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Period: to
Cold War
The long period of non-violent hostility between the United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics -
Potsdam Conference
A conference between the heads of state of the WWII allied powers, deciding how to punish Germany for its acts of aggression. Lead to the creation of the occupation zones in Germany. -
The Iron Curtain Descends
Following the end of the war in Europe, the Allied powers split Germany into occupation zones. The Soviet zones, on the east portion of Berlin, are closed off in psychological and later physical terms from the west. This boundary is known as the Iron Curtain. It would remain until the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991. -
United Nations is Formed
Created to make a more interdependent and less-likely to wage war world, the UN was established on this date. With the existence of the UN, it was now harder to declare war on countries, as an entire group of nations would request you to cease or have sanctions made against you. -
Truman Doctrine speech is given
President Truman's speech outlining his plan to give economic assistance to the nations of Greece and Turkey, entirely to prevent them from falling under Soviet control, is given. -
Israel's Creationary Bill is Adopted
The bill which recommended the creation of Israel within the Palestinian territory would lead to the creation of the Jewish State of Israel. This resulted in the aggression of surrounding Arab and muslim nations against Jewish people. -
U.S. Marshall Plan in effect
The activity by the United States to provide aid to post-war Europe through supplies and assistance in opening trade. Continued for four years. -
Berlin Blockade
During the post-war occupation of Germany, the Soviet Union blocked all the west powers' paths to Berlin.
First major crisis of the Cold War -
Berlin Airlift
Due to the Soviets' decision to blockade all movement of supplies into West Berlin via railroad or road, the West powers, particularly the United States and the British, decided to airdrop supplies into the city. -
NATO Formed
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is formed. This resulted in a web of safety for all involved parties, in that an attack of any of them at any point would be considered an attack on them all. This strengthened the cold war's stalemate-ness in that the Soviets could no longer even conventionally attack any of the European NATO members, as this would cause the US to attack. -
Korean War Begins
The United States, with assistance from the UN, launches an attack on North Korea through South Korea.
The war would turn out to be an indecisive failure. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
Joseph Stalin, at the time the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, died on this day. With the loss of their strong communist leader, the people of the Soviet Union would stop being quite so heartened in the Communist Party's power. -
The Suez Crisis
A brief war pitting Israel, France, and Britain against Egypt. The war was fought due to the decision to nationalize the Suez Canal, which quickly lead to aggression by western powers, especially since Egypt had just formed a tie with the Soviet Union. Shortly after the war's beginning however, pressure from the US and USSR led to the cease of combat. -
U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik 1
The first man-made satellite, launched by the Soviets. Cauaes the Space Race to begin. -
USSR launches Sputnik 2
Sputnik 2
A second craft launched by the Soviets is launched, this time with a living creature aboard. The first non-microscopic living being in space, a dog named Laika, marks another success in the Space Race for the Soviets. -
NAS-Act is passed. NASA is formed
The National Aeronautics and Space act lead to the dissolution of NACA and the formation of NASA. The formation of NASA lead to the United States' many leaps and bounds in the Space Race. -
U-2 Incident
On this date, a pilot of the United States, flying a U-2 spy plane over the USSR, is shot down. This incident raised further suspicion between the two superpowers. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
This invasion was launched by the CIA, with hopes to overthrow the liberal, communistic government of Cuba. Total failure, Cuba remained under such control and ended up a major ally of the USSR, and their proximity with the US was not good at all. -
Berlin Wall Construction Begins
Border guards of East Germany begin tearing up roads to construct an impassable point between East and West Germany. A wall will soon reside here. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviets move to deploy medium-range missiles in Cuba.
Leads to an uproar in the United States, as including a raising of the DEFCON level.
Regarded by most as the closest to Global Thermonuclear War in human history -
John F. Kennedy is Assassinated
On this date, President Kennedy was assassinated, supposedly by Lee Harvey Oswald, who is believed to have acted alone. This assassination is plagued with conspiracies, blaming the government, the federal reserve, the Soviets, and more. -
Direct Involvement of American Soldiers in the Vietnam War
On this date, the United States, after many attacks on air force bases in Vietnam, decided the South Vietnamese military was incapable of defending the base on its own. 3,500 US Marines were shipped in to do this. -
USS Pueblo Affair
North Koreans approached the American ship USS Pueblo with Soviet style vehicles, and proceeded to board and capture the ship. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Signed
A treaty signed by most nuclear powers giving all nuclear nations the right to use Nuclear power in peaceful ways, rules against proliferation of the nuclear weaponry, and the demand to begin disarming their nuclear armaments. -
American Moon Landing
First humans touch on the moon, Americans at that.
Ends the true space race -
Fall of South Vietnam
On this date, the then president of then country South Vietnam signed an unconditional surrender of Saigon and all of South Vietnam to the North Vietnamese.
This lead to the dissolution of South Vietnam and allowed the communist North Vietnamese to control the entire new country, Vietnam. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis Begins
A group of Iranian students take the American Embassy and hold 52 American citizens hostage. The Iranians were of a group known as the "Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line" -
Soviets Invade Afghanistan
The Soviet Union began to advance their 40th army into Afghanistan on this date. This would result in the Soviet-Afghan war, which would drain the USSR's resources and last 9 years.
The US and UK's assistance of the local Mujahideen would result in an armed band which the US would fight long after the Cold War had ended. -
US Boycotts Moscow Olympic Games
During the Summer of 1980, the United States refused to participate in the Summer Olympics being held in Moscow. West Germany, Canada, and other West countries also boycotted. -
Soviet False Alarm
On this day, the Soviet early-warning system reported two U.S. missile launches, and an officer, Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov, thankfully identified this warning as false.
This is likely the nearest to nuclear annihilation humanity has ever been. -
American Invasion of Grenada
Resulted in a less-than-two-month conflict in which the United States took a decisive victory against Cuban and Grenadan forces. The US only lost 19 men. -
USSR Boycotts Los Angeles Olympic Games
During this year, the Soviets boycotted the Summer olympic games being held in the United States. Other Communist nations, such as Vietnam and the East Bloc also boycotted, preferring to have their own games, which they called "The Friendship Games" -
Chernobyl Disaster
On this date, a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, near Pripyat in Ukraine suffered a catastrophic accident resulting in a total evacuation of these cities and an exclusion zone of 30km around the plant being established. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
In China, many protests occurred in Tiananmen square in 1989. This resulted in the Chinese government advancing a tank platoon and other military elements to stop the protests, and resulted in the deaths of many protestors. -
The Berlin Wall's Demolition Begins
With the loss of power in the Soviet government, the people of the east and west bloc begin chipping away the wall which has seperated them for so long.
This is the beginning of the end for the Soviet Union, and, as such, the Cold War -
Soviet Union Dissolves
On this date, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR indefinitely suspended all activity.
