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US drops the first atomic bomb
'Little Boy' is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. -
US drops the second atomic bomb
'Fat Man', the second atomic bomb, is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. -
Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech
Churchill makes an historic speech regarding the power of US democracy in the face of the impending communist threat. -
Berlin Blockade 1948-1949
The USSR blocked supply routes so that the US and the allied forces were forced to airlift necessities into West Germany. The blockade lasted over a year. -
USSR gain atomic technology
The USSR detonate their own atomic bomb. -
Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his witchhunt
Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his assault on suspected subversive activities by communists and communist sympathisers within the US. His largely unsubstantiated claims led to him being censured by the Senate. -
Korean War 1950-1953
The Korean War begins, with North Korea supported by USSR and China and South Korea supported by the US and the Allied forces. The conflict resulted in a demarcation which exists along the 38th Parallel to this day. -
Vietnam War 1955 - 1975
Resulting in a North Vietnam victory, the Vietnam War was fought between South and North Vietnam - the former supported by the US and her allies, with the North supported by the USSR, China, North Korea and other Communist allies. -
Suez Canal Crisis
Egypt takes over the Suez Canal from rule by the British as a protectorate. -
Sputnik is launched - the Space Race begins
USSR launches the first space craft into orbit. -
Fidel Castro gains power in Cuba
Castro, a communist with the support of the USSR, comes to power in Cuba, a nation very close to the United States. -
Espionage...
The Soviet Union admits that a US spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory. -
JFK elected President
The charismatic Kennedy is elected President, and is a fervent believer in anti-Communist activities. He was assassinated while in office in 1963. -
Bay of Pigs crisis
A paramilitary group trained by the CIA attempted to invade Cuba. They were defeated in 3 days by Cuban armed forces in an embarrassing incident for the US, and one which strengthened Castro's socialist leanings in Cuba. -
Construction of the Berlin Wall
Construction of the Berlin Wall begins. It will become a foremost symbol in the Cold War, separating East and West Berlin. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The USSR proposed to keep missiles in Cuba to avoid any further invasion attempts from the US. The situation escalated, getting close to MAD - mutually assured destruction. -
First man on the moon
Apollo 11, carrying Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong becomes the first spaceship to land on the moon. "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind..." -
President Nixon resigns
Embroiled in the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigns his Presidency. This was a turning point in the Cold War. -
Vietnam War ends
The North Vietnamese army defeats the South. US troops are forced to withdraw. -
Gorbachev becomes leader of the USSR
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes a leader best known for his efforts in dissolving Soviet-US tensions through his policies of detente and perestroika, or the easing of tensions. The USSR was also dismantled under his control. -
Reagan and Gorbachev hold discussions
Both leaders discuss moving the missiles from within Europe. -
The fall of the Berlin Wall
East and West Berlin and East and West Germany by extension were reunified after the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. Another symbolic turning point in the Cold War. -
Demise of USSR/Soviet Emoire
With many countries in the former Communist Bloc becoming independent, the USSR dissolved. Many of the former bloc countries did not retain communism, electing to move towards democracy. With this, the communist threat also diminished.
