The Cuban Missile Crisis Explained
Summary
Dan Snow debunks the myth of the Cuban Missile Crisis as a calculated diplomatic victory, revealing it was instead a chaotic scramble where both superpowers nearly lost control. The episode details the terrifying reality of October 27, 1962, focusing on rogue Soviet commanders shooting down a U-2 and the crew of submarine B-59, who debated launching a nuclear torpedo after being depth-charged by US forces. Snow highlights how humanity survived by luck and the intervention of officer Vasily Arkhipov, emphasizing that the crisis was far more dangerous and uncontrolled than the traditional nar…
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