Basic Facts About the Cold War
Considered the longest non-engagement war of contemporary history, the Cold War was an open conflict between the two world super powers, the United States and the Soviet Union.
The term Cold War also includes the respective allies of both sides--the US lead NATO in the western part of Europe and Warsaw Pact countries led by USSR on the other side.
This conflict started in 1945 until the downfall of USSR in 1991.
The word "cold" here is used to denote the absence of actual military engagement by both sides although shots were actually fired during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Europe as the Cold War's Origin The defeat of Nazi and Japanese war machines during the Second World War left two dominant powers in a duel.
Each of them had different form of government as well as economy.
The capitalist form of government of the US was in direct rivalry with the communist government of the USSR.
Both ideologies would never stand face to face with each other let alone unite.
The fact that communist ideals were reactions from capitalistic policies only deteriorated the situation.
The fall of the Third Reich also meant that Russia had a free reign in Europe, while at the same time, the allies controlled all the areas west of Russia's borders.
The eventual split of Europe led to the formation of the Iron Curtain in Germany.
The West was afraid of further Russian ideological and physical expansion as well as invasion.
This prompted the implementation of the Truman Doctrine which promised monetary aid and military assistance to any country which would resist communism.
By the start of the 60's, Europe was divided into two power blocs and became a potential battleground again for World War III and nuclear war.
The influence of the Cold War eventually spread throughout the globe to include smaller nations, creating the greatest division the world has known.
The mutual distrust of two superpowers was pervasive.
Russia wanted to transform nations into communist states while America was sowing seeds of democracy even at the door of USSR.
Both sides have their own fears--the US was afraid of the Soviet invasion of Europe, while Russia contemplated of being the target for thousands of nuclear warheads of the US.
The Berlin Blockade One of the earliest indicators that the once-WWII allies are now enemies was the Berlin blockade.
After the war, Germany was divided into 4 zones, all occupied by former allies.
Berlin was a shared zone.
Stalin, hoping to annex Berlin under full Soviet control without initiating violence bluffed his former allies by enforcing a blockade.
The Allies' reaction was the biggest airlift in history known as the "Berlin Airlift".
For eleven straight months, allied aircraft supplied the beleaguered population from the air, bluffing Stalin to shoot down the planes and cause a "hot" war.
He never did and eventually gave up.
Irony and Complexity While tension was high in Europe during the entire length of the Cold War, it has also produced an ironic twist.
For more than 50 years of constant threat for a possible war, the continent of Europe also enjoyed the longest stretch of peace and stability.
The Cold War, although more easily felt in Europe, permeated life throughout the world, affecting society and culture in general.
Military and Politics news were all centered in an imminent war as thousands of Russian tanks were stationed just miles away from the border of the West.
Often seen as the contest between capitalism and communism, the Cold War was actually more complex than that, with the US led "democratic" side supporting even non-democratic nations just to negate the influence of communism.
The term Cold War also includes the respective allies of both sides--the US lead NATO in the western part of Europe and Warsaw Pact countries led by USSR on the other side.
This conflict started in 1945 until the downfall of USSR in 1991.
The word "cold" here is used to denote the absence of actual military engagement by both sides although shots were actually fired during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Europe as the Cold War's Origin The defeat of Nazi and Japanese war machines during the Second World War left two dominant powers in a duel.
Each of them had different form of government as well as economy.
The capitalist form of government of the US was in direct rivalry with the communist government of the USSR.
Both ideologies would never stand face to face with each other let alone unite.
The fact that communist ideals were reactions from capitalistic policies only deteriorated the situation.
The fall of the Third Reich also meant that Russia had a free reign in Europe, while at the same time, the allies controlled all the areas west of Russia's borders.
The eventual split of Europe led to the formation of the Iron Curtain in Germany.
The West was afraid of further Russian ideological and physical expansion as well as invasion.
This prompted the implementation of the Truman Doctrine which promised monetary aid and military assistance to any country which would resist communism.
By the start of the 60's, Europe was divided into two power blocs and became a potential battleground again for World War III and nuclear war.
The influence of the Cold War eventually spread throughout the globe to include smaller nations, creating the greatest division the world has known.
The mutual distrust of two superpowers was pervasive.
Russia wanted to transform nations into communist states while America was sowing seeds of democracy even at the door of USSR.
Both sides have their own fears--the US was afraid of the Soviet invasion of Europe, while Russia contemplated of being the target for thousands of nuclear warheads of the US.
The Berlin Blockade One of the earliest indicators that the once-WWII allies are now enemies was the Berlin blockade.
After the war, Germany was divided into 4 zones, all occupied by former allies.
Berlin was a shared zone.
Stalin, hoping to annex Berlin under full Soviet control without initiating violence bluffed his former allies by enforcing a blockade.
The Allies' reaction was the biggest airlift in history known as the "Berlin Airlift".
For eleven straight months, allied aircraft supplied the beleaguered population from the air, bluffing Stalin to shoot down the planes and cause a "hot" war.
He never did and eventually gave up.
Irony and Complexity While tension was high in Europe during the entire length of the Cold War, it has also produced an ironic twist.
For more than 50 years of constant threat for a possible war, the continent of Europe also enjoyed the longest stretch of peace and stability.
The Cold War, although more easily felt in Europe, permeated life throughout the world, affecting society and culture in general.
Military and Politics news were all centered in an imminent war as thousands of Russian tanks were stationed just miles away from the border of the West.
Often seen as the contest between capitalism and communism, the Cold War was actually more complex than that, with the US led "democratic" side supporting even non-democratic nations just to negate the influence of communism.
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