6.2B Why was there a Cold War?

Despite fighting on the same side during the Second World War, the USA and USSR had major differences, which became impossible to ignore. There followed 40 years of tension as the two superpowers and their allies struggled for control of the world, all without any actual fighting taking place. These films explain how the Cold War came about and show some of the key events of the conflict.

THE BIG THREE MEET AT YALTA
3 MINS 48 SECS, SOUND, B/W

On 12 February 1945, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met at Yalta to discuss the post-war reorganisation of Europe.

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ATLANTIC PACT
2 MINS 49 SECS, SOUND, B/W, 1949

Politicians from twelve nations gather in Washington DC to sign the pact that created NATO - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The signatories were Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA.

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BARRIERS SHOCK WEST
2 MINS 15 SECS, SOUND, B/W, 1961

A newsreel from August 1961. Barriers are erected by the Red Army in order to block the flow of refugees from East into West Berlin.

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CUBAN CRISIS
2 MINS 39 SECS, SOUND, B/W, 1962

This newsreel serves as a good and contemporary round-up of the issues of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Released on 29 October 1962, the day after the crisis ended.