The Cold War was a geopolitical and ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies, that began shortly after World War II. It is generally dated from about 1947, when tensions between the two superpowers solidified, to 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed. Key points about the Cold War timeline:
- It started in the late 1940s, around 1947-1948, after the end of World War II and the division of Europe into Western and Soviet spheres of influence.
- Major events include the Berlin Blockade (1948-49), the Korean War (1950-53), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and periods of arms races and political tension.
- The Cold War ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
Thus, the Cold War lasted roughly from 1947 to 1991.
