The Cold War was an indirect political, ideological and sometimes military confrontation that took place during 1947-1991. One manifestation was the division of the world into two camps: a communist led by Soviet Union and a liberal led by the United States.
Western countries allied themselves with the Soviet Union during World War II out of fear of the common Nazi enemy. The relations of the two global camps witnessed an important shift after the death of Soviet leader Stalin in 1953, as his successor Nikita Khrushchev adopted a more conciliatory policy.