In what year did the Cold War start?

The orthodox view of the Cold War holds that it began in 1945 when the three great powers, the US, UK and USSR, divided up Central and Eastern Europe at the Yalta conference. However, there is dispute over whether what arose from the 1945 agreement can be classed as a war. While increased tensions rose from the division of Europe, they did not spill over into conflict until the 1949 Berlin Blockade, when the US had to resort to airdropping supplies to Berlin after Stalin had blockaded America from accessing their zone. Alternatively, some have argued that the 1951 Korean War was the start of the Cold War because it was the first time the powers engaged in armed conflict, albeit via proxy armies.

CA
Answered by Charlotte A. History tutor

2999 Views

See similar History A Level tutors

Related History A Level answers

All answers ▸

Assess the significance of the role of the Papacy in bringing about change to the nature and purpose of crusading in the years 1095-1215


How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1852–67, the most significant factor driving parliamentary reform was campaigning by the Reform League?


'The civil rights movement began and ended with Martin Luther King Jr'. Discuss.


What should go into my introduction and how should I structure it?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning