The Cold War lasted from 1947 to 1991, spanning approximately 44 years. It began with the Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947, which marked the start of active U.S. containment of communism, and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991
. Some sources mark the Cold War's end around 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe, but the definitive conclusion is generally tied to the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991
. In summary:
- Start: 1947 (Truman Doctrine)
- End: 1991 (Soviet Union dissolution)
- Duration: About 44 years and 9 months
This period was characterized by geopolitical rivalry between the capitalist Western Bloc led by the U.S. and the communist Eastern Bloc led by the USSR, involving proxy wars, arms races, and ideological conflict without direct military confrontation between the two superpowers
