What was The Cold War?

World Wars I and II were 'hot wars' of open conflict. The Cold War, which began shortly after WWII, was a war of tension and rivalry between the USA and USSR, with both aiming to rule the world. The reasons for the development of the cold war were:

1)The USSR would not give up the territory it had gained in WWII.

2)The Soviets were afraid of America's atomic bomb.

3)The West was afraid that the Soviets were trying to spread communism throughout the world.

4)The nations leaders could not talk openly and calmly about the issues.

The two sides never actually fought each other, though they did give support in smaller wars, such as in Korea and Vietnam, as examples of the fight between communism and capitalism.

Both sides used a vast array of what were often unorthodox weapons in the struggle, including espionage, political pressure and propaganda. find out more...

The Cold War spanned nearly fifty years, with conflicts fought right across the globe. find out more...

The Cold War was often a conflict of ideology, with both sides claiming theirs to be the best. find out more...