The struggle that occurred involving our planet’s 2 super powers, the Soviet Union and the USA was considered the longest non-conflict engagement conflict in the history of the world. It had become called the Cold War. The 2 sides both had respective allies; with the NATO lead USA controlling Western Europe and the Warsaw Pact driven by the Soviet Union controlling the Eastern side of Europe.
The undoing of the Soviet Union in 1991 finished this conflict that commenced following The Second World War ended in 1945. All through this period there was no real military contact from either side hence the use of the word ‘cold’. But throughout the Vietnam and Korean Wars, although the Cold War existed, some shots were exchanged; albeit indirectly.
The moment Japan and Nazi armies were conquered in World War Two, which meant the two dominating powers, the USA and the Soviet Union were left in opposition. They both had different types of economies along with the types of government. The Soviet Union operated a Communist government while the US ran a capitalist system and as a consequence of conflict of interest, this descended into direct opposition.
Let alone unite; both ideologies never saw face to face. The Cold War worsened even more as the Communist ideals being spread were responses to the Capitalists’ policies. After the fall of the Third Reich, the Soviet Union held a free reign within Europe with its Allies dealing with the many areas that bordered the USSR to the West.
The Iron Curtain was built after Europe was divided. Soviet ideals and invasion as well as actual enlargement further prompted anxiety and insecurity in the West. With the implementation of the Truman Doctrine, the West assured military aid and financial support to the nations that resisted Communism. In the early 60′s Europe was dramatically divided into two blocks. This meant it was a potential battlefield for looming World War III and nuclear warfare. In due course the Cold War had spread out all over the planet with little countries being drawn in, creating an even greater split on the planet.
The face-off between East and West for the second part of the 20th century was commonly called the Cold War.
