What was the Cold War?

The Cold War was a long political and military rivalry between the United States and its allies, and the Soviet Union and its allies. It never became a direct war between the two superpowers, but it shaped global politics for decades.

Ten events that mattered

  1. 1947, Truman Doctrine: the US pledges support for countries resisting communism.
  2. 1948-1949, Berlin Blockade and Airlift: the Western Allies supply West Berlin by air.
  3. 1949, NATO founded: a Western military alliance is created. The Warsaw Pact followed in 1955.
  4. 1950-1953, Korean War: the first major proxy war.
  5. 1957, Sputnik: the Soviet satellite launches the space race.
  6. 1961, Berlin Wall: East Germany seals the border in Berlin.
  7. 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis: the closest the superpowers came to nuclear war.
  8. 1969, Moon landing: Apollo 11 gives the US a major space milestone.
  9. 1979, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: a long war begins with wide regional effects.
  10. 1989-1991, collapse: the Berlin Wall falls in 1989 and the Soviet Union dissolves in 1991.

Why it matters

The Cold War drove huge investment in science and technology, reshaped alliances and created conflicts across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Its legacy is still visible in politics today.