Cold War Crises

By guerrero06

  • The Berlin Blockade

    In 1948-1949, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin in an attempt to force the Western powers to abandon the city. The US and its allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, which provided food and supplies to the city via air drops. The blockade was lifted in 1949.

  • The Korean War

    The Korean War was fought between North Korea between 1950-1953, which was backed by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, which was supported by the United States and its allies. The war ended in a stalemate and the two Koreas remain divided to this day.

  • The Cuban Missile Crisis

    The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day political and military standoff between the US and the Soviet Union over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. The crisis nearly resulted in a nuclear war, but was resolved peacefully when the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles.

  • The Prague Spring

    The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that was crushed by the Soviet Union and its allies. The event highlighted the tension between the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe.

  • The Vietnam War

    The Vietnam War was fought between North Vietnam between 1955-1975, which was backed by China and the Soviet Union, and South Vietnam, which was supported by the United States and its allies. The war ended in a victory for North Vietnam.

  • The Afghanistan War

    The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan between 1979-1989 to prop up a communist government. The war was costly for the Soviet Union and contributed to its eventual collapse.

  • The Able Archer 83

    Able Archer 83 was a military exercise conducted by NATO that was misinterpreted by the Soviet Union as a prelude to a nuclear attack. The incident highlighted the danger of misunderstandings and miscommunication during the Cold War.

  • The Chernobyl disaster

    The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine suffered a catastrophic meltdown, releasing large amounts of radiation into the environment. The disaster highlighted the dangers of nuclear power and the need for improved safety measures.