A Day That Shook The World: Cuban Missile Crisis

Thursday 07 April 2011 00:00 BST

(Getty)

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On 28 October 1962, the world came as close as it has ever been to nuclear war.

With Soviet nuclear missiles en route to communist Cuba, US president JFK was determined to prevent them from arriving. It was a terrible game of atomic brinksmanship which so nearly ended in global catastrophe, as neither side wanted to lose face by backing down.

In the end, Soviet premier Kruschev blinked first, withdrawing his ships on the proviso that America would not invade Cuba.

Find out more in this British Pathe newsreel which shows the treaty being agreed and troops withdrawal.

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