Afghan Napoleon

The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud
Erscheinungsjahr 2022
ISBN: 978-1-913368-64-7
Verlag: Haus Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 417 Seiten, Format (B × H): 127 mm x 194 mm, Gewicht: 386 g

Reihe: Haus Publishing

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the poorly equipped and organised resistance groups were no competition for the superpower. The exception was Ahmad Shah Massoud. This now-legendary military strategist and resistance leader unified the mujahideen forces in north-eastern Afghanistan and led a series of decisive victories against the Russian army.

The veteran journalist Sandy Gall reported from Afghanistan at length, spending weeks at time with Massoud during key moments in the conflict. He now draws on his own memories, exclusive excerpts from Massoud’s diaries, and interviews with the commander’s closest allies to provide an intimate portrait of the charismatic guerrilla leader.

Gall’s insights cast fascinating new light on Massoud’s personal military struggles, and his analysis exposes the United States’ lack of foresight in not backing Massoud – who warned the world about the threat posed by Al-Qaeda and was assassinated just two days before 9/11. This authoritative biography consolidates Massoud’s reputation as a national hero.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gall, Sandy

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Besondere Kriege und Kampagnen
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtswissenschaft Allgemein Biographien & Autobiographien: Historisch, Politisch, Militärisch
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Asiatische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction by Rory Stewart // ix

Author's Note // xvi

Translator's Note // xix

Prologue // 1

1. The British 'Find' Massoud // 3

2. Were We Nearly Shot?: Meeting Massoud // 9

3. The Boy Who Loved Playing Soldiers // 19

4. The Coup that Failed: Exile in Pakistan // 26

5. Bombed by the Russians in the Panjsher // 34

6. The Russians Propose a Ceasefire // 51

7. Massoud Deals with the Russians // 61

8. Marriage and War // 85

9. Defeat and Failure: 'Am I Afraid of Death?' // 90

10. The Russian Perspective // 112

11. A Winter Offensive // 117

12. Massoud Takes Farkhar // 138

13. Expanding in the North // 149

14. The Russians Prepare to Withdraw // 162

15. Massoud Captures Kabul // 179

16. Under Siege: Massoud in Kabul // 189

17. Tea and Rockets with the Taliban // 211

18. Mortal Enemies // 225

19. Massoud Retreats from Kabul // 228

20. A Low Ebb // 234

21. 'My Father was Incorruptible' // 261

22. Massoud Visits Euurope // 269

23. How They Killed Massoud // 274

24. The Eve of Assassination // 290

25. A Final Encounter // 299

Epilogue // 309

Acknowledgements // 315

Select Bibliography // 317

Notes // 319

Index // 341

Über Autor(innen)

SANDY GALL is a British journalist, author, and former ITN newscaster. His journalism career started nearly seventy years ago on the Aberdeen Press and Journal, before he joined Reuters and then ITN, covering wars and revolutions. He has written four books about Afghanistan and made three documentaries about the Soviet occupation, two of which were nominated for BAFTA awards.