The Cold War The Cold War was the time of struggle between the United States (U.S.) and its allies and the group of nations led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] for power and influence that began at the end of World War II. The Cold War was not a war of military conflict but instead was an ideological war between the two world superpowers. The two superpowers became rivals through conflicting governments (Communism and Capitalism) and mutual distrust and constantly competed for power. USSR wanted to spread Communism; a social system marked by the common, throughout Eastern Europe and created a “buffer zone” of friendly nations