The Cold War was a great tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that began in the late 1940s and lasted until the early 1990s. During this time, many countries worldwide were affected by the conflict, and some did better than others. Here are the top six Cold War countries that did the best in their time.
1. West Germany
West Germany is perhaps the most obvious of the top six Cold War countries. After the war, the country was divided into two separate states – West Germany and East Germany – with the former being a democracy and the latter being a communist state. West Germany was highly successful in the post-war period, becoming the world’s second-largest exporter and one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. It also joined the European Economic Community (EEC), now known as the European Union, in 1957 and was the driving force behind the reunification of Germany in 1990.
2. Japan
Japan was devastated by World War II, but the country would go on to become one of the most prosperous countries in the post-war period. After the war, Japan underwent a period of rapid economic growth and modernization, becoming one of the most powerful economies in the world. This growth was mainly due to the US-led Marshall Plan, which aided the country and helped it rebuild its infrastructure. Japan also successfully maintained a strong relationship with the United States during the Cold War, becoming one of the most important US allies in East Asia.
3. South Korea
South Korea was also a success story of the Cold War era. After the war, the country was divided into two separate states – North Korea and South Korea. South Korea was a pro-Western democracy, while North Korea was a communist state. South Korea successfully developed a strong economy and modernized its infrastructure, and it was one of the first countries to join the United Nations in 1991. South Korea is now one of the most powerful countries in East Asia and has maintained a strong relationship with the United States since the Cold War ended.
4. Taiwan
Taiwan is another Cold War success story. After the war, the country was divided into two separate states – the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China – with the former becoming known as Taiwan. Taiwan successfully maintained a strong economy during the Cold War and developed close ties with the United States. It also successfully maintained a strong military and became one of the most important US allies in East Asia.
5. Australia
Australia was another Cold War success story. The country was one of the few countries in the world that managed to remain neutral during the conflict, and it successfully maintained a strong economy and developed close ties with the United States. Australia also joined the United Nations in 1945 and was one of the first countries to join the South Pacific Forum in 1971. Australia has remained an important US ally since the Cold War ended, and it is now one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
6. Canada
Finally, Canada is one of the top six Cold War countries that did the best in its time. After the war, the country successfully maintained a strong economy and developed close ties with the United States. Canada was also prosperous in becoming one of the founding members of the United Nations in 1945, and it became one of the first countries to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949. Canada has remained an important US ally since the Cold War ended, and it is now one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
These six countries were some of the most successful during the Cold War, and their success has been long-lasting. They all managed to remain neutral during the conflict and developed strong economies and close ties with the United States. These countries are all now some of the most prosperous in the world, and they have all maintained their strong relationship with the United States since the Cold War ended.
