When did the Cold War begin?

The Cold War began immediately after World War II, around 1947, marking a significant shift in international relations characterized by the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies. This era was defined by ideological, political, military, and economic rivalry, largely fueled by fundamental differences between capitalism and communism.

Historical events such as the Marshall Plan, the formation of NATO, and the Eastern bloc's establishment underscored this period of hostility and competition. The Cold War was not simply a product of the aftermath of World War II but was a powerful response to the power vacuum left by the war's conclusion and the desire of the Soviet Union to expand its influence in Europe and beyond.

The other options refer to significant events during the Cold War, like the Korean War (1950-1953), which further entrenched the divisions of the Cold War, the Vietnam War (1955-1975), which was another front in the Cold War conflict, and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which symbolized the end of the Cold War. However, these events occurred after the Cold War had already begun, illustrating that the correct answer encapsulates the initiation of this complex historical period.