The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance established in 1955 among the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republics in response to the formation of NATO. It aimed to consolidate military cooperation and provide a collective defense against perceived threats from the West. Comprising countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, the Warsaw Pact played a significant role during the Cold War, influencing military strategies and political dynamics in Europe. The alliance dissolved in 1991, marking a pivotal moment in the end of the Cold War and the shift towards a more unified Europe.