The Cold War period encompasses many of the major post-war political events up to and including 1991, when communism finally collapsed in Russia. This text covers the development of antagonism between the superpowers in the years which immediately followed World War II, tracing the worldwide spread of communism, the Berlin airlift, the Korean war, the Cuban missile crisis and the conflict in Vietnam. Attention is also paid to the warming of international relations as a result of political reform in Eastern Europe and the Gorbachev leadership in Russia. The text integrates a strong narrative with a variety of source-material and questions, aiding the student in a better understanding of this complex period of world history. The text is part of the "Hodder 20th-Century History" series, which covers a wide range of topics for GCSE level pupils. Each title is carefully structured and reflects the results of research and historical interpretations.