In 1962, the Soviet Union decides to secretly deploy ballistic nuclear missiles in Cuba as it can attack targets throughout the United States of America. International crisis that followed led the world to the brink of nuclear war, throughout history mankind never was closer to its end.

Captain Valentin Savitsky began with the impression that the war has decided to launch a nuclear torpedo against aggressors. But the launch from a strict protocol. Unanimous consent was required of the captain Savitsky, seconds Arkhipov and political officer Ivan Maslennikov.
A quarrel broke out between Savitsky and Maslennikov, who intended to attack American ships, and Arkhipov, who is completely opposed to such actions. Mankind now hangs by a thread, any decision can have a catastrophic effect. The negotiations were at a standstill, after an incident and inflammatory statements.
To understand the gravity of the situation, U.S. military blockade was considered an act of war. The U.S. action was met with protests from the communist states.
Khrushchev said that the blockade is an act of aggression that will throw humanity into the abyss of a worldwide nuclear war and threatened the U.S. with war if they would attack Cuba or the Soviet ship was heading toward the Caribbean island.
For the first time in American history, the bombers were prepared to launch a counterattack against Soviet nuclear and intercontinental missiles just waiting for the order to attack. United States prepared and the first stages of an invasion in Cuba, which would be started on 28 October. Moreover, Khrushchev, Castro urged him to attack the U.S. first, to surprise.
On October 27, NATO members are informed to prepare for the conflict to come. The same day, called apt "Black Friday", the CIA, Kennedy announces that all missiles in Cuba are functional and ready to go ....
To add tension, a U2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba by the Soviets and another had made an unauthorized flight over the Soviet Union's eastern border. A number of MiGs to intercept the plane had started and the Americans in turn have launched planes for possible combat attack. All that was missing to ignite the nuclear fires it was just a spark. A spark that Arkhipov not let her catch fire.
For four hours, the boat was rocked by explosions loads. Inside temperature up to 50 degrees and carbon dioxide flooding compartments. Sailors began to pass out one by one due to lack of oxygen.
Vadim Orlov, communications officer, recalled that after the four o'clock Captain Savitski, angry, threatening "I'll attack now! We will die but we will all sink. We will not embarrass Marina.
Captain ordered to load the torpedo, but Arkhipov opposes the initiative. Captain is calmed down finally and Arkhipov and is convinced to raise the submarine surface. Not knowing what to expect out of the Soviet vessel depths at which time the U.S. attacks stop.
In 2002, during a conference in Havana, dedicated to the crisis of 1962, Robert McNamara admitted that the world was closer to the precipice than expected and Thomas Blanton of the National Security Archives of the United States said that "a man named Vasili Arkhipov saved the world. "