Memorial Day for Internationalist Warriors (February 15) in Russia

On the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Warriors, on February 15, men in the parks and squares across the country gather about fifty years of age, sometimes older. Sometimes women join them, the same age. They go to the monument. These are, albeit modest, in almost every city, even a small one. In the villages, these processions are sent to the obelisks in honor of the heroes of the Patriotic War. Many participants on the chest have awards, medals, medals. These people are dressed in different ways, sometimes in burnt-out army, Soviet still peasants under a foreign sun. The procession is organized, the participants behave modestly, they speak quietly. So celebrate the Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists on February 15. The scenario of further actions is not always, but in recent years veterans-Afghans are honored with dignity.

About how this holiday arose, about its history will go a story. Cases, as the poet wrote, of bygone days ...

Who remembers

Almost all our fellow citizens know that February 15 is the Day of Memory of Internationalist Warriors. It's a holiday, but very sad. It is noted by participants of the 10-year undeclared war, officers, generals, soldiers, ensigns, sergeants, and also those who did not wear epaulettes, but were risked by life, doctors, university professors and other civilian specialists of both sexes. Remember about this day and people who have lost their loved ones who have fulfilled the international duty. These are children who did not wait for their fathers, parents, brothers and sisters, who accepted a mournful "cargo 200", brought by the "Black Tulip". Never forget the Afghan months and years of those who are reminded of crutches and wheelchairs. And besides physical wounds, there are also spiritual wounds. The war went on without a clear front line, it penetrated into the very souls, leaving nothing traces in them.

About Civilian Specialists

The anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops is a well-known, historical and documented date. The day of remembrance of the soldiers-internationalists on February 15 was appointed a holiday precisely for this reason. As for the beginning of the war, then the question is more complicated. Historians have not yet agreed on a unanimous opinion about which event to consider as a reference point. Assault of the Taj-bek Palace? The decision of the Politburo? Input of the main contingent? All these options can be considered justified, but Soviet people, including military specialists, were in Afghanistan before. And the assistance they provided was also international.

The attitude of the local population to reclamation workers, doctors, teachers, teachers, engineers, builders and many other representatives of the working people of a fraternal multinational state was excellent. Some of the demands of the Islamic religion were sometimes violated, but this was perceived rather as a manifestation of weakness, which deserved sympathy. The situation deteriorated significantly after the introduction of troops. Peaceful workers became outsiders, they began to hunt. Therefore, not only military, but also civilians have the full moral right to celebrate the Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists.

How it all began

Most Soviet people realized the beginning of the war after the New Year holidays of 1980. According to scanty information broadcast on television, radio and printed in newspapers, it became clear that parts of the Soviet army had been introduced into the neighboring southern country to provide some assistance, and many decided that it would not take long. Help and return. Foreign stations broadcasting to the Union, called ironically "enemy voices," reported another, but the citizens of the USSR are accustomed, even listening to them, more still still trust official sources. Critical attitude to the introduction of troops into Afghanistan and some socialist countries, calling it an insulting word "intervention." Whatever it was, but in the military sense of the operation at the initial stage was brilliant. Leadership headed by Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin was deposed, virtually destroyed, responsible companions appointed to Moscow close companions. The losses were estimated as minimal. Nobody even imagined that all this will drag on for almost a decade, and will end only in 1989, on February 15. The memory day of internationalist soldiers in Russia and other countries of the former USSR is celebrated in honor of the departure of the last Soviet soldier through the Termez bridge. Or rather, it was a general. So they assured the media.

What happened on February 15

The memory day of soldiers-internationalists is celebrated on the anniversary of the completion of the historic march of many motorized columns on the northern bank of the Amu Darya in the border town of Termez. Combat vehicles decorated with Soviet flags, flowers, smiles meet, an abundance of correspondents, including foreign ones, all this could be observed by citizens of the whole world on their television screens. Perhaps, it was then that the idea arose to establish this holiday, the Day of Remembrance of Soldiers-Internationalists. The photo of the last commander, B. Gromov, an interview with him, the demonstratively impassive face of the general and a mysterious speech, uttered by him and unknown to no one - all this created an extremely festive and mysterious entourage characteristic of the late Gorbachev party aesthetics. Operation "Magistral" was just as successful as the introduction of troops, before Gromov out of the contiguous country came 115 thousand people, and almost without loss. Only, as it turned out later, not everyone returned to their homeland.

About captives and defectors

There is another category of combatants, which should be recalled on the Day of Remembrance of Soldiers-Internationalists. February 15 in the columns, solemnly met in Termez, there were no captive soldiers and officers. 130 of them were later released and returned to their homeland. In total, 417 Soviet soldiers visited the dushmans in official captivity. The fate of many of them is unknown to this day. 287 people did not return home, today they are deemed dead.

The cases of transfer to the side of the enemy during the Afghan war were extremely rare.

Some foreign public organizations, including emigrant ones, also took care of the rescue of the prisoners. In 1992, the American side informed the Russian authorities about the fate of 163 servicemen missing. Some of them were granted asylum and live in the US and, perhaps, also commemorate the Internationalists' Memorial Day. In the majority of cases, Soviet soldiers and officers behaved decently and did not conclude any agreements with the enemy.

One example: in 1985 the Pakistan camp Badaber was actually captured by the SA soldiers there. Unfortunately, the liberation attempt failed, the rebels were killed.

Who served there?

February 15 Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists celebrate everything related to the Afghan war. It would not be superfluous to ask how they ended up in the "limited contingent". It should be specially noted that the war in the eighties was sent only on a voluntary basis. Another thing is that the general atmosphere in the Soviet society and in the armed forces was such that the fighter practically could not refuse. As for the officers, the number of reports exceeded the requirements of the 40th Army. And it was not that the payment of their military labor was greater than those of those who served on the territory of the USSR. Checks Vneshtorg could not recoup the risk and harsh conditions associated with military operations in the mountain-desert region. Simply, most people were convinced that they needed it, they sincerely believed that they were defending the interests of their country and the world labor movement. That is why the day of memory of internationalist soldiers in Russia and other post-Soviet countries is marked by those who are alien to nationalism.

Losses

Constantly in the DRA, there were about one hundred thousand servicemen of the SA. Taking into account the rotation in the war, 620 thousand people took part. Those of them who remained alive celebrate the Memorial Day of the soldiers-internationalists on February 15 and commemorate the dead. And there were many such. The official figure of losses is close to 14.5 thousand people. In addition, about 50 thousand wounded. Deaths in hospitals at once and in subsequent years are gradually not included in this mournful statistics.

The Afghan war was not characterized by the selectivity of the victims. Among the fallen are five generals. Commanders of all levels tried to minimize the losses of personnel, in most cases they took their responsibilities responsibly and did not regret themselves. The memorial day of soldiers-internationalists in Russia is celebrated by servicemen of all ranks - from the rank-and-file to the marshal.

The losses of the Afghan people are estimated approximately. They are very high, up to two million. The reason for this is a split in the public consciousness. The war was not conducted with the aim of conquering or enslaving Afghanistan. The intention was good: to introduce socialist values in place of feudal order. Unfortunately, politicians always try to correct the mistakes of military men. There is simply no one else.

How to Commemorate the Internationalist Internationalist Memorial Day

This day has become a day off for the whole country, not only for Afghan veterans. In Russia, he received the official name of the Day of Remembrance of Russians who performed their official duties outside the Fatherland. When the war was going on, no one shared the deceased in the republics, it was done later, after the collapse of the USSR. Thus, in Ukraine it was estimated that approximately two and a half thousand inhabitants of the Ukrainian SSR did not return home during the international assistance. Russia paid the greatest price for this political adventure among the Soviet republics. Today, state bodies and local authorities pay due attention to the way the Internationalist soldiers' memory day passes on February 15. The event scenario includes many meetings, concerts and thematic exhibitions. There are soldiers to remember.

At the end of the solemn part, the old veterans sit down at the table.

And the next day they return to everyday life, so unlike the one they experienced in the far eighties.