Cold War
The rivalry shaped global politics after World War II. This topic is part of Modern History within History. This page currently draws on 16 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
Cold War trivia questions
The Cold War was primarily a rivalry between the United States and what country?
Answer: Soviet Union
Bonus fact: The rivalry shaped global politics after World War II.
Why was it called a 'cold' war?
Answer: The superpowers avoided direct full-scale war with each other
Bonus fact: Competition instead included proxy wars, espionage, and arms races.
Which military alliance was led by the United States during the Cold War?
Answer: NATO
Bonus fact: The Soviet Union led the Warsaw Pact.
"One, Two, Three" is set largely in which divided city during the Cold War?
Answer: Berlin
Bonus fact: The film was shot around the time the Berlin Wall was being built in 1961.
What structure divided East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989?
Answer: Berlin Wall
Bonus fact: The Berlin Wall became a symbol of the Cold War.
The Space Race was primarily between the United States and what country?
Answer: Soviet Union
Bonus fact: The rivalry was part of the Cold War.
Which two movements were the main rivals in the Angolan Civil War?
Answer: MPLA and UNITA
Bonus fact: The war was deeply entangled with Cold War politics.
Which foreign powers backed opposing sides in Angola?
Answer: Soviet Union/Cuba and United States/South Africa
Bonus fact: Angola became a major Cold War proxy conflict.
The 1972 Summit Series matched Canada against which country?
Answer: Soviet Union
Bonus fact: The eight-game series became a Cold War sporting landmark.
For decades, the Soviet Union falsely blamed the Katyn massacre on which country?
Answer: Nazi Germany
Bonus fact: The Soviet government officially acknowledged Soviet responsibility near the end of the Cold War.
Which armed opposition movement fought the Sandinista government during the 1980s?
Answer: The Contras
Bonus fact: U.S. support for the Contras became a major Cold War controversy and part of the Iran-Contra scandal.
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was a joint mission between the United States and which country?
Answer: Soviet Union
Bonus fact: The mission became a symbol of Cold War détente when the two spacecraft docked in orbit.