Defense of the Revolution
| Defense of the Revolution | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1978–1980 |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Allegiance | Democratic Republic of Afghanistan |
| Branch | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Counter-revolutionary Counterinsurgency Counterintelligence Covert operation Desert warfare Force protection HUMINT Internal security Raiding Reconnaissance Tracking |
| Size | 20,000 men (at height) |
| Headquarters | Kabul |
| Nickname(s) | DotR, CDR, NODR |
| Engagements | Soviet–Afghan War |
Defense of the Revolution was a generic term employed to designate the irregular paramilitary units created by the Communist government of Afghanistan following the 1978 Saur Revolution, with the intent of mobilizing the population against counter-revolutionary and other enemies of the new state. These units were officially volunteer, and based on the "Cuban model"; they were armed by the government and employed to guard sensitive infrastructure and maintain public order. Some reports indicate volunteers received incentives such as coupons for government stores. Editorials in the Soviet journal Pravda praised these defensive formations as early as mid-1979.
Bruce Amstutz documents DotR units composed of teenage urban males, numbering 20,000 on paper by the mid-1980s, who received US$162 per month for supporting the security forces. Other academics have commented on the female members of DotR units.