Soviet-Afghan War (aug 24, 1944 – jan 24, 1954)

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The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989) was nearly a decade long conflict between the Soviet Union and Afghan resistance fighters, known as the Mujahideen. In Afghanistan, the communist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan had total control of the government. They began purging opposition, and implementing reforms into society. This angered the anti-communist muslims that resided in Afghanistan. When they began revolting, it forced the Soviet Union to intervene in order to support their fellow communists. The Soviets invaded on the night of December 24, 1979, sending 30,000 troops and toppling the government. The main objective of the Soviets was to implement a new communist government that would face less turbulence and would sustain.
Throughout the war, the Soviet Union controlled major cities and had far more troops. However, the Mujahideen became a real threat after gaining access to shoulder-fired anti aircraft missiles supplied by the United States. ("Soviet invasion of Afghanistan") After sustaining many casualties throughout a drawn out feud where the Soviets really could not implement a new regime, they decided to back out. One last reason for the Soviet retreat was because of increased unrest in their own country due to the length of the war.


Work Cited
“Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations.” Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian, https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanistan. Accessed 23 February 2025.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Soviet invasion of Afghanistan". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan. Accessed 23 February 2025.

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