Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan, 1979-89. Rodric Braithwaite

Prologue -- The road to Kabul -- Paradise lost -- The tragedy begins -- The decision to intervene -- The storming of the palace -- Aftermath -- The disasters of war -- The 40th Army goes to war -- The nationbuilders -- Soldiering -- Fighting -- Devastation and disillusion -- The long goodbye -- Going home -- The road to the bridge -- The war continues -- A land fit for heroes -- Epilogue: The reckoning -- Annex 1: Timeline -- Annex 2: Order of battle of the 40th Army -- Annex 3: The Alliance of Seven and its leaders -- Annex 4: Indo-China, Vietnam, Algeria, Afghanistan : a comparison In a timely and eye-opening book Rodric Braithwaite examines the Russian experience in that most recent war in Afghanistan (after Alexander's conquests and the many British imperial wars and skirmishes). Largely basing his account on Russian sources and interviews he shows the war through the eyes of the Russians themselves - politicians, officers, soldiers, advisers, journalist, women. As former ambassador to Moscow, Rodric Braithwaite brings his unique insights to the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The story has been distorted not only by Cold War propaganda but also by the myths of the nineteenth century Great Game. It moves from the high politics of the Kremlin to the lonely Russian conscripts in isolated mountain outposts. The parallels with Afghanistan today speak for themselves. 'A superb achievement of narrative history, sensitive writing and exciting fresh research': so wrote Simon Sebag Montefiore about Rodric Braithwaite's bestseller Moscow 1941. But those words, and many others of praise that were given it, could equally apply to his new book. Russia's invasion of Afghanistan, told by a former British Ambassador Twenty-five years ago, when the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan after a gruelling nine-year occupation, they left a legacy obscured by distortion and distrust. Fuelled by Cold War propaganda and the myths of the nineteenth-century Great Game, in many ways it remains so. The USSR entered the country in 1979 as part of efforts to quash growing anti-Soviet feeling in Kabul. What followed was a particularly brutal and bloody episode in world history - and one that is often credited as setting the stage for the Taliban's takeover in 1996. Basing his account on Russian sources and interviews, Rodric Braithwaite shows the conflict through the eyes of the Russians who fought it - politicians, officers, soldiers, advisers and journalists - moving seamlessly from the high politics of the Kremlin to lonely Russian conscripts in isolated mountain outposts. This is a powerful and sweeping history of the Soviets in Afghanistan, told with the unique insights of a former Ambassador to Moscow. Examines The Russian Experience In That Most Recent War In Afghanistan. Largely Basing His Account On Russian Sources And Interviews, The Author Shows The War Through The Eyes Of The Russians Themselves - Politicians, Officers, Soldiers, Advisers, Journalist, Women. The Road To Kabul -- The Disasters Of War -- The Long Goodbye -- The Reckoning Rodric Braithwaite. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [385]-391) And Index. Challenging much of what we know about the Soviets in Afghanistan, the author provides an comprehensive, inside look at this little-understood episode using first-hand accounts and piercing analysis of the war