During the second half of 20th century, the two greatest global powers faced each other, a confrontation without direct clash which had been keeping the world in suspense for almost 45 years. Let's see on maps, the evolution and the Cold War's issues. At the end of the World War Two, After 6 years of fighting a more than 60,000,000 dead, the pre-war great European powers are weakened, there are only two superpowers left in the world, the USA and the URSS who had allied each other to defeat the Nazi Germany and the Japan's Empire.
The URSS or the Union of Soviet socialist republics is a huge territory covering 1/6 of the emerge lands of the planet. It was a federal state with communist system, composed of 15 republics and ran by a unique party. The USA are a liberal democracy based on capitalism.
The country has a head start on weapon because, it is the only one to possess the nuclear weapon. Moreover, its industry and its economy are stronger. In Europe, both power plays with its influence.
The USA spend a lot of money with the Marshall's plan, they offer some consequent loans to European states in order to restore economy and introduce some trades. The URSS, on its side, wants to protect its borders and implement some pro-Soviet's governments inside the liberated countries. Europe find itself splited in two blocks, separated by what is named the iron curtain.
In Germany, allies merge territories they control to create the RFA, not respecting the agreements signed with soviets. In reaction, URSS impose a blockade on West Berlin which is still under allies control. An airlift is set up to supply the zone.
From now on, the two powers fear each other. And by the way, a witch hunt began. In the United States, federal employees getting on well with communists are fired.
As well as Hollywood which become an anti-communist propaganda tool. In URSS, all forms of opposition is severely repressed. Beyond the ideology and the influencing game, confrontation between the two powers will also be scientific, industrial, spatial, sports and military.
The Soviet Union puts a long of money in industry and arsenal to catch up, so that, in 1949, that country tests its first atomic bomb. Same year, the United States sets in place the OTAN, a military alliance between west block countries. All Cold War long, there will be numerous indirect confrontations between those two powers and their allies.
The first takes place in Greece where a resistant communist milice of the second world war, supported by the Soviets and the Yougoslave army engaged in a civil war against the traditionnal monarchist party, supported and financed by the British and then by the United States. But, after some tensions, the URSS break up with the Yougolslave alliance agreement. As a result, Greek Communists lose an important support and are forced to lay down their weapons.
Greece passes in the East Block. In China, after 3 years of civil war, Communists defeated the nationalists who fall back in Taïwan. The URSS have won a powerful ally in the region who is to influence two future wars.
The first one by fighting alongside Communist North Korea against South Korea, itself supported by an international force of the ONU, leaded by the USA. After 3 years of conflicts, a ceasefire lets the Korean peninsula splitted. China also intervenes in French Indochina, where it supports a rioting communist militia against France which tries with difficulty to take the control back over its ancient colony France is forced to quit the region.
Vietnam is splitted at the 17th parallel level, with the communists to the north and the nationalist to the south supported by the USA. It's the beginning of the Vietnam War. In response to the OTAN, URSS organised its own military alliance with the pact of Varsovie.
The following year, France and the UK, ally themselves with Israel in a surprise war against Egypt, to take the control back over the Canal of Suez. The USA and URSS oppose themselves to this attack and quickly impose a ceasefire. Marking the end of the European domination in that area, for the benefit of URSS.
Soviet Union who has now make up for lost time in both military and industrial sides sets up hundreds of long range missiles in the direction of West Europe. In response, the USA also sets up missiles in the direction of soviet territories. Following some disagreements, China breaks up its alliance with URSS, China would like to take distance to becoming a new great global power.
Besides, numerous countries would also break up with that world bipolarity and choose to sit on the fence by creating a new movement. In Latine America, the USA are playing with their influence to let no place to communism. But the country failed to overthrow the new communist government of Cuba.
URSS takes benefit of this failure to getting diplomatically closer to that country. Soviet soldiers and military ships are dispatched on the island and some missiles are set up in direction of the USA. Tension reach its paroxysm, marine forces from the two sides are facing each other, the whole world is keeping its breath, numerous countries are preparing themselves to the third global world war.
But after negociations, URSS accepts to back and to remove military installations if, the USA swear that they won't attack Cuba and remove their missiles in Europe. Tension get back down. In Vietnam, situation is getting complicated, in result, the USA decides organising a military invasion with more than half a million soldiers.
This decision bothers France which prefers to find a pacific solution. The country decides to distance itself from them. In 1975, communists win the war.
It's an heavy defeat for the USA whose image is tarnished. URSS takes benefit of that situation and relaunch its influencial policy in the world. On the one hand, it supports communist militias in Africa which are taking power in newly independent countries.
On the other hand, the country is dispatching its army in Afghanistan in support to communist regime which is fighting the Moudjahidines, some islamic opposants supported and financed in some way by the USA. URSS also replaces its missiles headed for Europe, those ones are more accurate. It's the beginning of the euromissiles crisis which gives Europe some troubles and push the USA to set up new missiles.
The two powers relaunch themselves in an arsenal rush. URSS invests to 14% of its GDP. The Soviet Union exhaust itself financially.
On the edge of crisis, it tries some economic reforms in vain. The two powers end up to meet each other to begin some negociations with a disarmement purpose. URSS back off Afghanistan and stop financing communist militias in Africa.
The country tries opening itself to reforms and transparency, but it's already too late for the soviets who can't contain protestations anymore. The Berlin wall is destroyed and Germany is reunited. Two years later, it's the end of URSS, the 15 republics have become independent states, marking the end of the Cold War.
