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Postdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference divided up Europe between Democracy and Communism. The Big 3,the US, Soviet Union and Great Britain, divided up the continent including Germany itself, into East and West. Source:https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/potsdam-conf -
Truman Doctrine
In order to prevent Communism from spreading to Greece and Turkey, Harry Truman pledged to help the economies of these nations with financial aid in what was known as the Truman Doctrine. No military force was used and the two nations later joined NATO. Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/truman-doctrine -
Berlin Airlift
With the attempt to isolate West Berlin from the Western allies, the USSR created a blockade to prevent the allies from sending food and supplies to their democratic portion of East Germany. The allies responded by using aircrafts to drop food, supplies and even Christmas presents to the people of West Berlin. Source:https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/berlin-airlift -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an alliance between the Western allies that sought to preserve a democratic society. The Warsaw Pact would be signed in 1955 on the Communist side which would rival with NATO throughout the Cold War. Source:https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nato -
Korean War
By the time it was 1948, 2 seperate govenrments were installed in Korea. The USSR controlled a Communist North and the US controlled a Democratic South. Both claimed to be the official governments of Korea. The North invaded the South aided by China and the USSR. The US helped fight for the South Koreans. The conflict would end in in 1953 with a ceisefire, but no peace treaty would ever be signed. Source:https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/korean-war-2 -
Warsaw Pact
In response to the Democratic West's NATO alliance, the Soviet Union and its satellite nations created their own alliance under a Communist government. Some satellie nations included Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and East Germany. Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/warsaw-treaty -
The Hungarian Revolt
Under Soviet communist control, Hungary and its citizens were struggling. They lacked basic rights and demanded poltical changes. Many created militas and mobs and protested a change in thie society. The Soviet government responded by crushing the rebellion. 2,500 Hungarians were killed along with 700 Soviet troops. Source: http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB76/ -
Sputnik I
The Soviets launched the first satellite into space on October 4, 1957. This would begin what be known as the "Space Race" between the US and the Soviet Union to see who could make the most progress outside of Earth's atmosphere. Source: http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/lw/103729.htm -
Fidel Castro rise to Power
A young rebel named Fidel Castro led a guerilla campaign that overthrew Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship. He replaced the old government with a new Communist government and became close allies with the Soviet Union. Source:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/castro-sworn-in -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The CIA funded and trained a brigade of Cuban anti-Communist DRF soldiers to overthrow Fidel Castro and the Communist government. The invasion was a complete failure and the blame was put on President John. F. Kennedy. Most of the soldiders or killed or captured by the Cuban communists. Source:http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/bay-of-pigs-invasion -
East Germany puts up Berlin Wall
In order to prevent people from fleeing into the Democratic side of West Berlin, the Soviets put up a wall and used military force to make sure nobody would dare cross onto the other side. The wall would stay up until 1989. Source:http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
Cuban Missle Crisis
In response to the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion and increasing tensions with the US in Europe, the USSR and Cuba secretly agreed to seply Soviet Nuclear Missiles in Cuba, 90 miles away from Florida. After nearly 2 weeks, an agreement was met by the US and USSR and the Soviets agreed to dismantle the weapons and return them back to their country. Source:https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis -
Tet Offensive
It was the beginning of the end for the US and the Democratic South Vietnemese. The Viet Cong from the North launched their largest military campaign of the war. By 1975, the Communists had taken South Vietnam, and the war ended in defeat for the US. Source:http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive -
Berlin Wall torn down
The Berlin Wall came down in November 1989. For the first time in almost 3 decades the citizens of East Berlin and West Berlin were reunited. To many, this marked the end of the Cold War, and the end of Communism. Source:http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
End of the USSR
The Soviet Union officially broke up into 15 independent states in 1991, ending the iron fist of Communism in Eastern Europe. The new country of Russia was made the new terroitory with Boris Yeltsin as the new president. Source:http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union
