Lasting from 1946 until 1991, the Cold War was the longest of the 20th century s many wars and in many ways the most complicated. The last four links above document aspects of the initial phase the drawing of lines in the sand, so to speak and allow us to see something of the atmosphere of the immediate postwar years. In early 1946 George Kennan wrote a close analysis of Soviet aims and methods of achieving those aims and proposed a multi-phased strategy for the United States.
The timeline in the first link above provides headings and a list of significant events. ...