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In this episode of 'It Really Happened', host Bill Whitaker recounts the gripping tale of a Soviet submarine during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Discover how a world-ending disaster was narrowly avoided due to the decisions made in the deep sea under extreme pressure.
It Really Happened! is a fast-paced, kid-friendly history podcast that brings the most shocking, surprising, and world-changing true stories to life in just 7 minutes. Each episode dives into one unbelievable event—from near-misses that saved the planet to accidental discoveries that changed everything—told in a warm, excited storytelling style perfect for ages 8-10.
Hi friends! Welcome to It Really Happened! I'm your host, Bill Whitaker. Today's true adventure is... The Submarine That Saved the World. And you won't believe what you're about to hear! Imagine this. It's October 1962. The world is holding its breath. Two super powerful countries—the United States and the Soviet Union—are in a scary standoff called the Cuban Missile Crisis. Everyone's worried that nuclear weapons might actually be used. And nobody knows what's going to happen next. But here's where our story gets really intense. Deep underwater, in the middle of the ocean, something incredible is about to unfold. A Soviet submarine is cruising through the Atlantic Ocean. Inside that submarine, officers are stressed. Really stressed. They haven't heard from their leaders in days. No radio messages. Nothing. They don't know if a war has already started up on the surface. Then... alarms start blaring. American warships have found them! The submarine is being attacked with explosives called depth charges. BOOM! BOOM! The whole submarine shakes. The walls rattle. Lights flicker on and off. The crew is terrified. And here's where it gets even more serious. The captain of the submarine makes a shocking decision. He orders his officers to prepare the nuclear torpedo. A torpedo with a nuclear weapon on it. A weapon powerful enough to destroy an entire city. The captain is so angry and so scared that he wants to launch it right then and there. Did you know? During the Cold War, submarines carried nuclear weapons because leaders thought it would keep them safe. But it also meant that decisions made under pressure... underwater... could affect the whole world. Now, there's another officer on the submarine. He's the second-in-command. And he has to make an impossible choice. To launch the nuclear weapon, two officers have to agree. It's like a safety rule. So the captain is waiting for permission from this second officer. The submarine is still being attacked. People are yelling. Alarms are screaming. And this officer knows that if he agrees... if he says yes... he could help start a nuclear war. A war that could kill millions of people. Millions. But if he says no? He's going against his captain. In the military, that's a HUGE deal. He takes a deep breath. His hands are shaking. And he... refuses. He tells the captain no. He will not agree to launch the nuclear weapon. Did you know? That one word—NO—changed everything. The captain is furious. But without agreement from both officers, the launch cannot happen. The nuclear torpedo stays in the submarine. The American ships keep dropping depth charges, but eventually... the submarine escapes. It surfaces and returns home safely. And that's when the world finds out what almost happened. Leaders on both sides realize how close they came to nuclear war. How one decision underwater almost destroyed civilization. The officer who said no? His name was Vasili Arkhipov. He was brave enough to stand up to his captain when it mattered most. He chose to save millions of lives instead of follow an order that could have ended the world. Historians say that Vasili Arkhipov might be the most important person you've never heard of. Because of his courage and his choice... you and I are here today. And that... really happened! Now you know the name of the man who helped save the world. Thanks for listening! Tell a friend about Vasili Arkhipov and his incredible choice. See you next time on It Really Happened!