-
The Beginning of the War
The Soviet-Afghan War began in December of 1979 and lasted over nine years. The war was started during the Cold war because the Soviet 40th Army invaded Afghanistan in order to prop up the communist government of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) against a growing rebellion. The Soviet Union was afraid of losing its communist proxy in Afghanistan. -
Operation Storm-333
Operation Storm-333 was an operation in which Soviet Union forces charged into the Tajbeg Palace and captured Afghan President Hafizullah Amin along with about 150 guards. An unknown number of guards were killed during this operation. Other buildings were over run during Operation Storm-333 such as the Ministry of Interior building, the Internal Security (KHAD) building, and the General Staff building (Darul Aman Palace). The picture on the left is Tajbeg Palace. -
Babrak Kamal
Babrak Karmal was an Afghan politician who was made president of Afghanistan by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) when they invaded in 1979. The former President of Afghanistan, Hafizullah Amin, was promptly replaced after he was captured and killed during Operation Storm-333. Babrak Karmal was the president until 1981 when he was replaced by Sultan Ali Keshtmand. The picture on the right is Babrak Karmal. -
The Battles of Zhawar
The Battles of Zhawar lasted from September of 1985 to April 19, 1986. The battles took place in Khost Province and Paktia Province. During both two battle the combined death tole of 387, and 624 people injured. -
Effects of the War
By 1985 more than five million Afghans are now estimated to have been forced to move because of the war. Many of them went to the neighbouring countries, Iran and Pakistan. The new Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, publicly stated that he wanted to end the war in Afghanistan. The picture on the right is Mikhail Gorbachev. -
The Battle of Maravar Pass
The Battle of Maravar Pass lasted from April 21, 1985 to April 22, 1985. It took place in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. About 31 people died during the battle. -
Stinger Missiles
In 1986 the US begins supplying Mujahideen with Stinger missiles The missiles allowed them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Then Karmal was replaced by Mohammed Najibullah as the President of Afghanistan. The picture on the right is Mohammed Najibullah. -
The Battle of Jaji
The Battle of Jaji lasted from May 20, 1987 to June 13, 1987. It took place in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over 120 people were killed during the battle. -
The Beginning of Peace
In April 1988 Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed a peace accord with Afghanistan. The peace accord made agreed upon principals of mutual relations. This was the start of the end of the Soviet-Afghanistan War. -
The End of the War
On Febuary 15, 1989 the Soviet Union announces the departure of its last troops. The last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan, where civil war continued until the Taliban’s seizure of power in the late 1990s.
This marked the end the Soviet-Afghanistan War. -
Sources
http://www.understandingwar.org/russia-and-afghanistan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Storm-333
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babrak_Karmal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jaji
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Zhawar
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-to-withdraw-from-afghanistan
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-to-withdraw-from-afghanistan
http://publish.uwo.ca/~acopp2/historyofwar/coldwar/militaryconflicts/sovietafghanwar/timeline.html
