Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15157 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

An excellent insight into the Soviet War in Afghanistan
This book was an excellent account of what life was like for the Soviet Soldiers fighting in Afghanistan in the late nineteen eighties. The book is written between two tours of the country in 1987 and 1989 and it gives a fascinating insight into the operations and tactics of the Soviet Army and Mujaheddin fighters. It's well written and beautifully descriptive of Afghanistan its people and climate.

The author documents the thoughts, of not just ordinary Russian soldiers but of their senior field commanders, all of who talk candidly of the worsening situation and the inability to win the hearts and minds of the local population. In one Candid interview with an Afghan Colonel the future of the Soviet withdrawal and the ensuing infighting between the Mujaheddin is predicted well in advance of the actual events.

However whilst I enjoyed the book immensely I thought that some of the original fluency has been lost in the translation from Russian to English, and the reader is taken too quickly from situation to situation or place to place without a great deal of explanation. This can be confusing but shouldn't be allowed to ruin the book.

Overall the book is a real soldier's tale and gives you a great insight into the mindset of combat soldiers serving in a foreign country, in a war they don't believe in, with an enemy they can't see. A cautionary tale for any superpower or occupying force that believes they are invulnerable. I would recommend anyone with an interest in the demise of the Soviet Union, Afghanistan, the roots of modern day extremism to read it.

An insider's view
The author provides a unique insider's view of the (extreme) conditions the Soviet forces fighting the war Afghanistan were facing, and how they tried to deal with these conditions.

Recommended to anyone who wants to learn and understand what counter insurgency warfare in Afghanistan (then and now) was/is about.

A GREAT READ
As a starting point in understanding the Soviet-Afghan war; one can do no worse than read this book. The author does not try to put his "spin" on this war; he basically walks the battlefield talking to Soviet officers and soldiers and writing what they have to say. This is a very good insight into understanding their psyche.

This book is very easy to read and at times it seems to read like a story-book as opposed to an account of fact. But I believe this adds to its appeal.

Highly recommended!