The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was started on December 4th, 1979, when the Soviet Union sent troops into Afghanistan. The Soviet Union sent troops into Afghanistan to uphold the Friendship Treaty that the Soviet Union and the Afghanistan government had signed in a year before in 1978. The treaty was an agreement that the Soviets would provide economic and military support to the Afghans. This treaty was the start of conflict between the Soviet supported communist Afghan government, and the Mujahedeen. When the troops were being sent in, the whole world thought that there were to help the Afghanis make up lost ground on the Mujahedeen forces. However, the Soviets overthrew the President at the time, Hafizollah Amin. They took over the capital in hours and executed President Amin and several other members of his family.
Within days the Soviets had taken control of many cities all across Afghanistan. Whenever any Soviet forces left these cities, the Mujahedeen forces would take advantage of the situation and would attack the troops using guerrilla tactics and would raid these groups. The Mujahedeen forces had been fighting the Taraki-Amin communist regime ever since the treaty had been signed and had almost won before the Soviet invasion.
This invasion was very important to the Soviet Union because this would be a key victory to have control over a Middle East territory, but also because it was the first time that the Kremlin had ordered for combat on the Soviets’ behalf to be committed outside of the Soviet Union. The Soviet invasion was clearly thought out well before and shows just how prepared the Soviets were to invade.
By January 1st, 1980 the Soviets had already sent in over 50,000 troops into Afghanistan. In an effort to force the Soviets out of Afghanistan the United States of America Armed the Mujahedeen. The US armed them with guns and RPGs giving the Mujahedeen the push they needed the push the Soviet Union out.
On Febuary 15th, 1989 the Soviet Union Signed an accord with the Untied States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and agreed to pull its troops out of Afghanistan. By this time in the war they had lost around 15,000 soldiers. This departure of the Soviets gave the perfect opportunity for the rise of terrorism in Afghanistan with the help of the weapons from the United States. The world saw this and it is known as Russia’s Vietnam.
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan
History.com
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-tanks-roll-into-afghanistan
History
http://www.history.ca/history-topics/latest/december-5-1978-ussr-and-afghanistan-sign-friendship-treaty/
The Heritage Foundation
James Phillips
http://www.heritage.org/europe/report/the-soviet-invasion-afghanistan
Within days the Soviets had taken control of many cities all across Afghanistan. Whenever any Soviet forces left these cities, the Mujahedeen forces would take advantage of the situation and would attack the troops using guerrilla tactics and would raid these groups. The Mujahedeen forces had been fighting the Taraki-Amin communist regime ever since the treaty had been signed and had almost won before the Soviet invasion.
This invasion was very important to the Soviet Union because this would be a key victory to have control over a Middle East territory, but also because it was the first time that the Kremlin had ordered for combat on the Soviets’ behalf to be committed outside of the Soviet Union. The Soviet invasion was clearly thought out well before and shows just how prepared the Soviets were to invade.
By January 1st, 1980 the Soviets had already sent in over 50,000 troops into Afghanistan. In an effort to force the Soviets out of Afghanistan the United States of America Armed the Mujahedeen. The US armed them with guns and RPGs giving the Mujahedeen the push they needed the push the Soviet Union out.
On Febuary 15th, 1989 the Soviet Union Signed an accord with the Untied States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and agreed to pull its troops out of Afghanistan. By this time in the war they had lost around 15,000 soldiers. This departure of the Soviets gave the perfect opportunity for the rise of terrorism in Afghanistan with the help of the weapons from the United States. The world saw this and it is known as Russia’s Vietnam.
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan
History.com
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-tanks-roll-into-afghanistan
History
http://www.history.ca/history-topics/latest/december-5-1978-ussr-and-afghanistan-sign-friendship-treaty/
The Heritage Foundation
James Phillips
http://www.heritage.org/europe/report/the-soviet-invasion-afghanistan
Leonid Brezhnez was the leader of the Soviet Union
when they decided to invade Afghanistan.
when they decided to invade Afghanistan.