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Digital Archive International History Declassified

Welcome

The Digital Archive contains once-secret documents from governments all across the globe, uncovering new sources and providing fresh insights into the history of international relations and diplomacy. It collects the research of three Wilson Center projects which focus on the interrelated histories of the Cold War, Korea, and Nuclear Proliferation. [Read more]

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themes

Learn about specific topics and regions through essays, timelines and educational resources.

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documents

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featured
documents

April 28, 1958

From the Journal of Gromyko, Record of a Conversation with Ambassador Ri Sin-Pal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko records that North Korea was eager to start a nuclear program, though they insisted it was for “peaceful purposes.” The North …

February 27, 1968

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, TOP SECRET, No. 76.051, Urgent

The Embassy of Romania in the DPRK summarizes a briefing at the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which foreign diplomats were encouraged to build bunkers in anticipation…

January 31, 1949

Notes by Anastas Mikoyan from a Meeting with Mao Zedong

Notes taken by Minister of Foreign Trade Anastas Mikoyan during a meeting with Mao Zedong in Beijing. They discuss relations with the United States and other Western powers and the…

July, 1964

Conversations Between Delegations of the Romanian Workers Party and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow, July 1964 (excerpts)

Delegates from Romania discuss the strained Soviet-Romanian relationship with Soviet officials. Issues raised include the organizational structure of the Warsaw Pact’s military …

November 19, 1960

Memorandum of Conversation between Mao Zedong and Ernesto “Che” Guevara

A diplomatic meeting of a global communist delegation. Many topics are discussed, including: the domestic situation in Cuba, especially the economic situation (for example: sugar …

June 10, 1981

Letter from Israeli General Rafael Eitan to South African Minister Magnus Malan on Israeli Airstrike on Iraqi Nuclear Reactor

Chief of Staff of Israel Defense Forces, General Rafael Eitan writes to South African Minister of Defence Magnus Malan shortly after Israel’s 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak …

April 28, 1958

From the Journal of Gromyko, Record of a Conversation with Ambassador Ri Sin-Pal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko records that North Korea was eager to start a nuclear program, though they insisted it was for “peaceful purposes.” The North …

February 27, 1968

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, TOP SECRET, No. 76.051, Urgent

The Embassy of Romania in the DPRK summarizes a briefing at the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which foreign diplomats were encouraged to build bunkers in anticipation…

January 31, 1949

Notes by Anastas Mikoyan from a Meeting with Mao Zedong

Notes taken by Minister of Foreign Trade Anastas Mikoyan during a meeting with Mao Zedong in Beijing. They discuss relations with the United States and other Western powers and the…

July, 1964

Conversations Between Delegations of the Romanian Workers Party and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow, July 1964 (excerpts)

Delegates from Romania discuss the strained Soviet-Romanian relationship with Soviet officials. Issues raised include the organizational structure of the Warsaw Pact’s military …

November 19, 1960

Memorandum of Conversation between Mao Zedong and Ernesto “Che” Guevara

A diplomatic meeting of a global communist delegation. Many topics are discussed, including: the domestic situation in Cuba, especially the economic situation (for example: sugar …

June 10, 1981

Letter from Israeli General Rafael Eitan to South African Minister Magnus Malan on Israeli Airstrike on Iraqi Nuclear Reactor

Chief of Staff of Israel Defense Forces, General Rafael Eitan writes to South African Minister of Defence Magnus Malan shortly after Israel’s 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak …

featured
collections

SOUTH AFRICAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

Documents on the history of South African nuclear development.

NORTH KOREAN MILITARY ADVENTURISM

This collection of documents provides a historical record of North Korea's brinkmanship and military-diplomatic campaigns since 1968.

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

Formerly secret documents from the communist word reveal that North Korea's nuclear program began as early as the 1960s.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

The thirteen day confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

SINO-SOVIET RELATIONS

Documents on the Soviet-Chinese relationship during the Cold War.

SOUTH AFRICAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

Documents on the history of South African nuclear development.

NORTH KOREAN MILITARY ADVENTURISM

This collection of documents provides a historical record of North Korea's brinkmanship and military-diplomatic campaigns since 1968.

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

Formerly secret documents from the communist word reveal that North Korea's nuclear program began as early as the 1960s.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

The thirteen day confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

SINO-SOVIET RELATIONS

Documents on the Soviet-Chinese relationship during the Cold War.

Welcome

The Digital Archive contains once-secret documents from governments all across the globe, uncovering new sources and providing fresh insights into the history of international relations and diplomacy. It collects the research of three Wilson Center projects which focus on the interrelated histories of the Cold War, Korea, and Nuclear Proliferation. [Read more]

Explore
themes

Learn about specific topics and regions through essays, timelines and educational resources.

Browse
documents

Explore documents from the Digital Archive through the map, date, and subject browsing tools.

FROM THE
WILSON CENTER

North Korea warned foreigners during Pueblo crisis

North Korea’s recent warnings to diplomats and foreigners living in Pyongyang that their safety cannot be guaranteed because of the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula are not unprecedented.

e-Dossier 39 - The Loyal Republic and the Maverick

Adam Burakowski introduces 14 documents drawn from the Archives of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs focused on Poland's troubled relations with Romania. The documents show that interactions within the Soviet Bloc were much more complicated than many analysts have assumed.

TWITTER

Today in '60, Czechoslovak rpt on military aid to Cuba shipped under the guise of "special materials." http://t.co/4R33WkCOjW #coldwarhist

RT @NSArchive: The 1983 "Able Archer" War Scare declassified. New dox on the "Last Paroxysm" of #ColdWar http://t.co/sRLxyRjYCK #foia 1st …

Today in '65, Ho Chi Minh asks Mao for help building roads to connect Chinese border areas to the south. http://t.co/B1oRgciMW5 #coldwarhist

Today in '53, Soviet memo on "preventing the defection of inhabitants from the GDR to West Germany." http://t.co/71KXzPR37a #coldwarhist

Today in '54, Zhou and British FM Eden meet at Geneva conference to discuss Korea and Indochina. http://t.co/MM7SylvPxM #coldwarhist