The Soviet Afghantsi (Anna Reich)

The term Afghantsi refers to military veterans of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the 70s and 80s. Largely ignored and forgotten by the governments of former Soviet-bloc countries, these veteran’s stories are often equally overlooked. In this episode, the guys interview Anna Reich, the author of I Try Not to Think of Afghanistan. The book is a collection of years of research done by Anna collecting the accounts of former Soviet soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, specifically Lithuanians. She discusses the complexities of their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the way their stories are perceived in Lithuania. She also touches on the differences between American and Lithuanian veterans, the impact of violence and combat on individuals, and the varying perspectives on war and its effects.