Mujahideen is a term derived from the Arabic language for Muslim men who most often voluntarily fight guerrilla against external military occupation or take military action against the current power in the state or in a given area. Mujahideen formations played a huge and decisive role in the course of the Afghanistan War of 1979-1989. Driven mainly by religious and ideological reasons, with considerable support from the US government, they were instrumental in the defeat of the USSR in this war. Through its allies and through various secret channels, the US supplied them with ammunition, supplies and all types of light weapons - including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. It is worth adding that in 1985 seven main mujahideen formations entered into an alliance (the so-called Alliance of the Seven) to fight together with the USSR, which significantly improved the planning and conduct of military operations. Among the mujahideen fighting in Afghanistan, there were also many volunteers from Muslim countries who considered participation in the fighting against the USSR a jihad.
The war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, was fought in the years 1979-1989. The parties to the conflict were the Afghan communist government, supported on a large scale by the USSR, and partisan (mujahedin) troops who did not agree to Soviet intervention and far-reaching secularization and atheization of the state. The Mujahideen relatively quickly received extensive, albeit unofficial, aid from the United States. It is assumed that the Soviet side involved about 100-120 thousand people in the conflict at a time. people, while determining the number of mujahideen is very difficult - most often it is assumed, however, that they had numerical advantage over the Soviet troops. The immediate cause of the conflict was the USSR's desire to increase its role in Central Asia, and above all, to increase its influence in Afghanistan. Soviet troops fighting in this war were part of the so-called The Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, which was primarily made up of the forces of the 40th Army. It is worth adding that at the very beginning of the war, the Soviet army engaged about 81,000 in the conflict. people, approx. 2,400 armored vehicles (including tanks) and approx. 500 aircraft. Over time, these forces have grown significantly. The Afghan War was, like the Vietnam War, a classic example of guerrilla warfare, which, in addition, was fought in terrain definitely unfavorable to Soviet troops. Moreover, Soviet soldiers were ill-trained to lead such an asymmetric conflict. Also, the Soviet equipment and doctrine, designed for the full-scale conflict in Central and Western Europe, did not always work. Ultimately, the war ended with the defeat of the Soviet Union, which suffered a huge and prestigious defeat. It is also assumed that the war hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army probably also lost about 65,000-70,000 wounded and killed.
The war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, was fought in the years 1979-1989. The parties to the conflict were the Afghan communist government, supported on a large scale by the USSR, and partisan (mujahedin) troops who did not agree to Soviet intervention and far-reaching secularization and atheization of the state. The Mujahideen relatively quickly received extensive, albeit unofficial, aid from the United States. It is assumed that the Soviet side involved about 100-120 thousand people in the conflict at a time. people, while determining the number of mujahideen is very difficult - most often it is assumed, however, that they had numerical advantage over the Soviet troops. The immediate cause of the conflict was the USSR's desire to increase its role in Central Asia, and above all, to increase its influence in Afghanistan. Soviet troops fighting in this war were part of the so-called The Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, which was primarily made up of the forces of the 40th Army. It is worth adding that at the very beginning of the war, the Soviet army engaged about 81,000 in the conflict. people, approx. 2,400 armored vehicles (including tanks) and approx. 500 aircraft. Over time, these forces have grown significantly. The Afghan War was, like the Vietnam War, a classic example of guerrilla warfare, which, in addition, was fought in terrain definitely unfavorable to Soviet troops. Moreover, Soviet soldiers were ill-trained to lead such an asymmetric conflict. Also, the Soviet equipment and doctrine, designed for the full-scale conflict in Central and Western Europe, did not always work. Ultimately, the war ended with the defeat of the Soviet Union, which suffered a huge and prestigious defeat. It is also assumed that the war hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army probably also lost about 65,000-70,000 wounded and killed.
