In September 1983, the Soviet missile launch detection system falsely reported an inbound US missile strike. The actions of Stanislav Petrov that day, who refused to report the launch as true, have often been described as having saved the world. This is the story of 1983. The year the world almost ended.
Petrov’s actions in the Soviet missile control centre at Serpukhov-15 near Moscow, arguably prevented a nuclear war. But what’s often not talked about is why the Soviets were prepared to launch a missile strike of their own, based only on a warning for a single detection system.
In reality, 1983 was a year full of tragic events, and intelligence failures by both the Americans and Soviets. Failures that left the world on the brink of war by September without either side really knowing how close to a war for no reason both power blocs in the Cold War really were.
Guest
David is a historian specializing in the global Cold War and is a researcher and writer as well as the host of the YouTube channel The Cold War, where he explores different events, ideas and facets of the second half of the 20th Century, ranging from nuclear weapons and armed stand offs to comic books and cartoons!
Cats present
Grover (actually a dog!)
Useful links
David on Bluesky: @coldwarhost.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@TheColdWarTV
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