The period of 1945-62 can be seen as a period of 'oscillatory antagonism', or changing hostility. As the major political figures and groups from both camps during this period discovered, playing the deadly game of brinkinship does not only threaten peace throughout the world, but to more the point creates conflicting ideological and political boundaries, and thus effects tensions. This can be seen in the Berlin airlift of 1948-49, the Cuban crisis' of 1961-62, and the construction of the Berlin wall in 1961, which all increased tensions between the US and USSR.

As WWII concluded and Allied victory became obvious in 1945, points of difference began to emerge between the United States and The USSR. The USSR promoted itself as the leader of communism, whilst the US regarded itself as the father of capitalism. This contrasting ideological and political boundary became apparent when in March 1947, US President Harry Truman announced his 'defensive' policy of 'containment', known as the Truman Doctrine. This doctrine along with its economic arm the Marshall Plan (est. June 1947)

The Thirteen Days in late October 1962, was seen by the entire world, as the ultimate "Trial of Strength". When a US U2-Spy Plane developed pictures of a missile site being constructed in Cuba on October 14th 1962, CIA reports concluded that Cuba had been given the missiles by no-one else but the Soviet Union. Reports also claimed that when constructed, the ICBM's (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles) had the capability to hit every major US city, bar Seattle. An increase in tensions between the US and USSR can be seen as the result of the actions of October 22nd-28th. On October 22nd, Kennedy announced the stance of the US in relation to the missiles upon shipment to Cuba, i.e. requesting the USSR to cease and dissist. Krushcev refused to stop on the 23rd of October, and Kennedy was faced with four options of course of action, three of which would most certainly increase US-Soviet tensions. These options were; 1 - Launch a full scale invasion of Cuba in hope of dismantling all missile sites, 2 - Enforce a strict blockade of Cuba, 3 - Ignore the situation in Cuba completely, and 4 - Bomb the missile sites in Cuba. Options one, two and four would certainly effect US-Soviet relations by increasing tensions, and as the situation escalated, Kennedy chose the second option and enforced "a strict 'quarantine' on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba." Kruschev and the USSR remained firm under the quarantine started on October 24th, but as the situation escalated the USSR backed down and the crisis, possibly even nuclear war, was averted. As the world was faced with the possibility of nuclear war during these days in October 1962, it was a witness to the implications of increasing tensions. Despite the fact that the Cuban Missile Crisis ended in agreement, it was still a clear example of how tensions between the Soviet Union and Untied States increased between 1945 and 1962, and the key political figures Kruschev and Kennedy played huge roles in increasing these tensions.

Berlin in May 1948 became the

Some topics in this essay:
, Molotov Plan, Ballistic Missiles, October Kennedy, Kruschev USSR, British American, John Kennedy, Marshall Plan, Western Berlin, Wall Kruschev's, increasing tensions, ideological political, us-soviet relations, soviet union, tensions ussr, political figures, increased tensions, nuclear war, period 1945-62, berlin wall, cuban missile crisis, effect us-soviet relations, us-soviet relations increasing, key political figures, relations increasing tensions,