1979 : Soviet tanks roll into Afghanistan
On December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, under the
pretext of upholding the Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty of 1978.
As midnight approached, the Soviets organized a massive military
airlift into Kabul, involving an estimated 280 transport aircraft and
three divisions of almost 8,500 men each. Within a few days, the
Soviets had secured Kabul, deploying a special assault unit against
Tajberg Palace. Elements of the Afghan army loyal to Hafizullah Amin
put up a fierce, but brief resistance.
On December 27, Babrak Karmal, exiled leader of the Parcham faction of
the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), was
installed as Afghanistan's new head of government. And Soviet ground
forces entered Afghanistan from the north.
The Soviets, however, were met with fierce resistance when they
ventured out of their strongholds into the countryside. Resistance
fighters, called mujahidin, saw the Christian or atheist Soviets
controlling Afghanistan as a defilement of Islam as well as of their
traditional culture. Proclaiming a "jihad"(holy war), they gained the
support of the Islamic world.
The mujahidin employed guerrilla tactics against the Soviets. They
would attack or raid quickly, then disappear into the mountains,
causing great destruction without pitched battles. The fighters used
whatever weapons they could grab from the Soviets or were given by the
United States.
The tide of the war turned with the 1987 introduction of U.S.
shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. The Stingers allowed the
mujahidin to shoot down Soviet planes and helicopters on a regular
basis.
New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev decided it was time to get out.
Demoralized and with no victory in sight, Soviet forces started
withdrawing in 1988. The last Soviet soldier crossed back across the
border on February 15, 1989.
It was the first Soviet military expedition beyond the Eastern bloc
since World War II and marked the end of a period of improving
relations (known as détente) in the Cold War. Subsequently, the SALT
II arms treaty was shelved and the U.S. began to re-arm.
Fifteen thousand Soviet soldiers were killed.
The long-term impact of the invasion and subsequent war was profound.
First, the Soviets never recovered from the public relations and
financial losses, which significantly contributed to the fall of the
Soviet empire in 1991. Secondly, the war created a breeding ground for
terrorism and the rise of Osama bin Laden.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1979 : Soviet tanks roll into Afghanistan
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=57341
1814 : War of 1812 ends
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=7121
1851 : Fire ravages Library of Congress
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5626
1865 : KKK founded
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5627
#########################################
On December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, under the
pretext of upholding the Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty of 1978.
As midnight approached, the Soviets organized a massive military
airlift into Kabul, involving an estimated 280 transport aircraft and
three divisions of almost 8,500 men each. Within a few days, the
Soviets had secured Kabul, deploying a special assault unit against
Tajberg Palace. Elements of the Afghan army loyal to Hafizullah Amin
put up a fierce, but brief resistance.
On December 27, Babrak Karmal, exiled leader of the Parcham faction of
the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), was
installed as Afghanistan's new head of government. And Soviet ground
forces entered Afghanistan from the north.
The Soviets, however, were met with fierce resistance when they
ventured out of their strongholds into the countryside. Resistance
fighters, called mujahidin, saw the Christian or atheist Soviets
controlling Afghanistan as a defilement of Islam as well as of their
traditional culture. Proclaiming a "jihad"(holy war), they gained the
support of the Islamic world.
The mujahidin employed guerrilla tactics against the Soviets. They
would attack or raid quickly, then disappear into the mountains,
causing great destruction without pitched battles. The fighters used
whatever weapons they could grab from the Soviets or were given by the
United States.
The tide of the war turned with the 1987 introduction of U.S.
shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. The Stingers allowed the
mujahidin to shoot down Soviet planes and helicopters on a regular
basis.
New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev decided it was time to get out.
Demoralized and with no victory in sight, Soviet forces started
withdrawing in 1988. The last Soviet soldier crossed back across the
border on February 15, 1989.
It was the first Soviet military expedition beyond the Eastern bloc
since World War II and marked the end of a period of improving
relations (known as détente) in the Cold War. Subsequently, the SALT
II arms treaty was shelved and the U.S. began to re-arm.
Fifteen thousand Soviet soldiers were killed.
The long-term impact of the invasion and subsequent war was profound.
First, the Soviets never recovered from the public relations and
financial losses, which significantly contributed to the fall of the
Soviet empire in 1991. Secondly, the war created a breeding ground for
terrorism and the rise of Osama bin Laden.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1979 : Soviet tanks roll into Afghanistan
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=57341
1814 : War of 1812 ends
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=7121
1851 : Fire ravages Library of Congress
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5626
1865 : KKK founded
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5627
#########################################
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