On Memorial Day of internationalist warriors, February 15, men of about fifty years of age, sometimes older, gather in parks and squares across the country. Sometimes women join them, of the same age. They go to the monument. There are such, though modest, in almost every city, even a small one. In the villages, these processions are sent to the obelisks in honor of the heroes of World War II. Many participants have awards, medals, orders on their chests . These people are dressed in different ways, sometimes in army and Soviet pea jackets burnt out under the strange sun. The procession is organized, its participants behave modestly, talk quietly. So mark the Day of Remembrance of Warriors-Internationalists on February 15. There is not always a scenario for further events, but in recent years, Afghan veterans have been honored with dignity.
A story will be told about how this holiday arose, about its background. Cases, as the poet wrote, are days gone by ...
Who remembers
Almost all of our fellow citizens know that February 15th is the Memorial Day of internationalist warriors. This is a holiday, but very sad. It is celebrated by participants in a ten-year undeclared war, officers, generals, soldiers, ensigns, foremen, as well as those who did not wear a shoulder strap, but who were there, along with military men, risked their lives, doctors, university professors, and other civilian specialists of both sexes. Remember about this day and people who have lost their loved ones, performing an international duty. These are children who did not wait for their fathers, parents, brothers and sisters, who accepted the mournful “cargo 200” brought by the “Black Tulip”. Never forget the Afghan months and years for those who are reminded of them by crutches and wheelchairs. And besides bodily wounds, there are also spiritual ones. The war went on without a clear front line, it penetrated into the very souls, leaving a trace that was not erased in them.
About civilian specialists
The anniversary of the departure of Soviet troops is a well-known, historical and documented date. The feast day of the soldiers of the internationalists on February 15 was appointed a holiday precisely for this reason. As for the outbreak of war, the issue here is more complicated. Historians have not yet agreed on a consensus on which event is considered a reference point. Storming the Taj Beck Palace? Making a decision of the Politburo? Entering the main contingent? All these options can be considered justified, but the Soviet people, including military experts, were in Afghanistan before. And the help provided by them was also international.
The attitude of the local population towards land reclamators, doctors, teachers, teachers, engineers, builders and many other representatives of the working people of the fraternal multinational state was excellent. Some of the requirements of the Islamic religion were sometimes violated by them, but this was more likely perceived as a manifestation of weakness, deserving of sympathy. The situation worsened significantly after the introduction of troops. Peaceful workers became strangers; hunting began on them. Therefore, not only military, but also civilian specialists have the full moral right to celebrate Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists.
How it all began
Most Soviet people realized the start of the war after the 1980 New Year holidays. According to the scanty information transmitted on television, radio and printed in newspapers, it became clear that parts of the Soviet army had been brought into the neighboring southern country to provide some kind of assistance, and many decided that this would not be for long. They will help and will return. Foreign stations broadcasting to the Union, called ironically “enemy voices”, reported differently, but Soviet citizens were accustomed, even while listening to them, to trust official sources more. They criticized the entry of troops into Afghanistan and some socialist countries, calling it an offensive word “intervention”. Be that as it may, in the military sense, the operation at the initial stage was brilliant. The leadership, headed by Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin, was deposed, virtually destroyed, comrades close to Moscow were appointed to senior posts. Losses were rated as minimal. No one even imagined that all this would drag on for almost a decade, and would end only in 1989, February 15th. Memorial Day of internationalist soldiers in Russia and other countries of the former USSR is celebrated in honor of the departure of the last Soviet soldier across the Termez bridge. Or rather, it was a general. So the media assured.
What happened February 15th
Memorial Day of internationalist warriors is celebrated on the anniversary of the completion of the historic march of many motorized columns on the northern coast of the Amu Darya in the border village of Termez. Fighting vehicles decorated with Soviet flags, flowers, smiles of those who meet, an abundance of correspondents, including foreign ones - all this, citizens of the whole world could watch on their television screens. Perhaps it was then that the idea arose to establish this holiday, Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists. A photo of the last commander B. Gromov, an interview with him, the general's demonstratively impassive face and some mysterious speech delivered by him and unknown to anyone - all this created an extremely festive and mysterious surroundings characteristic of late Gorbachev party aesthetics. Operation "Highway" was as successful as the deployment of troops, before Gromov, 115 thousand people left the neighboring country, and almost without losses. Only, as it turned out later, not everyone returned to their homeland.
About prisoners and defectors
There is another category of participants in the fighting, which is worth recalling on the Day of Remembrance of the soldiers-internationalists. On February 15, in the columns solemnly met in Termez, there were no soldiers and officers languishing in captivity. 130 of them were later released and returned to their homeland. In total, according to official figures, 417 Soviet soldiers were captured by Dushmans. The fate of many of them is unknown to this day. 287 people did not return home, today they are declared dead.
Cases of switching to the side of the enemy during the Afghan war were extremely rare.
Some foreign public organizations, including emigrant ones, were also concerned about saving the prisoners. In 1992, the US side informed the Russian authorities of the fate of 163 missing servicemen. Some of them have been granted asylum and reside in the United States and may also celebrate Memorial Day of internationalist warriors. In most cases, Soviet soldiers and officers behaved themselves with dignity and did not conclude any agreements with the enemy.
One example: in 1985, the Badaber Pakistan camp was actually captured by the SA fighters held there. Unfortunately, the attempt to liberate failed, the rebels died.
Who served there?
February 15 is the Day of Remembrance of Internationalist Warriors celebrated by everyone related to the Afghan war. The question of how they ended up in the “limited contingent” would not be out of place. It should be noted that the war in the eighties was sent only on a voluntary basis. Another thing is that the general atmosphere in Soviet society and in the armed forces was such that the fighter could not refuse. As for the officers, the number of reports exceeded the needs of the fortieth army. And the point was not that the pay for their military labor was greater than that of those who served on the territory of the USSR. Vneshtorg’s checks could not recoup the risk and harsh conditions associated with military operations in the mountainous desert region. Simply, the majority of people were convinced that they were needed there, they sincerely believed that they were defending the interests of their country and the world labor movement. That is why Memorial Day of internationalist soldiers in Russia and other post-Soviet countries is celebrated by those who are foreign to nationalism.
Losses
About one hundred thousand SA servicemen were constantly present in the DRA. Taking into account rotation, 620 thousand people took part in the war. Those of them who survived celebrate International Memorial Day on February 15 and commemorate the victims. And there were many. The official loss figure is approaching 14.5 thousand people. In addition, about 50 thousand wounded. Deaths in hospitals immediately and in subsequent years are gradually not included in these mournful statistics.
The Afghan war was not characterized by selectivity of victims. Among the fallen are five generals. Commanders of all levels tried to minimize personnel losses, in most cases they treated their duties responsibly and did not spare themselves. Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists in Russia is celebrated by servicemen of all ranks - from privates to marshals.
The losses of the Afghan people are estimated approximately. They are very high, up to two million. The reason for this is a split in public consciousness. The war was not fought to defeat or enslave Afghanistan. The intention was good: to introduce socialist values in exchange for the feudal system. Unfortunately, politicians always try to correct the mistakes of military people. There is simply no one else.
How to Celebrate International Memorial Day
This day was a weekend for the whole country, not only for Afghan veterans. In Russia, he received the official name of the Day of Remembrance of the Russians, performing official duties outside the homeland. When the war was on, no one divided the dead across the republics, this was done later, after the collapse of the USSR. So, in Ukraine it was estimated that during the provision of international assistance, approximately two and a half thousand residents of the Ukrainian SSR did not return home. Russia paid the highest price among the Soviet republics for this political adventure. Today, state bodies and local authorities pay due attention to how the Memorial Day of soldiers-internationalists is held on February 15. The event scenario includes many meetings, concerts and thematic exhibitions. There are soldiers to remember.
At the end of the solemn part, still old veterans sit at the table.
And the next day they return to an ordinary life, so unlike the one they experienced in the distant eighties.