What if the Cold War turned hot?

What if the Cold War wasn’t so cold?

The Cold War was an open rivalry between the United States and the U.S.S.R.

It was waged on political, economic, and propaganda fronts instead of on the battlefield.

Let’s imagine an alternate reality where the Cold War escalated from political tension to military action… in other words, becoming “hot” instead of “cold.”

The Cuban missile crisis may not have been just a weapons standoff.

Instead, hidden Soviet missiles in Cuba would have been launched at the United States.

With southern and eastern cities heavily damaged, the U.S. would retaliate attacking major cities in the U.S.S.R.

Coastal cities of the United States and capitals of constituent republics of the U.S.S.R. would be forced to rebuild.

Leaving them undeniably altered.

Not even Stalin’s death could have relaxed wartime tensions. The U.S. may have taken the opportunity of changing leadership to attack enemy territory.

If U.S. forces were split between the United States and the U.S.S.R., the home front would be left vulnerable to attack.

The end of the war would come with major concessions on both sides, and both countries would have to fight to retain their status as world leaders.

Of course, there is never one “correct” alternate history, especially with the complicated nature of the Cold War.

What do you think could have happened?