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COLD WAR
The Cold War, often dated from 1947 to 1991, was a sustained state of political and military tension between powers in the Western Bloc, dominated by the United States with NATO among its allies, and powers in the Eastern Bloc, dominated by the Soviet Union along with the Warsaw Pact. This began after the success of their temporary wartime alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving the USSR and the US as two superpowers with profound economic and political differences. -
Yalta conferense
COLD WARS begins
February 8: The Yalta Conference takes place, deciding the post-war status of Germany. The Allies of World War II (the USA, the USSR, Great Britain and France) divide Germany into four occupation zones. The Allied nations agree that free elections are to be held in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany. In addition, the new United Nations are to replace the failed League of Nations. -
The United Kingdom
January 5: The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom.
January 19: China officially diplomatically recognizes Vietnam as independent from France. -
The Baghdad Pact
February 24: The Baghdad Pact is founded by Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. It is committed to resisting Communist expansion in the Middle East.
March: Soviet aid to Syria begins. The Syrians will remain allies of the Soviets until the end of the Cold War. -
Testing the first Atomic Bomb
February 16: France successfully tests its first atomic bomb, Gerboise Bleue, in the middle of the Algerian Sahara Desert.
April: Jupiter IRBM deployment to Italy begins, placing nuclear missiles within striking range of Moscow (as with the Thor IRBMs deployed in the UK). -
Defend South Vietnam
March 8: US military build up to defend South Vietnam. North Vietnam has also committed its forces in the war. US begins sustained bombing of North Vietnam.
April 28: US forces invade the Dominican Republic to prevent a communist takeover like the one that occurred in Cuba. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
March 5: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, ratified by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States, among others, enters into force.
March 18: Lon Nol takes power in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese Communists attack the new regime, which wants to end North Vietnamese presence in Cambodia -
The Killing Fields
April 17: The communist Khmer Rouge take power in Cambodia; genocide ensues, later referred to as "The Killing Fields".
April 30: North Vietnam wins the war in South Vietnam. The South Vietnam regime falls with the surrender of Saigon and the two countries are united under a Communist government. -
Miracle on Ice
February 22: The United States Olympic Hockey Team defeats the Soviet Union in the semi finals to go into the gold medal round vs. Finland. The event/team becomes known as the "Miracle on Ice".
March 21: The United States and its allies boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics (July 19-August 3) in Moscow -
Soviet Union.
March 11: Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union.
August 6: Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet Union begins what it has announced is a 5-month unilateral moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons. The Reagan administration dismisses the dramatic move as nothing more than propaganda and refuses to follow suit. -
Gulf War
August 2: Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning Gulf War. -
Cold War ends
February 28: Gulf War ends.
December 31: All Soviet institutions cease operations.
