AllMovie

With WWII at an end, the world soon faced a new challenge widely known as the Cold War. In 24 episodes, this series chronicles this war of ideologies, from its inception in the late '40s until the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. some 40 years later. With Europe and Japan absorbed in rebuilding their cities and economies, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the world's superpowers and standard bearers for incompatible political philosophies. Capitalism or Communism: The line was drawn in the sand. This episode examines events in Berlin, where ideology brought the world close to another war. At the end of WWII, Berlin was occupied by the Soviets, Americans, French, and British in four zones. When the powers of the free world moved to set up a free economy in their sectors, the Soviets instituted a blockade. Supplies were airlifted into the city by the allies. The program also show that during this time, the Soviets tested their first atomic bomb, upping the ante in the high stakes political game.