The Space Race began as a mere extension of the Cold War arms race, but it soon took on a life of its own. The achievements of the Soviet space program early in the race set the standard for all future space exploration.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was one of the most remarkable events of the 20th Century, and it led to a significant escalation of the Cold War.

Nikita Khrushchev was a deeply complicated figure. He was capable of terrible ruthlessness, but could, at times, come across as a very sympathetic and even admirable figure. Whatever our opinion of him, his impact on the history of the Soviet Union is undeniable.

On March 5, 1953, Joseph Stalin died from a cerebral hemorrhage, setting in motion a struggle for power between his subordinates.

Despite their emergence as a superpower, the postwar Soviet Union faced a series of challenges brought on by the destruction of the war and economic mismanagement by Stalin and the Communist Party.

In July 1945, the leaders of the Big Three came together to decide the fate of the world in Potsdam, Germany. As they prepared to meet, an explosion in the New Mexico desert would fundamentally change the world forever.

When Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill met in Tehran and Yalta, they sought to resolve their differences and lay the groundwork for the new postwar order.

As the Red Army advanced across Eastern Europe, they discovered horrifying evidence of Nazi atrocities. When they got to Germany, they committed a few of their own.

The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most decisive moments in world history. At an appallingly high cost, the Red Army turned back the Nazi tide and began the long march toward victory.

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched a devastating surprise attack on the Soviet Union. The Soviet people faced the possibility of annihilation and overcame it.