Afgantsy

The Russians in Afghanistan 1979-89

By: Rodric Braithwaite

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

The story of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan is well known: the expansionist Communists overwhelmed a poor country as a means of reaching a warm-water port on the Persian Gulf. Afghan mujahideen upset their plans, holding on with little more than natural fighting skills, until CIA agents came to the rescue with American arms. Humiliated in battle, the Soviets hastily retreated. It is a great story—but it never happened.

In this brilliant, myth-busting account, Rodric Braithwaite, the former British ambassador to Moscow, challenges much of what we know about the Soviets in Afghanistan. He provides an inside look at this little-understood episode, using first-hand accounts and piercing analysis to show the war as it was fought and experienced by the Russians. The invasion was a defensive response to a chaotic situation in the Soviets' immediate neighbor. They intended to establish a stable, friendly government, secure the major towns, and train the police and armed forces before making a rapid exit. But the mission escalated, as did casualties.

Braithwaite does not paint the occupation as a Russian triumph. To the contrary, he illustrates the searing effect of the brutal conflict on soldiers, their families, and the broader public, as returning veterans struggled to regain their footing back home.

©2011 Rodric Braithwaite (P)2022 Tantor

Novel interesting look at the Soviet Afghan War

It’s a well written, easy listen on a topic that isn’t covered much in English; definitely recommend

Good history focusing on Soviet veterans

Good title for those interested in the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan through the eyes of the average Soviet soldier. It gives you a good overview of the overall geopolitical situation that led to the invasion, the quagmire, and eventual withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Concise Book of Soviet-Afghan War

If you're looking for a concise book on the Soviet-Afghan War of 1979-89, I highly recommend this book. I've listened to an earlier published book on this war, which books are hard to fine strangely enough, and it is nowhere close to being as thorough as this book.

Prophetic Hindsight

This work should have been required reading for those who were involved in the coalition of nations that failed in our most recent attempt at shaping that tortured land. So many mistakes were repeated by our own well meaning attempts to bring a new age to Afghanistan.

Starts well, becomes too generic

The first chapters are great, but it devolves into just general information like"officers had always had to maintain good morale in their unit" ... duh.

Look up The Great Gamble on the same subject, much better work.