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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

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

Recently Added
Documents

July 20, 1985

NSDD-179: Task Force on Combatting Terrorism

Reagan appoints Vice President Bush to the head of a task force designed to assess the US policy on terrorism. This task force will use government resources from all departments to…

April 01, 1986

NSPG Meeting re: Acting Against Libyan Support for International Terrorism

Memorandum outlines three options for American and allied intervention in Libya in response to terrorist attacks in Rome and Vienna. Options range frome economic and political …

February, 1986

Public Report of the Vice President's Task Force on Combatting Terrorism

This report details the plan of the Vice Presidential task force on combatting terrorism. It aims to assess American priorities and policies, to determine how the program can be …

October 16, 1982

Conversation between General Secretary Erich Honecker and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sa'ad Abdullah Al-Sabah, in Salam Palace on 16 October 1982

Al-Sabah expresses concerns about Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, Israeli occupation of other Arab territories, and the conflict between Iran and Iraq. Honecker hopes that East …

February 16, 1979

Note about the Meeting between Comrades Erich Honecker and Muammar al-Gaddafi on 16 February 1979 in Tripoli

Gaddafi describes Libya’s geopolitical position and requests arms, which Honecker agrees to provide. Gaddafi states that he financially supported the Iranian Revolution and …

February 14, 1984

Transcript of a Meeting between Comrade Erich Honecker, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the SED and Chairman of the State Council of the GDR, with the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Yasser Arafat

At a meeting held in Moscow on the occasion of Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov’s funeral, Arafat cordially thanks the GDR for its “permanent support and solidarity”. …

July 20, 1985

NSDD-179: Task Force on Combatting Terrorism

Reagan appoints Vice President Bush to the head of a task force designed to assess the US policy on terrorism. This task force will use government resources from all departments to…

April 01, 1986

NSPG Meeting re: Acting Against Libyan Support for International Terrorism

Memorandum outlines three options for American and allied intervention in Libya in response to terrorist attacks in Rome and Vienna. Options range frome economic and political …

February, 1986

Public Report of the Vice President's Task Force on Combatting Terrorism

This report details the plan of the Vice Presidential task force on combatting terrorism. It aims to assess American priorities and policies, to determine how the program can be …

October 16, 1982

Conversation between General Secretary Erich Honecker and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sa'ad Abdullah Al-Sabah, in Salam Palace on 16 October 1982

Al-Sabah expresses concerns about Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, Israeli occupation of other Arab territories, and the conflict between Iran and Iraq. Honecker hopes that East …

February 16, 1979

Note about the Meeting between Comrades Erich Honecker and Muammar al-Gaddafi on 16 February 1979 in Tripoli

Gaddafi describes Libya’s geopolitical position and requests arms, which Honecker agrees to provide. Gaddafi states that he financially supported the Iranian Revolution and …

February 14, 1984

Transcript of a Meeting between Comrade Erich Honecker, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the SED and Chairman of the State Council of the GDR, with the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Yasser Arafat

At a meeting held in Moscow on the occasion of Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov’s funeral, Arafat cordially thanks the GDR for its “permanent support and solidarity”. …

Featured
Collections

KOREAN WAR, 1950-1953

When North Korean troops invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, the inter-Korean conflict entered its most bloody phase: the Korean War

KOREAN WAR BIOLOGICAL WARFARE ALLEGATIONS

In 1951 and 1952, the communist bloc alleged that the United States was conducting biological warfare (BW).

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

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

KOREAN WAR ORIGINS, 1945-1950

Who started the Korean War? This collection adds context to the decisions that led to North Korea's invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950.

NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT)

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an international treaty developed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons technology.

CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT, 1986

Soviet and Ukrainian records shed light on the lead-up to the Chernobyl disaster, the days of the accident, and the aftermath thereof.

KOREAN WAR, 1950-1953

When North Korean troops invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, the inter-Korean conflict entered its most bloody phase: the Korean War

KOREAN WAR BIOLOGICAL WARFARE ALLEGATIONS

In 1951 and 1952, the communist bloc alleged that the United States was conducting biological warfare (BW).

NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR HISTORY

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

KOREAN WAR ORIGINS, 1945-1950

Who started the Korean War? This collection adds context to the decisions that led to North Korea's invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950.

NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT)

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an international treaty developed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons technology.

CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT, 1986

Soviet and Ukrainian records shed light on the lead-up to the Chernobyl disaster, the days of the accident, and the aftermath thereof.

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

The 1986 American bombing of Libya under the Reagan Administration “marked a seminal moment in the development of U… https://t.co/eGknMuSo4k

RT @JRHunTx: This primer on what the 'Cold War' era meant for the PRC @cfmeyskens is fantastic. Go buy 'Mao's Third Front' btw. It's alread…

RT @HistoryCtr: To register for the session, click the link below: https://t.co/0Bjr3ju9WL Spots in the Zoom session fill on a first come,…

Live webcast: "Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography" with Thomas Schwartz https://t.co/KSK36Y9VkQ

Read the piece here: https://t.co/iCwjaIK2ZX