For 50 years after the Second World War the nations of the earth stood on the edge of nuclear warfare, with few doubting that should the Cold War turn hot, neither side could emerge victorious. Pat Ware describes the background to the Cold War, the East-West arms race, the insanity of 'mutual assured destruction' (MAD), preparations taken against the real possibility of nuclear war, and the complete lack of any credible civil defence measures. He also examines the massive infrastructure and organisation required to maintain a credible Cold War stance.