On This Day

Afghanistan revolution (National Day), pro-Russian military coup

The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA; Dari: حزب دموکراتیک خلق افغانستان), known as the Homeland Party after June 1990, was a Marxist–Leninist political party in Afghanistan established...

The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA; Dari: حزب دموکراتیک خلق افغانستان), known as the Homeland Party after June 1990, was a Marxist–Leninist political party in Afghanistan established on 1 January 1965. Four members of the party won seats in the 1965 Afghan parliamentary election, reduced to two seats in 1969, albeit both before the party was fully legal. For most of its existence, the party was split between the hardline Khalq and moderate Parcham factions, each of which claimed to represent the "true" PDPA.

The party adhered to Marxist–Leninist ideology and toed a staunch pro-Soviet political line.

Historical Significance

The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA; Dari: حزب دموکراتیک خلق افغانستان), known as the Homeland Party after June 1990, was a Marxist–Leninist political party in Afghanistan established on 1 January 1965.

Events Before

  1. Erroll Garner dies

    Erroll Garner dies

  2. Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596

    Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596

  3. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc.

    Apple Inc., originally Apple Computer, Inc., is an American multinational corporation that creates and markets consumer electronics and attendant computer software, and is a digital distributor of…

  4. American film director Martin Scorsese (34) divorces Julia Cameron (28) after 1 year of marriage

    Megalopolis is a 2024 American epic science fiction drama film written, directed, and produced by Francis Ford Coppola.

  5. Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC

    Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC

Events After

  1. International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)

    International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)

  2. Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day

    Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day

  3. BBC landmark nature series "Life on Earth" presented by David Attenborough first shown on BBC One

    Life on Earth: A Natural History by David Attenborough is a British television natural history series made by the BBC in association with Warner Bros. Television and Reiner Moritz Productions.

  4. Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years in exile

    Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran on 1 February 1979, after 14 years in exile, was an important event in the Iranian Revolution.

  5. Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage

    Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage

More from the 1970s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 27, 1978?
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA; Dari: حزب دموکراتیک خلق افغانستان), known as the Homeland Party after June 1990, was a Marxist–Leninist political party in Afghanistan established on 1 January 1965. Four members of the party won seats in the 1965 Afghan parliamentary election, reduced to two seats in 1969, albeit both before the party was fully legal. For most of its existence, the party was split between the hardline Khalq and moderate Parcham factions, each of which claimed to represent the "true" PDPA.
Why is Afghanistan revolution (National Day), pro-Russian military coup significant?
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA; Dari: حزب دموکراتیک خلق افغانستان), known as the Homeland Party after June 1990, was a Marxist–Leninist political party in Afghanistan established on 1 January 1965.

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