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Conference meeting
February 4-11: Yalta Conference meeting of FDR, Churchill, Stalin - the 'Big Three'
Soviet Union has control of Eastern Europe. The Cold War Begins -
VE day
May 8: VE Day - Victory in Europe. Germany surrenders to the Red Army in Berlin -
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference - Germany was officially partitioned into four zones of occupation. -
Atomic bomb
August 6: The United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima (20 kiloton bomb 'Little Boy' kills 80,000) -
UN resolution calling for general elections
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 112(II) which called for a general election under the supervision of the UN Commission. However, the Soviet Union refused to comply with the UN resolution and denied the UN Commission access to the northern part of Korea. The UN Assembly adopted a new resolution calling for elections in areas accessible to the UN Commission. -
Elections held in Korea
The first elections in Korea took place on May 10, 1948, in the area south of the 38th parallel. -
Berlin blockade and Airlift
Responding to the Western Allies currency reforms in the Western occupation zones, Stalin ordered the land access routes to Berlin to be blockaded. This act cut off over 2,500,000 people living in the Western zones with minimal food stocks. The West responded by launching what became known as the Berlin Airlift. US and British cargo planes flew round the clock sorties to supply the city. Eventually 213,000 sorties carrying 1.7 million tons of supplies would be flown to Berlin. -
Republic of Korea established
Republic of Korea established. “On August 15, 1948 the government of the Republic of Korea was established. The Korean general assembly chose Syngman Rhee as the first president of the Korean Republic. Rhee was a Korean patriot, and previously had been an anti-Japanese resistance leader -
US Extends Diplomatic Recognition to the Repbulic of Korea
US extended diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Korea (South Korea). -
Creation of West Germany
A new Federal Republic of Germany was formed by combining the French, British, and American occupation zones. Konrad Adenauer, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was elected the first Chancellor of the new FRG. The Western Allied powers formally withdrew any power over their former occupation zones. However, Western troops remained in the new FRG. -
Secretary Acheson Defines America's Defensive Perimeter in Asia
On January 12, 1950 Secretary of State Dean Acheson in a speech to the National Press Club defined America’s defensive perimeter in Asia without including Korea. Shortly thereafter on January 19, the Congress rejected a $60 million aid bill for South Korea. -
North Korea Invades South Korea
At approximately 4 a.m. (Korean Standard Time) on a rainy Sunday morning Democratic People's Republic of Korea Army (DPRK - North Korea) artillery and mortars open fire on Republic of Korea (ROK - South Korea) Army positions south of the 38th Parallel, the line then serving as the border between the two countries. The opening barrage is followed shortly by tank/infantry attacks at all points along the Parallel. At 11 a.m. North Korea announced a formal declaration of war and what is now known as -
United Nations Creates a UN Command in Korea
The United Nations issued Resolution 84, which created a United Nations Command which would be led by General Douglas MacArthur. -
Truman Approves NSC 81/1
Truman approved National Security Council (NSC) Report 81/1. The report endorsed plans for UN forces to occupy all of North Korea so they could eventually be reunited. -
US Lands at Inchon
On the morning of September 15, 1950, heavy fighting continued in the 1st Cavalry Division sector of the "Pusan Perimeter" north and west of Taegu. To the south in the 2nd Infantry Division "Naktong Bulge" sector, pockets of survivors from 2 North Korean divisions, who had crossed the Naktong early in the month, were being slowly reduced and the Naktong River Defense Line restored. -
Seoul Recaptured by Communist Forces
The combined communist forces of China and North Korea recaptured the South Korean capital of Seoul. The capture of the city follows a fast retreat by UN forces in the face of a large offensive made possible by large Chinese reinforcements. The capture of Seoul resulted from the third phase of the CCF offensive. During the two week period from January 1-15 500,000 CCF forces pushed UN forces to a line 50 miles south of Seoul. -
UN Brands China as an Aggressor
The UN General Assembly issues Resolution 498(V) addressing the "Intervention of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in Korea." The UN branded Communist China as an aggressor in Korea and called upon it to cease hostilities and withdraw from Korea. -
Gen. MacArthur Relived of Command
On April 11, 1951, the President relieved General MacArthur, triggering a firestorm of protest over our strategy not only in Korea, but in the Cold War as a whole. As the last great general of World War II to come home, MacArthur received a hero's welcome. Despite his dramatic televised address to a joint session of Congress, however, the issue died quickly, and with it any hopes MacArthur had of reaching the White House in 1952. -
Jacob Malik Proposes Korean Truce
The USSR delgate to the UN, Jacob Malik, proposed a truce on the Korean peninsula. -
Korean War Truce Talks Begin
Korean War truce talks began on this day. -
38th Parallel Agreed On as Line of Demarcation
Nov. 27, 1951, the two sides agreed on the 38th Parallel as the line of demarcation and almost immediately military operations slowed down. -
Martial Law is Delcared in Pusan
South Korean President Syngman Rhee declares martial law in Pusan. -
Truce Talks are Halted and General Clark Inititates Operation Showdown
After truce talks halt, General Clark initiates Operation Showdown. -
Truce Talks Resume at Panmunjom
Truce talks resume at Panmunjom after a nine month halt in the talks. The talks were moved from Kaesong so they could take place in a more neutral area between the battle lines. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
Stalin died in the Soviet Union. The death of Stalin prompted Permier Georgi Malenkov to voice support for a cease-fire agreement.
