The Historical Works of the Soviet Union,
Part Ten:
In 1978, Afghanistan became communist. This seemed good for the Soviet Union. However, then rebels called the Mujahideen, started a rebellion, to make Afghanistan capitalist and under Islamic law. The Soviet Union believed if the Mujahideen captured Afghanistan, it would inspire rebellions in many Muslim regions, in the Soviet Union, to try making the regions independent, capitalist and under Islamic law.
The Soviet Union sent military advisors, to help communist Afghanistan defeat the Mujahideen. These advisors, along with their families who with them, were killed by extremist mobs. The Afghanistan government started executing people who preached against communism, which the Soviet Union believed would get more people to join the Mujahideen. Then communist Afghanistan, wanted to ask America for help, to defeat the Mujahideen, which the Soviet Union feared, would get them to have ties with the Soviet Unions rival America.
In 1979, the Soviet Union under Leonid Brezhnev and Aleksey Nikolayevich Kosygin, sent Soviet military forces to invade Afghanistan, to get rid of the Afghanistan government, starting the Soviet-Afghan war. American president Jimmy Carter claimed this was planned to make Afghanistan a vassal nation( a nation with another one having some control over it) of the Soviet Union, like the ones in much of Europe. This war was a part of the cold war rivalry.
The Soviet Union sent military advisors, to help communist Afghanistan defeat the Mujahideen. These advisors, along with their families who with them, were killed by extremist mobs. The Afghanistan government started executing people who preached against communism, which the Soviet Union believed would get more people to join the Mujahideen. Then communist Afghanistan, wanted to ask America for help, to defeat the Mujahideen, which the Soviet Union feared, would get them to have ties with the Soviet Unions rival America.
In 1979, the Soviet Union under Leonid Brezhnev and Aleksey Nikolayevich Kosygin, sent Soviet military forces to invade Afghanistan, to get rid of the Afghanistan government, starting the Soviet-Afghan war. American president Jimmy Carter claimed this was planned to make Afghanistan a vassal nation( a nation with another one having some control over it) of the Soviet Union, like the ones in much of Europe. This war was a part of the cold war rivalry.
After the Soviet Union invaded, they removed the Afghanistan government and replaced it with a pro-Soviet government. That was still fighting the Mujahideen. As part of the Afghanistan war, they got Soviet forces to guard many civilian places in Afghanistan, to scare off the Mujahideen. In 1980, there was 100,000 Soviet soldiers, in Afghanistan. Then the Soviet Union, sent Soviet forces to fight the Mujahideen forces. Soon after, the Soviet Union started sending helicopters, to try block retreating Mujahideen forces.
The Soviet soldiers in the Soviet-Afghan war, were made up of soldiers already in the Soviet military and soldiers conscripted, just for fighting in the war.
Also by 1980, alcohol use, had increased in the Soviet Union. With 35%, of Soviet men, being alcoholics. Alcohol can lead to decreased health, for users. As well as a increased of violence for the users, in particular family violence.
Also in 1980, the Soviet Union held the 1980 Olympics, in the Soviet and Russian city of Moscow. America boycotted the Olympics, to protest the Soviet Union trying to spread communism, through the Soviet-Afghan war.
Also in 1980, Soviet premier Aleksey Nikolayevich Kosygin, retired as Premier. Nikolai Tikhonov, then became Premier of the Soviet Union. In 1981, Ronald Reagan became president of the Soviet Unions cold war rival, America. Ronald Reagan would soon get America to increase military spending, to scare the Soviet Union.
In 1982, the population of the Soviet Union was 270,000,000.
In late 1982, General Secretary of the communist party, Leonid Brezhnev died naturally. Yuri Andropov then became General secretary of the Soviet Union. Soon after, the Soviet Union sent airstrikes on the mujahideen forces. Which killed a large amount of Afghan civilians, including teenage and child ones, in the cross fire.
When terrioty was captured by the Soviet Union, they would conscript Afghan men, in the territory. If they refused, they would shot dead, by the Soviet forces. Certain Soviet soldiers shot Afghan civilians, largely out of fear, they would could harm Soviet soldiers. In one case, in 1982, a Soviet military leader, who lost his brother, his had his brother killed in the fighting, ordered a massacre of 200 Afghan civilians.
The newspapers and news in the Soviet Union, which were owned by the government, seemingly wouldn't have covered the civilian harm, in the Soviet-Afghan war.
In 1983, a civilian plane, flew in the Soviet Union, so thinking it was a military plane, it was shot down by the Soviet Union. Killing over 200 passengers.
General secretary of the communist party, Yuri Andropov died naturally in 1984. Then Konstantin Cherneko became General secretary of the communist party. Then he died in 1985 and Mikhail Gorbachev, General secretary of the communist party. Also that year, Nikolai Tikhonov retired as Premier of the Soviet Union and Nikolay Ryzhkov, became Premier of the Soviet Union. This is what Mikhail Gorbachev looked like:
The Soviet soldiers in the Soviet-Afghan war, were made up of soldiers already in the Soviet military and soldiers conscripted, just for fighting in the war.
Also by 1980, alcohol use, had increased in the Soviet Union. With 35%, of Soviet men, being alcoholics. Alcohol can lead to decreased health, for users. As well as a increased of violence for the users, in particular family violence.
Also in 1980, the Soviet Union held the 1980 Olympics, in the Soviet and Russian city of Moscow. America boycotted the Olympics, to protest the Soviet Union trying to spread communism, through the Soviet-Afghan war.
Also in 1980, Soviet premier Aleksey Nikolayevich Kosygin, retired as Premier. Nikolai Tikhonov, then became Premier of the Soviet Union. In 1981, Ronald Reagan became president of the Soviet Unions cold war rival, America. Ronald Reagan would soon get America to increase military spending, to scare the Soviet Union.
In 1982, the population of the Soviet Union was 270,000,000.
In late 1982, General Secretary of the communist party, Leonid Brezhnev died naturally. Yuri Andropov then became General secretary of the Soviet Union. Soon after, the Soviet Union sent airstrikes on the mujahideen forces. Which killed a large amount of Afghan civilians, including teenage and child ones, in the cross fire.
When terrioty was captured by the Soviet Union, they would conscript Afghan men, in the territory. If they refused, they would shot dead, by the Soviet forces. Certain Soviet soldiers shot Afghan civilians, largely out of fear, they would could harm Soviet soldiers. In one case, in 1982, a Soviet military leader, who lost his brother, his had his brother killed in the fighting, ordered a massacre of 200 Afghan civilians.
The newspapers and news in the Soviet Union, which were owned by the government, seemingly wouldn't have covered the civilian harm, in the Soviet-Afghan war.
In 1983, a civilian plane, flew in the Soviet Union, so thinking it was a military plane, it was shot down by the Soviet Union. Killing over 200 passengers.
General secretary of the communist party, Yuri Andropov died naturally in 1984. Then Konstantin Cherneko became General secretary of the communist party. Then he died in 1985 and Mikhail Gorbachev, General secretary of the communist party. Also that year, Nikolai Tikhonov retired as Premier of the Soviet Union and Nikolay Ryzhkov, became Premier of the Soviet Union. This is what Mikhail Gorbachev looked like:
The Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov, then made preaching and protesting against communism and the Soviet governments legal, this also known as allowing free speech. Also Mikihail Gorvachev, tried and failed to negotiate a peace with the Mujahideen, one where they would not do a complete takeover of Afghanistan. Also, the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryszhkov over the next several years started an economic reform called Perestrokia. Perestrokia allowed some degree of allowance for private companies and less government control of government owned companies, this however did not mix well with the rest of the socialist system, so price of food increased, as did government debt due to increased spending, which made the made more Soviet people feel negatively about their government.
In 1986, America gave the Mujahideen rocket launchers, which allowed them to shoot at Soviet military helicopters. This is generally believed by historians, to ruin the chances of Mikhail Gorbachev's peace deal.
In 1986, America gave the Mujahideen rocket launchers, which allowed them to shoot at Soviet military helicopters. This is generally believed by historians, to ruin the chances of Mikhail Gorbachev's peace deal.
Also in 1986, in the Soviet state of Ukraine, known officially, as the Soviet republic of Ukraine, there was a explosion in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, . This was because the mangers of the power plant, set the power plant to created too much electricity, at once. Just before the explosion, the mangers pressed the emergency button to try stopping the explosion. However, it did not work, as the effects of the button, were not as good as they could have been.
The explosion in the power plant, would release much radiation, near the power plant. At first the Soviet Union didn't declare it a emergency, to not cause panic. However, after a few weeks it was. With 350,000 people from the some of Soviet states of Ukraine and Belarus, fled their homes, away from the radiation, or at least most of it. With the radiation killing some Soviet people. The Soviet Unions official death toll, from the radiation, was less then 100. However, experts agree the death toll was anywhere from 4,000-500,000.
The power plant explosion got coverage, by newspapers and so forth in the Soviet Union. However, one of the things that did not get coverage, was the effects of emergency button, in the nuclear power plant not working. This was because the Soviet Union under its government, built the power plant and covered up its mistake.
The fact the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, wasn't built properly, was leaked soon after. This, as well as the fact that Chernobyl was not declared an emergency, at first, got many people, in the Soviet Union, to feel more negatively, about the Soviet Union and its government.
By 1987, the Soviet Union under its government had drained much of the Aral Sea. This had decreased the size of the Aral Sea so much, it lost a lot of its size. Since both 1948, when the draining started and 1959, when the degree of draining was expended. Heat caused by climate change, did play a small part in decrease of water in the lake. Heat caused by climate change, would still go on to decrease water in the lake.
The power plant explosion got coverage, by newspapers and so forth in the Soviet Union. However, one of the things that did not get coverage, was the effects of emergency button, in the nuclear power plant not working. This was because the Soviet Union under its government, built the power plant and covered up its mistake.
The fact the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, wasn't built properly, was leaked soon after. This, as well as the fact that Chernobyl was not declared an emergency, at first, got many people, in the Soviet Union, to feel more negatively, about the Soviet Union and its government.
By 1987, the Soviet Union under its government had drained much of the Aral Sea. This had decreased the size of the Aral Sea so much, it lost a lot of its size. Since both 1948, when the draining started and 1959, when the degree of draining was expended. Heat caused by climate change, did play a small part in decrease of water in the lake. Heat caused by climate change, would still go on to decrease water in the lake.
One unexpected thing that happened, out of the lack of water in the lake, was chemicals from what was once at the bottom at the lake, would spread through the air, to cause diseases, for people in the Muslim regions, it was in.
In 1987, the America, as well as the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkovand, signed a treaty to reduce nuclear weapons. This would decrease tensions between America and the Soviet Union, in the cold war rivalry.
In 1988, the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov, got Soviet forces in Afghanistan, to start retreating from Afghanistan. In February of 1989, the Soviet Union finished retreating from Afghanistan. By then officially over 14,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in the Soviet-Afghan war, but some think it was secretly and unofficially 50,000 Soviet soldiers, that died in the war. The dead soldiers include captured Soviet soldiers, who were killed, after surrendering to be prisoners of war, which happened to large amount of the Soviet soldiers, who surrendered. Many family members of the killed soldiers, would lose their loved ones. It is hard to say how many Afghan civilians including teenage and child ones were killed in Soviet crossfire, but the maximum is over 300,000.
In November 1989, communist East Germany, destroyed the Berlin Wall. Out of strong public disapproval for the wall. Which was in part due to public disapproval of undemocratic communism. This would unofficially announce that communist East Germany, would soon leave, to join the capitalist and democratic nation and NATO member, West Germany. This would be a defeat for the Soviet Union, in the Cold War. However, Mikhail Gorvachev believed, that in would be compromised, into a unified Germany, not being a part of NATO. So he didn't do anything to prevent it. However, Germany would be unified as a NATO member. In December, a revolt in Romania, overthrew their communist government. Which was yet another defeat, in the cold war. Also in 1989, communist Poland was starting to become non-communist, again a defeat. This wasn't just bad for the Soviet Union in the cold war, but it also gave confidence and inspiration, for anti-communist, in the Soviet Union. While also giving less confidence, to communists, in the Soviet Union.
Also in 1989, following anti-Soviet protest, in the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov then made it so the Soviet governments, that wasn't the government of Soviet Union, had democratic elections. This would mean Soviet republics, which functioned sort of like the state government of America, would have democratic elections.
In 1990, a Serial killer had been caught in the Soviet Union. He was from Ukraine and had murdered over 50 people, all across the Soviet Union, largely teenagers and children. He spent years of his childhood in a warzone, of Ukraine, in World war 2. He was beaten by his mother, bullied as a child. He would be legally executed, for his murders.
By 1991, Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian Soviet republic. With the Russian republic being the largest in the Soviet Union. He had previously abandoned the communist party, to then announce support for capitalism. The goal of Boris Yeltsin was:
1.To get Russia independent, which was good for the Russian national identity
2.Make that independent Russia, capitalist, which was seen as a good economic system by many including by at least some Russians
3.Make that independent Russia democratic, which was seen as good for freedom representing the desire of people
4.Make Boris Yeltsin president, of that independent Russia, instead the Russian republic, which didn't have full power to itself
In early 1991, in the Soviet republic of Lithuania, protesters occupied and crowded themselves into government buildings, for Lithuania to be independent, from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov, sent army forces to get them out. Whether it was to shoot or scare them out, it would still result in confrontation, where 100s were injured and 14 were killed.
In early 1991, the Premier of the Soviet Union, Nikolay Ryzhkov quit, due to health reasons. Valentin Pavlov then became Premier, of the Soviet Union.
By August 1991, Mikhail Gorvachev planned to give the Soviet republics, more power to themselves, so they would be less motivation, for them to become independent, from the Soviet Union.
In August of 1991, many Soviet leaders, including the Premier and KGB leader, organised to try stopping the Soviet republics getting more power to themselves and to try making sure the Soviet Union didn't fall. These Soviet leaders could be called communist hardline leaders. The hardline leaders sent the KGB officers to get Mikhail Gorvachev hostage, in the form of house arrest. After he planned to give the Soviet republics, more power to themselves, so they would be less motivation, for them to become independent, from the Soviet Union.
The hardline leaders, had some Soviet army forces on their side. However, some army forces, that the Soviet Union wanted on their side, refused to declare loyalty, to the hardliners. However, some army forces that did went to capture Boris Yeltsin. However, a civilian crowd gathered outside of Boris Yeltsin, with 3 of them getting killed by the army forces, to scare the others away. Seemingly not wanting anymore violence. The hardline leaders gave up. With Mikhail Gorvachev then freed. Soviet Premier Valentin Pavlov, was forced to quit, for being a hardline leaders. With Ivan Silayev, becoming Premier of the Soviet Union.
However, in the time that Mikhail Gorvachev was held hostage. The Soviet republics of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia(under Boris Yeltsin), declared independence( or at least got ready to), from the Soviet Union. One way for Mikhail Gorvachev to to stop this, was to get army forces to capture the leaders of the 3 republics. However, this would risk starting a Soviet civil war. As not all army forces, might be on the Soviet Unions side.
By October, the Soviet republics of Moldavia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, also declared independence, from the Soviet Union. Again with Mikhail Gorvachev, not starting a civil war.
In December of 1991, all remaining Soviet republics, declared independence, besides Georgia. With Georgia only not, due to focusing their attention, on unrest, in the republic. So Mikahail Gorvachev retired and Boris Yeltsin declared the Soviet Union, over. With the 15 Soviet republics, declaring to become, independent capitalist countries. This ended the Soviet Union, while also ending the cold war rivalry.
In 1987, the America, as well as the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkovand, signed a treaty to reduce nuclear weapons. This would decrease tensions between America and the Soviet Union, in the cold war rivalry.
In 1988, the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov, got Soviet forces in Afghanistan, to start retreating from Afghanistan. In February of 1989, the Soviet Union finished retreating from Afghanistan. By then officially over 14,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in the Soviet-Afghan war, but some think it was secretly and unofficially 50,000 Soviet soldiers, that died in the war. The dead soldiers include captured Soviet soldiers, who were killed, after surrendering to be prisoners of war, which happened to large amount of the Soviet soldiers, who surrendered. Many family members of the killed soldiers, would lose their loved ones. It is hard to say how many Afghan civilians including teenage and child ones were killed in Soviet crossfire, but the maximum is over 300,000.
In November 1989, communist East Germany, destroyed the Berlin Wall. Out of strong public disapproval for the wall. Which was in part due to public disapproval of undemocratic communism. This would unofficially announce that communist East Germany, would soon leave, to join the capitalist and democratic nation and NATO member, West Germany. This would be a defeat for the Soviet Union, in the Cold War. However, Mikhail Gorvachev believed, that in would be compromised, into a unified Germany, not being a part of NATO. So he didn't do anything to prevent it. However, Germany would be unified as a NATO member. In December, a revolt in Romania, overthrew their communist government. Which was yet another defeat, in the cold war. Also in 1989, communist Poland was starting to become non-communist, again a defeat. This wasn't just bad for the Soviet Union in the cold war, but it also gave confidence and inspiration, for anti-communist, in the Soviet Union. While also giving less confidence, to communists, in the Soviet Union.
Also in 1989, following anti-Soviet protest, in the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov then made it so the Soviet governments, that wasn't the government of Soviet Union, had democratic elections. This would mean Soviet republics, which functioned sort of like the state government of America, would have democratic elections.
In 1990, a Serial killer had been caught in the Soviet Union. He was from Ukraine and had murdered over 50 people, all across the Soviet Union, largely teenagers and children. He spent years of his childhood in a warzone, of Ukraine, in World war 2. He was beaten by his mother, bullied as a child. He would be legally executed, for his murders.
By 1991, Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian Soviet republic. With the Russian republic being the largest in the Soviet Union. He had previously abandoned the communist party, to then announce support for capitalism. The goal of Boris Yeltsin was:
1.To get Russia independent, which was good for the Russian national identity
2.Make that independent Russia, capitalist, which was seen as a good economic system by many including by at least some Russians
3.Make that independent Russia democratic, which was seen as good for freedom representing the desire of people
4.Make Boris Yeltsin president, of that independent Russia, instead the Russian republic, which didn't have full power to itself
In early 1991, in the Soviet republic of Lithuania, protesters occupied and crowded themselves into government buildings, for Lithuania to be independent, from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorvachev and Nikolay Ryzhkov, sent army forces to get them out. Whether it was to shoot or scare them out, it would still result in confrontation, where 100s were injured and 14 were killed.
In early 1991, the Premier of the Soviet Union, Nikolay Ryzhkov quit, due to health reasons. Valentin Pavlov then became Premier, of the Soviet Union.
By August 1991, Mikhail Gorvachev planned to give the Soviet republics, more power to themselves, so they would be less motivation, for them to become independent, from the Soviet Union.
In August of 1991, many Soviet leaders, including the Premier and KGB leader, organised to try stopping the Soviet republics getting more power to themselves and to try making sure the Soviet Union didn't fall. These Soviet leaders could be called communist hardline leaders. The hardline leaders sent the KGB officers to get Mikhail Gorvachev hostage, in the form of house arrest. After he planned to give the Soviet republics, more power to themselves, so they would be less motivation, for them to become independent, from the Soviet Union.
The hardline leaders, had some Soviet army forces on their side. However, some army forces, that the Soviet Union wanted on their side, refused to declare loyalty, to the hardliners. However, some army forces that did went to capture Boris Yeltsin. However, a civilian crowd gathered outside of Boris Yeltsin, with 3 of them getting killed by the army forces, to scare the others away. Seemingly not wanting anymore violence. The hardline leaders gave up. With Mikhail Gorvachev then freed. Soviet Premier Valentin Pavlov, was forced to quit, for being a hardline leaders. With Ivan Silayev, becoming Premier of the Soviet Union.
However, in the time that Mikhail Gorvachev was held hostage. The Soviet republics of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia(under Boris Yeltsin), declared independence( or at least got ready to), from the Soviet Union. One way for Mikhail Gorvachev to to stop this, was to get army forces to capture the leaders of the 3 republics. However, this would risk starting a Soviet civil war. As not all army forces, might be on the Soviet Unions side.
By October, the Soviet republics of Moldavia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, also declared independence, from the Soviet Union. Again with Mikhail Gorvachev, not starting a civil war.
In December of 1991, all remaining Soviet republics, declared independence, besides Georgia. With Georgia only not, due to focusing their attention, on unrest, in the republic. So Mikahail Gorvachev retired and Boris Yeltsin declared the Soviet Union, over. With the 15 Soviet republics, declaring to become, independent capitalist countries. This ended the Soviet Union, while also ending the cold war rivalry.
Aftermath of the end of the Soviet Union:
The countries that became independent, from the Soviet Union, went from a strong socialism to capitalism, straight away and not slowly, that wasn't helpful to their economics, in the short term. At least in the case of Russia, there economy declined in the short term.
Some of these capitalist countries, including but possibly not limited to Ukraine, got a particular low class gap. While some including Russia, got a particularly high class gap.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, there would be wars, over which leaders and which group, controlled which territory. In particular in the first 10 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. The wars happening within the next 10 years would be:
1.Tajikstani civil war, which was between supporters of communism and capitalism, in the country of Tajikistan
2.The first Nagorno-Narabakh war, where is was the country of Azerbaijan, verses culturally Armenian rebels supported by the country of Armenia
3.First Chechen war, which was a war between the country of Russia and rebels of the Chechen cultural group, were Russia lost
4.Second Chechen war, which was a war between the country of Russia and rebels of the Chechen cultural group, where Russia won
In 2014, another war would start as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union. A war starting between culturally Russian rebels and Ukraine. With the war expanding in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. With the war still going.
The countries that became independent, from the Soviet Union, went from a strong socialism to capitalism, straight away and not slowly, that wasn't helpful to their economics, in the short term. At least in the case of Russia, there economy declined in the short term.
Some of these capitalist countries, including but possibly not limited to Ukraine, got a particular low class gap. While some including Russia, got a particularly high class gap.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, there would be wars, over which leaders and which group, controlled which territory. In particular in the first 10 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. The wars happening within the next 10 years would be:
1.Tajikstani civil war, which was between supporters of communism and capitalism, in the country of Tajikistan
2.The first Nagorno-Narabakh war, where is was the country of Azerbaijan, verses culturally Armenian rebels supported by the country of Armenia
3.First Chechen war, which was a war between the country of Russia and rebels of the Chechen cultural group, were Russia lost
4.Second Chechen war, which was a war between the country of Russia and rebels of the Chechen cultural group, where Russia won
In 2014, another war would start as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union. A war starting between culturally Russian rebels and Ukraine. With the war expanding in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. With the war still going.