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V-E Day
AKA "Victory in Europe". Guerrillas captured and executed Mussolini. Soviet troops fought their way through Berlin and Adolf Hilter committed suicide by swallowing cyanide pills and shooting himself. But before killing himself, he took all military actions into his own hands and made really bad decisions. Also based on Germany's geographic location they had to concurrently fight off enemies on all borders. This was a militaristic action. -
Attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima. This attack destroyed four whole square miles and murdered more than 70,000 citizens. Not only were deaths accounted for in the moment but months later many residents died due to exposure of radiation. Another relating event is the second atomic bombing of Nagasaki two days later The Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria, where the US intervened. More than 40,00 people were killed. This was a militaristic event. -
The Truman Doctrine
Truman outlined a new policy to Congress and this policy was rooted to contain and limit communism to the areas that was in control by the Soviet Union. This doctrine helped guide the United States for years through. He insisted on resisting the Soviet expansion and to back up his idea he sent military troops to Greece and Turkey to fight off communism. This was a militaristic, economical, and political event. -
The Berlin Airlift
Stalin tried to keep the Western allies out of Berlin by cutting all the transportation such as railroads and highways. The Western allies response was to have air bound transportation to supply Berlin with food and fuel. After a year of this new mode of transportation, the Soviets realized that they lost to Berlin. This was a militaristic act because of the blockade and also a cultural act because the planes would supply citizens with survival needs such as food. -
Opposing Alliances
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established to create a military alliance with the United States, Canada, and ten other countries. This was set to help each other if anyone would go under attack. The Soviet Union and seven satellites in Eastern Europe were included, difference was that they would have to keep each other in check so no one dominates any other force. Also a division between the Western and Eastern Europe was clearly stated. This was a militaristic action. -
Nuclear Weapons Threaten the World
Balance of terror was established during the Cold War. At first, the United States was the only country with nuclear bombs and then a few years later the Soviet Union developed and got their hands on atomic bombs. By 1953, both sides had access to hydrogen bombs that did a lot more harm than regular atomic bombs. Both enemies were aware that they were able to completely demolish each other yet no one fired. This allowed for the balance of powers through terror. This is a militaristic act. -
A Wall Divides Berlin
Berlin was separated into democratic West Berlin and communist East Berlin. The citizens that were unhappy with the communist side of Berlin moved to the democratic side with more rights and resources available to them. This aggravated the Germans because the West would prosper while the economy of East Germany would decrease. The solution was for East Germany to build a wall between Berlin to restrict the people, forcing them to stay. This was a science as well as an economical action. -
The Berlin Wall was Toppled
For years citizens were limited and refined by the walls built around them separating them from the outside world which consisted of West Berlin. On the ninth of November new rules were drafted and allowed East Berlin citizens to finally do what they have wanted to for decades, which was leave. Citizens got together and slowly but surely destroyed the barrier that confined them. This was a political action that consisted of laws to finally unite the two sides again.