Top Soviet Afghan War Myths

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1)Soviets were in Afghanistan because they wanted to invade the country.

Biggest myth comparable to Americans trying to imperialize Vietnam.The Russians were not in Afghanistan to conquer it. The Soviet Union had existed next door to the country for more than 60 years without any kind of invasion. It was only when the United States intervened in Afghanistan to replace a government friendly to Moscow with one militantly anti-communist that the Russians invaded to do battle with the US-supported Islamic jihadists; precisely what the United States would have done to prevent a communist government in Canada or Mexico.

2)The Russians were sent running from Afghanistan by the war's end after American aid was sent

It’s not even precise to say that the Russians were sent running. That was essentially Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev’s decision, and it was more of a political decision than a military one. Gorbachev’s fondest ambition was to turn the Soviet Union into a West-European style social democracy, and he fervently wished for the approval of those European leaders, virtually all of whom were cold-war anti-communists and opposed the Soviet intervention into Afghanistan

3)The Afghanis were defeating the Soviets in battle.

The next most famous myths of the Soviet Afghan War. Throughout the war the Soviets won every engagements in battle. Much like the American war, the Soviets constantly destroyed the Afghani bases and mountain strongholds by constantly bombing suspected areas in the country. In every major engagement, Soviet casualties were out of proportion compared to Afghani casualties. For example the overall Deadfor Soviets were no more than 75,000 while Afghan dead were around 800,000- 2 million. In every major battle Afghan casualties were 3-8 X larger than Soviet casualties. By the time the Soviet were leaving, it can be argued they were almost won the war. Former Soviet generals state had they stayed an extra few months to year, the Mujahideen would be wiped out and order and stability be brought to Afghanistan.

4)Most Afghanis supported the Mujahideen and Afghan rebels

A big myth. The vast majority of Afghans didn't really care about the outcome of the war. A very large portion of the population of Afghanistan actually fled to nearby country as refugees to avoid getting involved in the war and suffering the hardships of the war.For example the population of Afghanistan's second largest city, Kandahar, was reduced from 200,000 before the war to no more than 25,000 inhabitants as most of the refugees fled from Afghanistan. Around a 1/4-1/3 (depending on your sources) even supported the Soviets directly as they saw Soviet forces modernizing Afghanistan and life under Soviet rule was more comfortable. Afghans who decided to join the Soviets were offered basic needs such as education and human rights. It was during the Soviet Afghan war that women in Afghanistan more rights and more people in Afghanistan were literate and educated than during anytime in Afghan history! The vast majority of the population that remained in Afghanistan during the war were neutral to the war and just stayed in their homes.

5)Soviet soldiers were ruthless and oppressed the population, terrorizing and massacring the local population for fun.

A big myth created by American anti communist propoganda. Throughout the entire war, Soviet soldiers spared the lives of surrendering Mujahideen and Afghan rebels after battle. The Soviets treated enemy POW with care and respect and were far more noble than the Afghan rebels ever been. The Soviets never terrorized the Afghan population and massacred Afghani civilians for sadistic pleasure. Throughout the whole war Soviet Airforce avoided bombing heavily populated areas and villages where Mujahideen were suspected to be hiding in. The Soviet soldiers did their best to avoid harming the innocent civilian Afghans and in fact many soldiers actually gave their lives up to defend Afghan civilians from Mujahideen terrorism! The saddest part is that the many of the civlians Soviet soldiers fought and died to defend from the Mujahideen terrorists were indifferent to their sacrifices or actually supported the Mujahideen!Rambo and other American movies got the Soviet Afghan war all wrong. It can be argued that the Mujahideen were the bad guys and that the Soviets were actually the good guys!