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Soviet-Afghan War: A History from Beginning to End
Discover the remarkable history of the Soviet-Afghan War...
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In 1979, alarmed Soviet leaders watched the growing civil war in Afghanistan with trepidation. Russia’s neighbor had been a close ally for many years, acting as a buffer between Russia and British India and proving vital in the “Great Game” between the two empires. Various coups had, by this point, led to a Moscow-friendly government in Kabul, but still, things were not playing out as the Soviets had hoped.
In a country built on mysticism and religion and almost devoid of industry, socialism was proving extremely unpopular. Afghanistan’s new leaders had tried to transform the country too quickly, infuriating the rural communities. With this opposition came the formation of revolutionary groups and—before long—civil war. When Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin requested help from the Soviet Union to gain control of the situation, the Soviets not only sent troops to Afghanistan but also assassinated Amin, whom they viewed as incompetent.
By intervening in Afghanistan’s civil war, the Soviet Union hoped to establish a stable—and communist-friendly—government there. Meanwhile, the United States stepped in to support the rebels, the mujahideen, in the hopes of dragging the Soviet Union into a war of attrition that would lead to the destruction of communism and the end of the Cold War. This is the story of the Soviet-Afghan War.
Discover a plethora of topics such as The Great GameThe Saur RevolutionSoviet The Brezhnev Soviet Guerrilla Soviet WithdrawalAnd much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on the Soviet-Afghan War, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
Free BONUS Inside!
In 1979, alarmed Soviet leaders watched the growing civil war in Afghanistan with trepidation. Russia’s neighbor had been a close ally for many years, acting as a buffer between Russia and British India and proving vital in the “Great Game” between the two empires. Various coups had, by this point, led to a Moscow-friendly government in Kabul, but still, things were not playing out as the Soviets had hoped.
In a country built on mysticism and religion and almost devoid of industry, socialism was proving extremely unpopular. Afghanistan’s new leaders had tried to transform the country too quickly, infuriating the rural communities. With this opposition came the formation of revolutionary groups and—before long—civil war. When Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin requested help from the Soviet Union to gain control of the situation, the Soviets not only sent troops to Afghanistan but also assassinated Amin, whom they viewed as incompetent.
By intervening in Afghanistan’s civil war, the Soviet Union hoped to establish a stable—and communist-friendly—government there. Meanwhile, the United States stepped in to support the rebels, the mujahideen, in the hopes of dragging the Soviet Union into a war of attrition that would lead to the destruction of communism and the end of the Cold War. This is the story of the Soviet-Afghan War.
Discover a plethora of topics such as The Great GameThe Saur RevolutionSoviet The Brezhnev Soviet Guerrilla Soviet WithdrawalAnd much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on the Soviet-Afghan War, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2023
66 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Hourly History
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 12, 2023
Afghanistan has been known as graveyard of empires and it's apparently evident through history. Soviet Afghan war itself was very complex and a lot more could be explored. But hourly history has its limitations and within that it's a great read.
September 6, 2025
Great rapid and well writen short history of moder Afghanistan
July 3, 2023
Published in 2023 by Hourly History.
In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an effort to stabilize their neighbor. In theory, Afghanistan had a communist government and the USSR had a policy of not letting any communist government fall.
In 1989, the Soviet Union finished withdrawing its armed forces from Afghanistan. On paper they had negotiated a stable pro-Soviet government to lead Afghanistan after 10 years of frustrating fighting an elusive enemy that specialized in hitting the much better equipped Soviet army within guerilla hit-and-run tactics.
Within 3 years both the government of Afghanistan and the government of the USSR had collapsed and Afghanistan became a haven for international Muslim terrorists like Osama bin Laden.
As I read about the difficulties that the Soviets had in fighting against the mujahedeen guerrilla fighters, it struck me that in many ways you could have removed the word Soviet and replaced it with the word American and have a fairly decent description of the American experience in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021.
This series is designed to give the reader a solid grasp of a topic in about an hour's worth of reading. Some topics are really too big for this self-imposed limit, but I thought this was a pretty good length for this topic.
I rate this short e-book 5 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2023...
In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an effort to stabilize their neighbor. In theory, Afghanistan had a communist government and the USSR had a policy of not letting any communist government fall.
In 1989, the Soviet Union finished withdrawing its armed forces from Afghanistan. On paper they had negotiated a stable pro-Soviet government to lead Afghanistan after 10 years of frustrating fighting an elusive enemy that specialized in hitting the much better equipped Soviet army within guerilla hit-and-run tactics.
Within 3 years both the government of Afghanistan and the government of the USSR had collapsed and Afghanistan became a haven for international Muslim terrorists like Osama bin Laden.
As I read about the difficulties that the Soviets had in fighting against the mujahedeen guerrilla fighters, it struck me that in many ways you could have removed the word Soviet and replaced it with the word American and have a fairly decent description of the American experience in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021.
This series is designed to give the reader a solid grasp of a topic in about an hour's worth of reading. Some topics are really too big for this self-imposed limit, but I thought this was a pretty good length for this topic.
I rate this short e-book 5 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2023...
April 21, 2023
I found the book very informative and it gave me a clear picture about the subject matter.
The Soviet-Afghan war started at the end of 1979 and lasted more than nine years. The Soviets probably did not realize the scope of problems of a war in Afghanistan. The United States got involved more to weaken the Soviet Union. Ultimately it made matters worse because it gave rise to the Mujahideen and then the Taliban and Al- Qaeda.
The Soviet-Afghan war started at the end of 1979 and lasted more than nine years. The Soviets probably did not realize the scope of problems of a war in Afghanistan. The United States got involved more to weaken the Soviet Union. Ultimately it made matters worse because it gave rise to the Mujahideen and then the Taliban and Al- Qaeda.
March 17, 2025
La lucha por la hegemonía se pelea en los patios ajenos.
Me agrada el recuento de las causas que llevaron al involucramiento de la URSS y USA en una guerra peleada por hegemonía. Ambos salieron luego de 30 años, con el rabo entre las piernas, tras cientos de miles de muertos entre militantes y civiles. Estos últimos pusieron la mayor cuota y los problemas no sólo no se resolvieron. Mas bien hoy día se han agravado.
Me agrada el recuento de las causas que llevaron al involucramiento de la URSS y USA en una guerra peleada por hegemonía. Ambos salieron luego de 30 años, con el rabo entre las piernas, tras cientos de miles de muertos entre militantes y civiles. Estos últimos pusieron la mayor cuota y los problemas no sólo no se resolvieron. Mas bien hoy día se han agravado.
April 14, 2024
A very straight forward high level explanation of the Soviet-Afghan war. Nice bibliographic references at the end of the reading, which allows you to do a deep dive into the conflict if that is what you need/want.
In my case, I have been reading “Los muchachos de zinc”, (Boys in Zinc) Svetlana Alexievich and all I was looking for was a fast, simplified resource to give me a better understanding of the Soviet-Afghan war.
March 5, 2023
War without end
Afghanistan is the snake that consumed itself. It will never modernize until it craves something from outside itself.
‘IT IS USELESS TO ATTEMPT TO REASON A MAN OUT OF A THING HE WAS NEVER REASONED INTO.’
Afghanistan is the snake that consumed itself. It will never modernize until it craves something from outside itself.
‘IT IS USELESS TO ATTEMPT TO REASON A MAN OUT OF A THING HE WAS NEVER REASONED INTO.’
March 10, 2023
Soviet-Afghan War
It was an enjoyable read. I knew very little about the war,only what I had read in the daily newspaper. Even so,I have to wonder whether this book was too much of a simplification.
It was an enjoyable read. I knew very little about the war,only what I had read in the daily newspaper. Even so,I have to wonder whether this book was too much of a simplification.
March 19, 2023
Good information about the Soviet - Afghan War
Two worlds powers were defeated because of the hunger for the dominance of the world. In the end, the biggest losers are the same world powers and the poor Afghan society.
Two worlds powers were defeated because of the hunger for the dominance of the world. In the end, the biggest losers are the same world powers and the poor Afghan society.
November 20, 2023
Good reading
First I was equipped with ignorance about the history of this nation. Therefore this book was eyeopening.
The so-called superpowers showed little concern for the afghan people.
First I was equipped with ignorance about the history of this nation. Therefore this book was eyeopening.
The so-called superpowers showed little concern for the afghan people.
October 29, 2024
Events laid out chronologically
While an attempt was made at the start and the end to paint a broader geo political picture, it was all about events and dates. Very dry reading, but it’s good if you are looking for an objective summary
While an attempt was made at the start and the end to paint a broader geo political picture, it was all about events and dates. Very dry reading, but it’s good if you are looking for an objective summary
March 5, 2023
Very good and informative
Another cracker from Hourly History. Tells the story clearly and concisely. A few nuggets that I genuinely did not know.
Another cracker from Hourly History. Tells the story clearly and concisely. A few nuggets that I genuinely did not know.
April 16, 2023
precise history of the Soviet,afghan war
precise history of theSoviet,afghan war but has grammatical errors making it sometimes hard to read. Overall good and quick read.
precise history of theSoviet,afghan war but has grammatical errors making it sometimes hard to read. Overall good and quick read.
May 19, 2023
A good review.
September 9, 2024
Short, concise summary of the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The Soviets were invited by the Afghan government but then became emboiled in a 10 year struggle fueled by US interests in keeping the fighting going as an effort to weaken the Soviet Union.
September 6, 2025
A quick overview, but too superficial. Fine as a starting point, but you’ll need other books afterward
August 31, 2024
It did exactly what it said on the tin. It is very concise (maybe too concise but then that's its goal). It did give me a high level overview of the war. I'll probably skip such crib note histories in future as details matter. If you need a summary and have only an hour, then read the above.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews