Even though the Cold War ended in 1991, today's geopolitics still reflects its divisions and most pressing issues. Not only does the current strained relationship between the United States and Russia call to mind the tensions between the U.S. and USSR, but the specter of nuclear war has haunted both periods. This volume illustrates the role that the nuclear threat played in the Cold War. It opens with the development of the first nuclear weapons and then traces the rises of air-launched, land-based, and naval nuclear weapons, early warning systems, and methods of preparation in case the worst happened. Historical photographs, diagrams, charts, maps, and blueprints will draw in readers.