The Cold War
The struggle that came about between our planet's two super powers, the USSR and the USA was believed to be the longest non-conflict engagement conflict of all time. It had become referred to as the Cold War. The 2 sides had respective allies; with the NATO lead United States taking care of Western Europe as the Warsaw Pact driven by the USSR governing the Eastern side of Europe.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 concluded this conflict that started right after The Second World War ended in 1945. During this era there was basically no genuine military engagement from both sides thus the usage of the word 'cold'. Yet during the Vietnam and Korean Wars, even though the Cold War was there, actual shots were exchanged; albeit indirectly.
After the Japanese and Nazi armies were conquered in World War II, which left the two major powers, the USA and the USSR were left in the duel. Both sides had different types of economies as well as the types of government. The USSR ran a Communist government while the United States had a capitalist system and due to conflict of interest, this descended into direct opposition.
Far from unite; both ideologies never saw face to face. The Cold War deteriorated further because the Communist values being spread were responses to the Capitalists' policies. After the defeat of the Third Reich, the Soviet Union held a free reign within Europe with its Allies dealing with the many areas that bordered the USSR to the West.
The Iron Curtain was put in place after Europe was split. Soviet ideals and invasion in addition to actual enlargement further prompted concern and insecurity in the West. After the implementation of the Truman Doctrine, the West offered military support and financial help to the countries which resisted Communism. In the early 60's Europe was dramatically split up into 2 blocks. This made it a potential battlefield for looming World War III and nuclear warfare. Ultimately the Cold War had spread out all over the earth with smaller countries being drawn in, making an even greater division worldwide.
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