Cold War Season 1, Episode 22: Star Wars (1981–1988)

1

Comrades (1917-1945)

Despite their ideological differences, the United States and the Soviet Union become allies in the wars against Germany.

46 min

2

Iron Curtain (1945–1947)

Stalin begins to spread communism across Europe after the war ends, and tension grows between the United States and the Soviet Union.

46 min

3

Marshall Plan (1947–1952)

The United States offers assistance to countries that reject communism after Great Britain halts aid to Turkey and Greece.

46 min

4

Berlin (1948–1949)

Berlin is divided into two separate cities, and Europe itself splits as the countries align themselves with the opposing major powers.

46 min

5

Korea (1949–1953)

A Chinese civil war between the factions of Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-Shek brings the armed forces of the United States onto the battlefield to oppose communism.

46 min

6

Reds (1948–1953)

A look at the period in which Stalin securely dominated eastern Europe, China embraced communism, and anti-communist hysteria spread in the United States.

46 min

7

After Stalin (1953–1956)

Stalin's death brings hope that tensions will ease between the Soviet Union and the United States, and Nikita Khrushchev becomes the new Soviet Leader.

46 min

8

Sputnik (1949–1961)

The Soviet Union launches its first satellite into orbit while the United States' own space program lags behind.

46 min

9

The Wall (1958–1963)

The Soviet Union solves the problem of people leaving East Germany to the free West by stopping open transit and building a secured ring around West Berlin.

46 min

10

Cuba (1959–1962)

President Kennedy confronts Kruschev when the Soviet Union begins to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba

46 min

11

Vietnam (1954–1968)

The United States continues its containment of communism by becoming involved in Vietnam's ongoing struggle, leading to enormous public disapproval of the policy.

46 min

12

MAD (1960–1972)

A look at how technology shaped the politics of the Cold War era, including the United States' Mutual Assured Destruction strategy and the introduction of missiles with multiple payloads.

46 min

13

Make Love Not War (The 60s)

An examination of the effects of the Cold War upon the populace, including civil rights movements and protests that led to policy changes.

46 min

14

Red Spring (The 60s)

The Soviet Union continues its aggressive European policy by invading Czechoslovakia and crushing the Prague Spring Revolution.

46 min

15

China (1949–1972)

The history of communism in China, from Mao Tse-tung's victory to President Nixon's trip to China in 1972.

46 min

16

Detente (1969–1975)

A look at the era of detente that resulted in cooperation and exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union.

46 min

17

Good Guys, Bad Guys (1967–1978)

An examination of how the major powers fought by proxy in different areas of the world throughout the era.

46 min

18

Backyard (1954–1990)

The United States utilizes different ways to fight the spread of communism in its own hemisphere, from Guatamala to Grenada.

46 min

19

Freeze (1977–1981)

Unrest in Eastern Europe and the Oil Crisis threatens to undermine the progress made by detente.

46 min

20

Soldiers of God (1975–1988)

An examination of the effects of religious fundamentalism upon the United States and the Soviet Union's foreign policies.

46 min

21

Spies (1944–1994)

A look at the hidden front of the Cold War involving subterfuge and secret intelligence gathering.

46 min

22

Star Wars (1981–1988)

The Soviet Union's economy falters as it struggles to keep up in the arms and technology race.

46 min

23

The Wall Comes Down (1989)

The Soviet Union loses its grip on Eastern Europe as the Berlin Wall comes down and the Cold War comes to an end.

46 min

24

Conclusions (1989–1991)

The Cold War era comes to an end as the Soviet Union's empire falls and new policies are implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin.

46 min