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The United Nations is established at a conference in San Francisco. The U.S.A., the Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and (by then, nationalist) China are assigned permanent seats (and a veto power) in the Security Council. -
With the support of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) rose against the Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the U.K. and the U.S. The National Army finally defeated the Communist forces.
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As a response to Communist uprisings in Greece and Soviet demands from Turkey, president H. Truman pledged to “assist free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”. This was known as the Truman Doctrine and was the backbone of the American foreign policy aimed at the “containment” of Soviet expansion (now considered a direct threat to the national security of the U.S.). It would lead to the creation of NATO in 1949. -
The Soviets blockade road and railroad access to West Berlin. The West responds with a massive airlift with supplies for the occupying forces and the inhabitants of the city.
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In 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall announces U.S. plan to aid the rebuilding of Europe. It enters into effect in 1948 -
Marshall Plan goes into effect on April 3, 1948, signed by President Truman. The Soviet Union and its allies of the Eastern bloc reject it. In Yugoslavia, Tito breaks with Stalin and requests U.S. aid.
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With the agreement of the UN, Britain removes its remaining troops from Israel and the country declares its independence. The date is usually marked as the creation of the modern State of Israel. Both Truman and Stalin recognize the new state. The Arab-Israeli War begins between the country and a coalition of Arab states. -
The UN adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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The Western powers encourage the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), with its capital in the city of Bonn, and the U.S.S.R forms the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), with its capital in Eastern Berlin. -
The U.S. and Western Europe create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Its chain of command was headed by General Eisenhower. -
The Soviet Union successfully tests an atomic bomb. -
Mao Zedong's Red Army defeats the Kuomintang nationalists, who retreat to Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party proclaims the People's Republic of China and allies itself with the U.S.S.R. -
Korean War demonstrates new American policy to “contain” communism.
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The North Korean Army begins invasion of South Korea across the 38th parallel. The U.S. is backed by the UN to intervene. The Korean War begins.
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The U.S. tests its first thermonuclear hydrogen bomb in 1953, hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb used at Hiroshima. The Soviets finish developing their own hydrogen bomb the following year.
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The death of Stalin marks the beginning of a new era era in Soviet and East European history -
Eisenhower signs an armistice with North Korea, establishing the partition roughly around the previous border of the 38th parallel with a demilitarized buffer zone. Around 4 million lives have been lost and tens of thousands of American troops remain stationed in South Korea (which continues to this day).
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In Iran, the CIA organizes a coup to overthrow the democratically elected prime minister after he nationalizes oil. The Shah of Iran returns to the throne and implements a pro-Western policy.
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France is defeated and leaves Indochina. Laos and Cambodia are recognized and Vietnam is divided along the 17th parallel, with Communists in the North and the Vietnam Republic in the South.
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The left-wing government introduces an agrarian reform that affects the interests of the United Fruit Company. The CIA organizes a coup d’état to overthrow the government. -
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The U.S.S.R. signs a defensive military alliance with the Eastern Bloc countries. The Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) is created as a Soviet response to NATO. -
29 African and Asian countries of the “Third World”, most of which have recently gained their independence, hold a conference in Bandung (Indonesia) to condemn colonization and proclaim their neutrality. -
Unsuccessful revolts against Soviet control in Poland and Hungary.
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Egyptian president Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal and closes it. British, French, and Israeli troops invade the country. The U.S.S.R allies with Nasser and threatens to retaliate with nuclear weapons. Canada and the U.S. intervene and the UN orders the withdrawal of the invading troops. This event marks the end of French and British colonial domination. The canal fully opens to shipping in April of 1957.
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Mao Zedong launches his plan to transform industry and agriculture in Communist China. Within a generation, China would go from being an agrarian, semi-feudal society into a modern industrial country. -
Six West-European nations (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg) sign the Treaty of Rome, establishing a new Common Market for trade.
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After a popular referendum, France adopts a new constitution establishing the Fifth Republic. Charles de Gaulle is elected president in December.
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The French war in Algeria ends with the recognition of Algerian Independence.
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In October 1962 the world comes close to a full-scale nuclear war. In response to the American deployment of missiles in Italy and Turkey, U.S.S.R. First Secretary Nikita Kruschev deploys nuclear missiles in Castro’s Cuba. The crisis ends when both countries agree to remove all missiles from said locations. -
China successfully tests its first atomic bomb.
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Americans bomb the Communist-controlled area north of the 17th parallel and begin a massive deployment of troops.
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Mao Zedong launches the sociopolitical movement known as the “Cultural Revolution,” which creates disruption across China.
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China successfully tests its first hydrogen bomb.
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As the conflict intensifies, the U.S. are forced to deploy up to 500,000 troops in Vietnam.
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The European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Market, and the European Atomic Community consolidate themselves into the European Union. -
The reunification treaty integrates West and East Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany. -
The checkpoints at the border between West and East Germany are opened and people are let through in both directions. People cheer the bulldozers that start to bring down the wall and join the demolition process. -
President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Malta and declare the end of the Cold War.