18 Headlines That Tell The Story Of The Cuban Missile Crisis

How the world reported a course of events that almost brought us to nuclear war.

1. Труд (USSR)

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The crisis began after the American's found out the Soviet Union were establishing nuclear missile bases on the island of Cuba. The Soviets has long supported Cuba so they had a fairly strong relationship at the time. Here, Soviet paper Труд (or Labour) writes:

"Announcement of government of USSR in regards to Invasion of Cuba: The Soviet Union will not leave the Cuban people in trouble".

Luckily Twitter hadn't been invented yet.

2. Journal American (USA)

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After discovering the plan, US President Kennedy and his closest advisors contemplated many options, including an invasion of Cuba. On 22nd October 1962 the public were told the president would make an important announcement that evening. This New York Daily carried the story as did many other news outlets across the country.

3. Daily News (USA)

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Despite some of his closest advisors' wish to invade Cuba, President Kennedy initially decided not to pursue a course of direct military action. In his address to the nation he announced that the USA would enforce a naval blockade of Cuba. The story was told in pics above.

4. Various (UK)

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The blockade was, of course, news around the world. All the newspapers in the UK ran a similar story the day after the blockade began. Daily Sketch, anyone?

5. The Arizona Republic (USA)

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The blockade was designed to search all ships travelling towards Cuba and prevent any weapons, particularly nuclear weapons, from entering.

6. Revolucion (Cuba)

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"THE NATION AT WAR"

Meanwhile Cuban state newspaper Revolucion ran an extra edition warning the Cuban people to expect US military aggression and war.

7. Algemeen Handelsblad (Netherlands)

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Kennedy "We are threatened".

America explains blockade around Cuba in the Amsterdam based liberal daily Algemeen Handelsblad.

8. Bild (West Germany)

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While the world wondered what the next twist in the story would be the crisis was being felt strongly in Germany, which was divided into the capitalist West and communist East at the time.

On 24th October 1962, the West German Bild paper ran a headline declaring "Holiday locked for Red Army", anticipating an escalation of the crisis which could spill quickly into Berlin.

9. Cartoon (USSR)

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In the Soviet Union the media was in support of Cuba. This cartoon from a Soviet newspaper, declares: "Cuba's not alone".

10. Правда (USSR)

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From the 24th October, major Soviet Paper Правда, or "Truth" supports the actions of the Soviet government.

11. Le Monde (France)

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The crisis caused frantic action at the UN and an emergency security council meeting was convened on 25th October 1962. The headline from Le Monde reads:

"After President Kennedy's decision to implement the quarantine of the traffic of arms to Cuba: Washington, London, Moscow and Havana grasp the security council."

12. Ouest France (France)

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This regional French newspaper Ouest France encompasses the tension of the situation. While the main headline focuses on the UN Security Council, which was to meet that evening, the left column demonstrates just how severe the situation could go. "American and Soviet troops are on general alert" and "Moscow responds to Kennedy 'You are playing with fire'" are the headlines. The world was bracing itself for nuclear war.

13. Neues Deutschland (East Germany)

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In contrast to the West German media the 25th October edition of the East German newspaper Neues Deutschland focuses on Soviet leader Khrushchev's declaration that American threats 'must not be realised' as well as worldwide protests against the American aggression towards free Cuba - including those in London, Rome and Washington.

14. La Stampa (Italy)

Italian paper La Stampa reports a "more relaxed atmosphere after the serious treats of last days” on the 25th.

The following day Khrushchev sent a private letter to Kennedy asking the USA to pledge not to invade Cuba in return for the withdrawal of Soviet nukes from the island.

15. The Post-Standard (USA)

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This daily from the city of Syracuse, New York features six headlines about the crisis on the same page as Kennedy agrees to talks with Khrushchev, but the blockade continues.

16. New York Herald Tribune (USA)

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Talks continue between Kennedy and Khrushchev and on 27th October Khrushchev publicly requests an American pledge to never invade Cuba as well as the removal of American nukes from Turkey in exchange for the withdrawal of Soviet nukes from Cuba.

17. l'Unita (Italy)

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The left-wing Italian newspaper, which had been supportive of Cuba throughout the crisis, reports on Monday 29th October of the this deal, announced by Khrushchev the night before. Kennedy had also secretly agreed to remove American missiles from Turkey as part of the agreement.

18. Graphic (USSR)

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In a similar vein to the cartoons in Soviet media during the crisis this graphic declares:

"Long live the eternal, indestructible friendship and co-operation between the Soviet and Cuban people", although not all Cubans were happy with the outcome of the crisis.

On 5th November Soviet missiles left the island with Castro unhappy that certain issues of interest to Cuba (such as Guantanamo Bay) were not addressed. It marked the beginning of the deterioration of relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union.