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It was a political, economic and psychological conflict, together with regional hot wars, between the [[United States]], [[NATO]] and other allies, and the [[USSR]], [[China]] and their allies between 1947 and 1989. After 1960, China split with the Soviet Union and set up its own alliances as part of its Cold War with the U.S.

The Cold War was marked by a nuclear [[arms race]] between the two super-powers, and the unchecked [[proliferation]] of [[nuclear weapons]] was a cause for concern in many quarters. The Cold War also was marked by high levels of [[espionage]].

Although there was no direct fighting between the superpowers, each country was involved in medium-scale proxy wars, most notably in [[Vietnam]], [[Korea]] and [[Afghanistan]]. The most tense moment between the two main powers came in 1962 during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], which ended without escalation into warfare.

Although there was no direct fighting between the superpowers, each country was involved in medium-scale proxy wars, most notably in [[Vietnam]], [[Korea]] and [[Afghanistan]]. The most tense moment between the two main powers came in 1962 during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], which ended without escalation into warfare.

The Cold War was marked by a nuclear [[arms race]] between the two super-powers, and the unchecked [[proliferation]] of [[nuclear weapons]] was a cause for concern in many quarters. The Cold War also was marked by high levels of [[espionage]].

It was a political, economic and psychological conflict, together with regional hot wars, between the [[United States]], [[NATO]] and other allies, and the [[USSR]], [[China]] and their allies between 1947 and 1989. After 1960, China split with the Soviet Union and set up its own alliances as part of its Cold War with the U.S.

The tension during the Cold War fluctuated, with the super powers going through periods of heightened conflict and also periods of improved relations.  It ended on November 11, 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet overseas empire. History closed the books on the Soviet Union itself on December 25, 1991. It was replaced by 15 smaller countries, especially [[Russia]], which all rejected Communism and the Cold War.

The tension during the Cold War fluctuated, with the super powers going through periods of heightened conflict and also periods of improved relations.  It ended on November 11, 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet overseas empire. History closed the books on the Soviet Union itself on December 25, 1991. It was replaced by 15 smaller countries, especially [[Russia]], which all rejected Communism and the Cold War.