Euromissiles: The Nuclear Weapons That Nearly Destroyed NATO

Susan Colbourn's book Euromissiles tells the story of the height of the nuclear crisis and the remarkable waning of the fear that gripped the globe during the Cold War. It highlights the weakness of NATO, the alliance seen as the most effective bulwark against Soviet aggression, and how the missile issue divided the member states. The book takes a long view of the strategic crisis, from the early 1950s through the aftermath of the INF Treaty, and changes the way we think about the Cold War and its culmination.

Format: Hardback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In the gripping narrative of Susan Colbourn, "Euromissiles," we delve into the depths of the nuclear crisis that once gripped the world. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War conflict, Europe emerged as the central theater of this global struggle between nuclear superpowers. Washington and Moscow deployed troops and missiles in the fields of their respective allies, the NATO nations and the states of the Warsaw Pact. Euromissiles, intermediate-range nuclear weapons designed for exclusive use in the regional theater of war, brought to light the perilous position of the people of Europe, caught between the impending threat of nuclear annihilation. This strategic crisis, as much as any summit meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the Cold War.

At the heart of the story lies NATO, often perceived as the most formidable bulwark against Soviet aggression. However, Colbourn highlights the alliance's perceived weakness, as its member states were divided, uncertain about the depth of US support, and grappling with the missile issue. This crisis, spanning several decades, was a testament to the complex dynamics and shifting alliances of the time.

"Euromissiles" is a comprehensive history that encompasses diplomacy, alliances, social movements, strategy, nuclear weapons, and persistent fears. Colbourn takes a long-view approach, tracing the strategic crisis from the early 1950s, when allied defense dilemmas emerged, to the aftermath of the INF Treaty, which marked the end of the Cold War thirty-five years later. Through this sweeping narrative, Colbourn offers a fresh perspective on the Cold War and its ultimate culmination, challenging our understanding of this pivotal period in world history.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 161 x 238 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501766022