What was the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union during the four decades after World War II?

1 Answer
Jun 24, 2016

The Cold War.

Explanation:

It was known as The Cold War because the two countries never came into direct conflict.

At the end of World War 2 in 1945 the USA and the Soviet Union emerged as the two new players dominating the world stage. Although allies during the war they were deeply opposed to each other ideologically.

Over the next four decades their opposition was felt globally. Europe was divided in two either side of the Iron Curtain. Indeed both Germany and Berlin also were cut in two.

The two superpowers also developed huge nuclear arsenals, the deployment of which almost caused a nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

As the European empires disintegrated the USA and Soviet Union fought proxy conflicts in Vietnam, Angola, and Ethiopia to name but three.

They also formed alliances such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact nominally to protect their allies, but also to promote their own self interests.