When did the Cold War actually start (Short Animated Documentary)
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Date: 2026-07-10
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Comments and reviews: 20
zacky1010
I'd say THE Cold War began in the dying days of WW2, where it became painfully clear Germany was done for. I'd argue that Stalin's doing up of Potsdam for the impending Conference, and Truman answering by swinging around his. 'nuclear capability' in Stalin's face is where it began, with prior conflicts of interest like Britain's being swallowed up by it and other nations joining and leaving throughout the remaining duration. I will say that the Berlin Blockade in 1949 signified the end of any hope for reconciliation in my eyes because it proved the Soviet Government (Stalin and his goons he hadn't turned on yet) was willing to starve a city just to take the hollowed-out bones for itself - even if it was what the prior German regime tried to do to Leningrad.
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I'd say THE Cold War began in the dying days of WW2, where it became painfully clear Germany was done for. I'd argue that Stalin's doing up of Potsdam for the impending Conference, and Truman answering by swinging around his. 'nuclear capability' in Stalin's face is where it began, with prior conflicts of interest like Britain's being swallowed up by it and other nations joining and leaving throughout the remaining duration. I will say that the Berlin Blockade in 1949 signified the end of any hope for reconciliation in my eyes because it proved the Soviet Government (Stalin and his goons he hadn't turned on yet) was willing to starve a city just to take the hollowed-out bones for itself - even if it was what the prior German regime tried to do to Leningrad.
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thundercheckov9782
As in every time this is mentionned, I have to comment that the cold war was never a clash between authoritarianism and democracy. Indeed the leading western powers were democracies, flawed but still liberal and somewhat subject to public opinion.
But the regimes western powers propped up and supported around the world, in the global south, were authoritarian.
Western powers were happy to overlook violations of personal freedoms and human rights as long as they were perpetrated by anti-communist juntas and militias. When any side intervened militarily it was never to support a democracy, but always to help their favorite authoritarian regime take control.
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As in every time this is mentionned, I have to comment that the cold war was never a clash between authoritarianism and democracy. Indeed the leading western powers were democracies, flawed but still liberal and somewhat subject to public opinion.
But the regimes western powers propped up and supported around the world, in the global south, were authoritarian.
Western powers were happy to overlook violations of personal freedoms and human rights as long as they were perpetrated by anti-communist juntas and militias. When any side intervened militarily it was never to support a democracy, but always to help their favorite authoritarian regime take control.
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history_matters
The nerd in me can't help but challenge some inaccuracies about Czechoslovakia here. The govt resulting from 1946 elections was not staunchly pro-West, it was very divided and the prime minister's chair as well as the security forces were take by the Communist Party already. When the USA offered the Marshall's plan, the government as a whole refused it, under the pressure of Stalin. The communists went ahead to forcefully seize the absolute power in 1948 anyways, as instructed by Stalin.
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The nerd in me can't help but challenge some inaccuracies about Czechoslovakia here. The govt resulting from 1946 elections was not staunchly pro-West, it was very divided and the prime minister's chair as well as the security forces were take by the Communist Party already. When the USA offered the Marshall's plan, the government as a whole refused it, under the pressure of Stalin. The communists went ahead to forcefully seize the absolute power in 1948 anyways, as instructed by Stalin.
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Selemao001
Also regarding the two German States you Just repeat a Long debunked lie of West Germany and the US:
Namely that reunification would mean communist influence. While in Reality it would have meant the punishment of Nazi war criminals and SS thugs who constituted (and still do ) the political and economic Elite of West Germany.
You running Cover for German Nazis.
You really should Stop doing this.
You already lied enough about the Israeli Nazi state in the Last 3 years.
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Also regarding the two German States you Just repeat a Long debunked lie of West Germany and the US:
Namely that reunification would mean communist influence. While in Reality it would have meant the punishment of Nazi war criminals and SS thugs who constituted (and still do ) the political and economic Elite of West Germany.
You running Cover for German Nazis.
You really should Stop doing this.
You already lied enough about the Israeli Nazi state in the Last 3 years.
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jimbowling8528
Maybe the modern Cold War (between the US and its sphere of influence and the USSR and its sphere of influence) began with the death of Patton He wanted to use the end of Nazi Germany to move on to end the USSR. He was, of course, overridden, and Germany was officially divided, and the spheres of influnce were drawn across Europe and eventually across the world. It's just a thought - - - MacArthur wanted to do the same withPeople's Republic of China during the Korean War.
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Maybe the modern Cold War (between the US and its sphere of influence and the USSR and its sphere of influence) began with the death of Patton He wanted to use the end of Nazi Germany to move on to end the USSR. He was, of course, overridden, and Germany was officially divided, and the spheres of influnce were drawn across Europe and eventually across the world. It's just a thought - - - MacArthur wanted to do the same withPeople's Republic of China during the Korean War.
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MarvinUllmann
Here in Germany 1945/49 is generally tought.
Option 1: 1945 the focus is set on the 2 zones of occupation as the start
Option 2: 1949 with the creation of two states, mostly by command of the major powers, is seen as the start with the chenanigans between 19145-48 (Berlin blockade and Money creation) seen as the escalation leeding up to it.
But naturally this is a very German focused take
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Here in Germany 1945/49 is generally tought.
Option 1: 1945 the focus is set on the 2 zones of occupation as the start
Option 2: 1949 with the creation of two states, mostly by command of the major powers, is seen as the start with the chenanigans between 19145-48 (Berlin blockade and Money creation) seen as the escalation leeding up to it.
But naturally this is a very German focused take
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2380MG
remember how the cowards went to war with Germany for taking half of poland but couldnt care less that the soviets kept poland even after the war ended until 1991. what a complete farce wwii was. they ONLY wanted to keep Germany down and succeeded at the peril of every western empire and even the USA is on its last leg. the juiceboxes seem to have won it all and no one hates them enough for it
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remember how the cowards went to war with Germany for taking half of poland but couldnt care less that the soviets kept poland even after the war ended until 1991. what a complete farce wwii was. they ONLY wanted to keep Germany down and succeeded at the peril of every western empire and even the USA is on its last leg. the juiceboxes seem to have won it all and no one hates them enough for it
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Munciboss
I want to commend the improvement you have made to even the smallest details lately.
At 2: 40 you showed Italy's western border with France with the actual boundaries pre WW2. The changes after the war are so minimal that most people tend to overlook them and just use maps with the modern day border there. Even most Italians don't usually know this!
Keep up the good work!
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I want to commend the improvement you have made to even the smallest details lately.
At 2: 40 you showed Italy's western border with France with the actual boundaries pre WW2. The changes after the war are so minimal that most people tend to overlook them and just use maps with the modern day border there. Even most Italians don't usually know this!
Keep up the good work!
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victorkrawchuk9141
In modern post-WW2 history I've long thought that the Cold War started on April 23rd 1945 with the first meeting between Truman, who had just become president of the US, and Molotov. This meeting did not go well because of Truman's mistrust of the USSR, and it set off a chain of events that influenced the way that the US and the USSR would cooperate against Japan.
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In modern post-WW2 history I've long thought that the Cold War started on April 23rd 1945 with the first meeting between Truman, who had just become president of the US, and Molotov. This meeting did not go well because of Truman's mistrust of the USSR, and it set off a chain of events that influenced the way that the US and the USSR would cooperate against Japan.
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Aren6
The truth is, the Cold War began as soon as the USSR started to exist. Capitalist states cannot bear to see a communist state exist, the same way monarchist states could not bear to see Revolutionary France exist and formed huge coalitions against it. The only difference being the latter devolved and fizzled out fast. The former, for over 70 years, did not.
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The truth is, the Cold War began as soon as the USSR started to exist. Capitalist states cannot bear to see a communist state exist, the same way monarchist states could not bear to see Revolutionary France exist and formed huge coalitions against it. The only difference being the latter devolved and fizzled out fast. The former, for over 70 years, did not.
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JimmyAgent007
During WW2, Canadian troops raced into German territory to head off the Soviet Army and keep them from advancing into Denmark. They got to the coast, and when the Reds showed up, they were like, dude, we totally have an artillery division over that hill over there. Don't mess with us. They were just a few guys and some vehicles.
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During WW2, Canadian troops raced into German territory to head off the Soviet Army and keep them from advancing into Denmark. They got to the coast, and when the Reds showed up, they were like, dude, we totally have an artillery division over that hill over there. Don't mess with us. They were just a few guys and some vehicles.
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karelzjinec
7: 00 The same government that was chaired by a communist with ties to Moscow, where all important ministeries were headed by a communist that completely curtailed the only elected body on the country body that rejected the communist party.
Also the same goverment was ordered to reject the Marshall plan by Stalin. And it obliged
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7: 00 The same government that was chaired by a communist with ties to Moscow, where all important ministeries were headed by a communist that completely curtailed the only elected body on the country body that rejected the communist party.
Also the same goverment was ordered to reject the Marshall plan by Stalin. And it obliged
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history_matters
Democratic [vs. ] authoritarian frameworks. is such an absurd statement. The Democratic West (USA, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Israel, etc) were quite active in overthrowing governments, fighting independence groups in order to retain their colonial acquistions and install their own authoritarian regimes.
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Democratic [vs. ] authoritarian frameworks. is such an absurd statement. The Democratic West (USA, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Israel, etc) were quite active in overthrowing governments, fighting independence groups in order to retain their colonial acquistions and install their own authoritarian regimes.
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MaGioZal
I think a good mark to establish a beginning of the Cold War was the speech by Harry S. Truman to a joint session of US Congress in March 12, 1947.
The main theme of the speech was military assistance for the Greek government during the local civil war, but it established the base for American policy in the next decades.
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I think a good mark to establish a beginning of the Cold War was the speech by Harry S. Truman to a joint session of US Congress in March 12, 1947.
The main theme of the speech was military assistance for the Greek government during the local civil war, but it established the base for American policy in the next decades.
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history_matters
I think the phrase 'countries were afraid Japan's expansion' is misleading as said countries, other than China were Western colonial empire. Also, 'trust' among countries is often a sad story, the UK bombing French [not Vichy] fleet few days after French capitulation and killing few thousand sailors is telling.
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I think the phrase 'countries were afraid Japan's expansion' is misleading as said countries, other than China were Western colonial empire. Also, 'trust' among countries is often a sad story, the UK bombing French [not Vichy] fleet few days after French capitulation and killing few thousand sailors is telling.
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DesertBob53
All the history explained here is goo background. But, for me the 'start' of the cold war was the blockade and resulting Berlin airlift. So of like WW2 'started' with the invasion of Poland, forgetting the evetts leading up to it. So, I nominate the Berlin Airlift as the first 'battle' of the cold war.
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All the history explained here is goo background. But, for me the 'start' of the cold war was the blockade and resulting Berlin airlift. So of like WW2 'started' with the invasion of Poland, forgetting the evetts leading up to it. So, I nominate the Berlin Airlift as the first 'battle' of the cold war.
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paulsoldner9500
Labour government in the UK and FDR in the US were the first of their respective countries to officially recognize the USSR.
Showing clearly how both UK Labour and the US Dems have always been little more than the soft fronts for communist infiltration and takeover.
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Labour government in the UK and FDR in the US were the first of their respective countries to officially recognize the USSR.
Showing clearly how both UK Labour and the US Dems have always been little more than the soft fronts for communist infiltration and takeover.
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JadeWinged
Oh, cool, a ten-minute video that barely does anything beyond saying communism bad without actually explaining why it failed, while also saying capitalism good when we're currently waist-deep in that specific problem. Here's your engagement and dislike, I'm out.
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Oh, cool, a ten-minute video that barely does anything beyond saying communism bad without actually explaining why it failed, while also saying capitalism good when we're currently waist-deep in that specific problem. Here's your engagement and dislike, I'm out.
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michaeljand6667
There's an error in the video at 04: 15 where you claim the USSR failed to defeat Finland. This isn't true. While the war certainly embarrassed the Soviets, the Finns absolutely still lost and were forced to concede valuable territory.
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There's an error in the video at 04: 15 where you claim the USSR failed to defeat Finland. This isn't true. While the war certainly embarrassed the Soviets, the Finns absolutely still lost and were forced to concede valuable territory.
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chameleonicblu22
I believe you are mistaken, Yugoslavia was offered and accepted Marshall aid, despite being communist. Yugoslavia and USA actually maintained rather normal relations through the entire cold war, owing to Tito's split with Stalin.
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I believe you are mistaken, Yugoslavia was offered and accepted Marshall aid, despite being communist. Yugoslavia and USA actually maintained rather normal relations through the entire cold war, owing to Tito's split with Stalin.
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