The confrontation between the two superpowers - the USSR and the United States - began immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War. Two diametrically opposed ideologies collided - communism and capitalism, the struggle for human minds and resources began. The Cold War lasted almost half a century, during which time many symbols of confrontation appeared - obvious and hidden, but nevertheless entitled to such positioning.
"Cold War" and space achievements of the USSR and the USA
The Cold War got its name due to the fact that an open military conflict between the USSR and the United States never happened. Both countries quickly took possession of nuclear weapons, which became a deterrent in the confrontation between the two superpowers. This marked the beginning of an endless arms race, as a result of which the economies of the opposing countries largely worked for their armies.
What are the symbols of the Cold War? There are a lot of them. For example, one of the most striking examples of rivalry between superpowers is the struggle for the conquest of outer space. Each achievement of one side became a challenge for the other. The first Soviet artificial earth satellite, launched into orbit on October 4, 1957, became an outstanding achievement of the Soviet Union, a symbol of victory in the space race. An even more grandiose success was the flight of Yuri Gagarin, who flew around the Earth on April 12, 1961 in the Vostok-1 spacecraft. At the same time, US specialists knew that the R-7 rocket that delivered Gagarin into orbit could also carry a nuclear warhead.
There were also our other victories - a photograph of the far side of the moon, the first Soviet "Lunokhod". The Americans responded by landing people on the moon. In fairness, it should be noted that many skeptics still have great doubts about the reality of these flights.
It is also impossible not to mention the famous Star Wars program, the creation by the Americans of the Space Shuttle reusable spacecraft. The Soviet side responded with the Energia-Buran space program - all these are also striking symbols of the Cold War. Colossal funds were spent on their implementation, which in many ways did not pay off. The confrontation between superpowers in space was one of the most striking manifestations of the Cold War.
Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Wall and Other Symbols of Superpower Confrontation
The Cuban missile crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, can also be considered a symbol of confrontation. Fortunately, the USA and the USSR had the prudence to sit down at the negotiating table and prevent the death of humanity. Several major wars of the 20th century: Korean, Vietnamese, Afghan were directly related to the confrontation between the United States and the USSR, which tried to advance their interests and expand their influence in these regions.
Even sports have become an arena for political struggle. The confrontation between the two hockey teams, the USSR and Canada, was no less intense in terms of passions than the statements of politicians. Victory at any cost - the best must come first. Ideology did its job. Hockey battles, like any other sports record, were also considered from a political point of view.
But the most striking symbol of the Cold War is, of course, the Berlin Wall. Like the Great Wall of China, it fenced off the world of capitalism from the world of socialism, dividing Berlin in two. The Berlin Wall has become a visible embodiment of the irreconcilability of the two systems, the unwillingness of the superpowers to make any compromises. With its destruction, the rapprochement between the USSR and the United States began - the thaw of the eighties.
