contingent, the main force of which was the 40th Army. The last colonel general, who led the withdrawal of the army, believes that it is impossible to say whether the Soviet Union defeated in the confrontation or, on the contrary, lost. Unequivocally, it can only be asserted that the troops coped with the task set before them and were able to return to their homeland. Before the unification of the 40th Army, several tasks were set. First of all, the Soviet troops on the territory of Afghanistan were to help the government of the country to stabilize the situation and contribute to the end of the war. This was done primarily through the struggle with armed opposition groups. In addition, Soviet troops on the territory of the state were supposed to prevent aggression from other countries. In the opinion of the colonel, the 40th Army completely coped with these tasks.

Results of confrontation

After all Soviet troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan on February 15, the regime of Najibullah, the ruler of frankly pro-Soviet ideas, was overthrown three years later, and he fell only when Russia ceased to support him, that is, in 1992. Participation in this took a group of field mujahideen. During the war, damage was caused not only to the Republic of Afghanistan. The war helped consolidate the positions of Islamic radicals and create a terrorist group Al Qaeda. They are still the initiators of conflicts around the world, especially in Chechnya, Algeria and Egypt.

Who went to fight in Afghanistan?

War always needs soldiers, whether it is a small confrontation or large-scale actions in the territory of several states at once. Soviet people were of the opinion that eighteen-year-old boys were sent to Afghanistan, who had no choice but to become cannon fodder. However, this is not quite true. A large number of soldiers went to Afghanistan voluntarily: some, deceived by Soviet propaganda, some to go through a real school of life, some to defend their homeland. There were, of course, also those who were involved in a foreign war against their will, on the orders of the state, and there were many such. This is not surprising, because the soldiers went to war, to which they really did not have much to do. The ideological warriors went for this to defend their homeland in order to fight for a better future in their state. For some citizens of the USSR it was unthinkable and it seemed to them that this was another deceit of tyrants-agitators. However, a considerable number of officers and soldiers went to war at their own volition; Some for the sake of laurels and fame, some for money, and some just to test themselves.

An excellent confirmation of what has been said above is the fact that in the autumn of 1988, when the life of many military personnel in Afghanistan was over, and they could return home, they did not. The soldiers themselves offered to stay for another few months, so that the newcomers, who did not yet have the relevant experience, were not killed.

Losses of the USSR

Not without the killed in the republic of Afghanistan. The war of 1979 claimed the lives of many Soviet soldiers. However, if the annual losses for the USSR averaged 1537 people, then the enemy suffered much more. According to various sources, for the whole campaign, from 1 million to 1 million 200 thousand people died. Of course, one and a half thousand lives - this is a huge amount, but do not forget that the Soviet military had to survive in an unfamiliar area in an unusual climate. For comparison: for example, in Iraq, 3,677 soldiers were killed, even given that the advantage in terms of weapons was on the side of the United States.

Results

A lot of Soviet servicemen, often quite young, were sent to the country of Afghanistan. The war needed them, and they did not fail either the government or fellow citizens. These are courageous people who managed to defend their homeland, protect their loved ones. Iran, Afghanistan, Chechnya ... The war does not go without blood, but the Soviet military managed to do everything that was required of them, having lost the minimum number of lives. Was the decision of the USSR correct or not, now it is not so important, it's too late to judge. Those who died could not be returned, but the lives of these heroes helped to strengthen peace in our country. After all, this is exactly what they aspired to.