The Cold War: 1945-1991

Abstract

Following the Allies' victory in World War II, the European continent was soon divided into two broad zones of influence, with Eastern Europe coming under Soviet control, and the west under the oversight of the liberal democracies led by the United States. What developed over the next 40 years was a military and ideological stand-off that defined Europe and much of the world until 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall. In countries such as Germany, the Cold War divided families between the two zones of control. The two opponents competed for global dominance, building up ever greater arsenals of nuclear weapons, funding and fighting costly proxy wars in Asia, Africa and Central America, deploying espionage and trade embargoes, and even seeking technological advantage through space exploration, which became known as the 'Space Race' and later the Reagan administration's 'Star Wars' program. It already reads like history but, for a whole generation who even now are not quite old, the Cold War confrontation shaped the world. They learned to live simultaneously threatened and protected by the prospect of nuclear war. Or endured terrifying, tragic conflicts in countries apparently far removed from the ideological front-lines – just so the balance of power might be maintained. This book provides a pictorial overview of the defining international dynamic of late 20th century history, offering the reader an instant understanding of the key events and figures through 150 dramatic photographs.