The Cold War was a period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from 1945 to 1991. During this time, the two superpowers were divided into two factions: the WEST and the Reds. The WEST was composed of the USA, NATO, and other countries in Western Europe, while the Reds were made up of the Soviets and their allies. TheWest was a term used to refer to the Western bloc during the Cold War.