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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. The Digital Archive is overseen by the Wilson Center's History and Public Policy Program and focuses on the interrelated histories of the Cold War, Korea, and Nuclear Proliferation. [Read more]

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

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documents

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Recently Added
Documents

April 29, 1986

Telegram Sent from 6th Clinical Hospital, Moscow, to Vera Sergeyevna Toptunovoa

Letter to mother and address of hospital in Moscow, where he is located

May 21, 1986

VCh Message from Moscow, dated 18:20, 21 May 1986

Sent by Deputy Minister Shchepin, the telegram states that those who are under observation for radiation exposure, but who do not show signs of serious radiation sickness, will be …

April 26, 1986

V.P. Bryukhanov, Director of Chernobyl NPP, 'On the Accident at V. I. Lenin Chernobyl NPP'

A brief report of the facts of the accident, including death of one unnamed person, hospitalization of 34, including 9 fireman, disappearance of the chief reactor operator …

February 02, 1967

V.V. Shcherbytsky, Head of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR, to the Central Committee of the Ukrainian Communist Party

Address of the Council of Ministers of Ukrainian SSR to the Central Committee of the Ukrainian Communist Party confirming the site for the construction of the the 2000mW ‘Central…

April 28, 1986

Untitled report by Lt. Col. V.P. Alekseyev and Major V.D. Kohan on Radiation Levels

Info on radiactive fallout, and that Kiev is currently safe and being observed by experts, while Pripyat has 30-160 micro roentgens/sec, and Rivne Oblast has 820 micro roentgens …

April 27, 1986

P.P. Volkov's Report to the Central Committee of Ukrainian Communist Party

Evacuation order received at 20.00 on April 26, vehicle columns sent from Kiev to Chernobyl at 23.25, containing 1125 buses and 250 lorries, arriving at 4.00 on April 27. …

April 29, 1986

Telegram Sent from 6th Clinical Hospital, Moscow, to Vera Sergeyevna Toptunovoa

Letter to mother and address of hospital in Moscow, where he is located

May 21, 1986

VCh Message from Moscow, dated 18:20, 21 May 1986

Sent by Deputy Minister Shchepin, the telegram states that those who are under observation for radiation exposure, but who do not show signs of serious radiation sickness, will be …

April 26, 1986

V.P. Bryukhanov, Director of Chernobyl NPP, 'On the Accident at V. I. Lenin Chernobyl NPP'

A brief report of the facts of the accident, including death of one unnamed person, hospitalization of 34, including 9 fireman, disappearance of the chief reactor operator …

February 02, 1967

V.V. Shcherbytsky, Head of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR, to the Central Committee of the Ukrainian Communist Party

Address of the Council of Ministers of Ukrainian SSR to the Central Committee of the Ukrainian Communist Party confirming the site for the construction of the the 2000mW ‘Central…

April 28, 1986

Untitled report by Lt. Col. V.P. Alekseyev and Major V.D. Kohan on Radiation Levels

Info on radiactive fallout, and that Kiev is currently safe and being observed by experts, while Pripyat has 30-160 micro roentgens/sec, and Rivne Oblast has 820 micro roentgens …

April 27, 1986

P.P. Volkov's Report to the Central Committee of Ukrainian Communist Party

Evacuation order received at 20.00 on April 26, vehicle columns sent from Kiev to Chernobyl at 23.25, containing 1125 buses and 250 lorries, arriving at 4.00 on April 27. …

Featured
Collections

SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN

In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in response to a revolt against the Soviet-backed government.

EMIR FARID CHEHAB COLLECTION

Emir Farid Hares Chehab held many of the most politically sensitive positions in Lebanon from 1943 to the early 1970s.

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

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

CONVERSATIONS WITH ZHOU ENLAI

Zhou Enlai, China's first foreign minister and longtime premier, shaped and influenced Chinese foreign policy from 1949 through 1976.

ARCHIVIO ANDREOTTI'S NATO SERIES

A collection of files broadly related to NATO affairs drawn from the archives of Giulio Andreotti.

SPACE RACE

Documents on the 20th-century competition for supremacy in spaceflight capacity between the United States and the Soviet Union.

SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN

In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in response to a revolt against the Soviet-backed government.

EMIR FARID CHEHAB COLLECTION

Emir Farid Hares Chehab held many of the most politically sensitive positions in Lebanon from 1943 to the early 1970s.

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

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

CONVERSATIONS WITH ZHOU ENLAI

Zhou Enlai, China's first foreign minister and longtime premier, shaped and influenced Chinese foreign policy from 1949 through 1976.

ARCHIVIO ANDREOTTI'S NATO SERIES

A collection of files broadly related to NATO affairs drawn from the archives of Giulio Andreotti.

SPACE RACE

Documents on the 20th-century competition for supremacy in spaceflight capacity between the United States and the Soviet Union.

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. The Digital Archive is overseen by the Wilson Center's History and Public Policy Program and focuses 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

Cold War International History Project

The Cold War International History Project supports the full and prompt release of historical materials by governments on all sides of the Cold War.

Nuclear Proliferation Int'l History Project

A global network of individuals and institutions engaged in the study of international nuclear history.

North Korea International Documentation Project

An informational clearinghouse on North Korea for both the scholarly and policymaking communities that disseminates newly declassified documents on the DPRK.

TWITTER

Wilson Center Scholar Felix Boecking discusses the China-US trade war in historical context, on the latest Wilson C… https://t.co/kBF4SbEuFt

RT @RobRakove: In Moscow, Kosygin recounted the conversation to the Politburo, which struggled to comprehend the scale of the disaster. KGB…

RT @secolbourn: Fellow historians of the late Cold War: want to consult the Matlock papers, now open at @rubensteinlib @dukeuarchives? (You…

RT @nat_telepneva: ‘The Weapons of Liberation’: newly rebuilt military museum in Bissau with samples of Czechoslovak and Soviet weapons use…

RT @NSANate: .@CWIHP and @NPIHP are a TREASURE TROVE indeed! Go poke around their dox, if you haven't yet! https://t.co/SCysrNZNrB