Cuban Missile Crisis (2:22)
Get the story of the dramatic face-off that nearly ended in nuclear war, as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
Videos (15)
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Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile CrisisVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
Get the story of the dramatic face-off that nearly ended in nuclear war, as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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Berlin Wall: Deconstructed
Berlin Wall: DeconstructedVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
For 30 years, the Berlin Wall was the defining symbol of the Cold War, separating families and keeping the people from jobs and opportunity in the west.
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Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of StalingradVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
In July 1942, the Nazi Army bombs the Soviet city of Stalingrad, launching one of the bloodiest battles in history.
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Cold War
Cold WarVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Cold War is over, but what it left behind may surprise you.
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Soviet Archives
Soviet ArchivesVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
In 1968 a Soviet film crew captured images of a UFO high above the skies of Latvia. What exactly did they see?
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Rasputin
RasputinVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about the life and death of the famous Russian mystic Rasputin.
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The Fall of the Soviet Union
The Fall of the Soviet UnionVideo Clip (3:22)
Video Clip (3:22)
Trace the steps that led to the collapse of America's Cold War foe as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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Cities of the Underworld 3: Stalin's Communications Bunker
Cities of the Underworld 3: Stalin's Communications BunkerVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
Don Wildman shows us a top secret military bunker built under Stalin's orders in 1952.
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The Space Race
The Space RaceVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
The U.S. competition with the U.S.S.R. for technological dominance spurred the U.S. on to the first-ever landing on the Moon.
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Reagan Meets Gorbachev
Reagan Meets GorbachevVideo Clip (4:46)
Video Clip (4:46)
See President Ronald Reagan meet Mikail Gorbachev, set to "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour.
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Boris Yeltsin: The People's Choice
Boris Yeltsin: The People's ChoiceVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
Yeltsin was the first Russian president chosen by the people outside of the Communist party.
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Stalin's Purges
Stalin's PurgesVideo Clip (3:14)
Video Clip (3:14)
The leader of Communist Russia, Joseph Stalin, was paranoid of opposition. It was this paranoia that led to the Great Purge where millions of people were executed or sent to labor camps in Siberia.
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Soviet Submarine Bases
Soviet Submarine BasesVideo Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
Don Wildman explores a former submarine maintainence and weapons factory utilized during the Cold War.
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Space Race: Cold War Front
Space Race: Cold War FrontVideo Clip (4:21)
Video Clip (4:21)
A brief look at the Space Race, set to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf.
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Nazi Defeat at Stalingrad
Nazi Defeat at StalingradVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
On November 22, 1942 at Stalingrad, two arms of a tremendous Soviet pincer movement encircled the entire Sixth Army, and more than 200,000 German troops along with a hundred tanks, eighteen hundred big guns, and more than ten thousand vehicles were caught in a giant trap. On February 2, 1943, the Germans capitulated.
Photo Galleries (8)
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Communist Leaders
Communist Leaders(12 Photos)
12 Photos
During the 20th century, the worldwide spread of communism took many different forms under the direction of each country's leadership.
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Russian Rulers
Russian Rulers(18 Photos)
18 Photos
From the Romanovs to Revolution and beyond, discover the rulers and politicians behind Russia's tumultuous history.
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Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis(10 Photos)
10 Photos
In October 1962, Cold War tensions erupted when the United States and Soviet Union faced off during the Cuban Missile Crisis, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.
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Cold War: American Leaders
Cold War: American Leaders(13 Photos)
13 Photos
From 1945 until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, U.S. presidents and politicians developed strategies to limit the spread of communism.
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World War II Political Leaders
World War II Political Leaders(9 Photos)
9 Photos
View photos of World War II political leaders.
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Allied Military Leaders
Allied Military Leaders(11 Photos)
11 Photos
View photos of Allied military leaders
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World War II Posters
World War II Posters(16 Photos)
16 Photos
View photos of famous posters from the World War II era.
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End of World War II
End of World War II(8 Photos)
8 Photos
View pictures from VE day and VJ day as Americans celebrate the end of World War II.
Speeches & Audio (4)
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Soviets Launch Sputnik
Soviets Launch SputnikAudio Clip (0:18)
Audio Clip (0:18)
A news report announces the Soviet Union's successful launch on October 4, 1957, of the world's first satellite, marking the start of the space race between the U.S. and the USSR.
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Francis Gary Powers on Release From Soviets
Francis Gary Powers on Release From SovietsAudio Clip (1:18)
Audio Clip (1:18)
After his return to the United States, American U-2 spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers is questioned by the media about his capture and subsequent hearing before the Senate Armed Services Select Committee on March 6, 1962. Powers had been shot down over central Russia on May 1, 1960, and arrested by Soviet authorities. Two years later, he was released by the Soviets in a spy exchange with the United States.
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U.S. and U.S.S.R. Tussle Over Germany
U.S. and U.S.S.R. Tussle Over GermanyAudio Clip (2:38)
Audio Clip (2:38)
Upon his return from commanding U.S. occupation forces in Germany, Gen. Lucius Clay holds a press conference on May 17, 1949, and fields questions about the growing tension between the United States and the Soviets over the division of Germany.
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U.S. Receives News of Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia
U.S. Receives News of Soviet Invasion of CzechoslovakiaAudio Clip (0:49)
Audio Clip (0:49)
An August 22, 1968, a U.S. Democratic Platform hearing is interrupted when Chairman Hale Boggs is handed a bulletin announcing the Soviets' invasion of Czechoslovakia. Rep. Boggs reads the news and Secretary of State Dean Rusk makes a hasty departure to find out what's going on.
Interactives (2)
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Inside WWII
Inside WWIIInteractive
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WWII Experience
WWII ExperienceInteractive
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