COLD WAR : Enquiry 3 Global Cold War

By timelainevole

  • Bandung Conference

    Takes place in Indonesia, marking a growing sense of independence among former colonies and a potential "Third World" bloc.

  • Warsaw Pact formed

  • Khrushchev's Secret Speech

    "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences"
    Delivered at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union - criticised Stalin's brutality, stirring up the communist world
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    Pozan Uprising

    Uprising in Poznan erupts as workers protest against poor working conditions. The uprising is suppressed by the Polish government with Soviet backing.
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    Hungarian Revolution

    The Hungarian Revolution breaks out against Soviet control. The uprising is brutally crushed by Soviet forces, signifying the limits of "peaceful coexistence." Thousands were killed and wounded and nearly a quarter of a million Hungarians fled the country.

  • "We Will Bury You" Speech

  • First ICBM launched by USSR

    First Intercontinental Ballistic Missile R-7 Semyorka launched by USSR. Could travel 8800 km

  • Sputnik 1 Launched

    Soviet Union launches the first artificial satellite, sparking the Space Race.

  • USA Fail to Launch Satellite

    USA launched Vanguard but it crashed and was nicknamed "Flopnik"

  • NORAD launched

    The United States launches NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).

  • Explorer 1 launched

    The United States launches Explorer 1, its first artificial satellite.

  • Revolution in Cuba Ends

    Fidel Castro leads a successful revolution in Cuba, overthrowing the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista.

  • Camp David Summit

    Khrushchev visits the United States, meeting with President Eisenhower at Camp David. The "Spirit of Camp David" fosters a brief period of optimism.

  • Before CMC: Mikoyan visits Cuba

    USSR First Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan visits Cuba and arranges $100M in credit => signs sugar and oil deals, first of many pacts over next 30 years. => fosters economic and political relationship with Cuba

  • Before CMC: US oil companies refuse to refine Cuban Crude Oil from USSR

    Castro nationalises oil companies => US economic sanctions + sugar import reduced by 95% => October 1960 Castro seizes $1B worth US assets on Cuba

  • U2 Paris Summit Crisis

    U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is shot down over the Soviet Union while on a reconnaissance mission. The incident leads to the collapse of the Paris Summit between Khrushchev and Eisenhower.

  • Conflict in Asia: NLF established in South Vietnam

  • First Manned Spaceflight

    108 minute manned spaceflight by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin

  • Before CMC: Bay of Pigs Invasion

    A CIA-backed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government fails. This further strains US-Cuban relations.
    1500 anti-Castro exiles trained and armed by CIA
    Ends in Failure

  • The Berlin Crisis

    The East German government begins construction of the Berlin Wall, effectively dividing the city. Caused by several factors:
    West Berlin = flagship of Western capitalism
    Exodus of East Germans => brain drain => 300k leave in 1953, 150k in 1956, 10k in 1961
    Hallstein Doctrine => FRG end diplomatic relations with those recognising GDR
    Rejection of USSR's Berlin Ultimatum
    Needed to reaffirm 1st among equals role

  • Conflict in Asia: Taylor-Rostow Report

    Counterinsurgency measures recommended : training South Vietnamese Army, increasing US combat forces, bombing North Vietnam

  • Before CMC: Operation Mongoose

    Covert operations to destabilise Castro's regime and overthrow it

  • Before CMC: Operation Quick Kick

    US Military Manoeuvres in Caribbean

  • Conflict in Asia: Operation Sunrise

    Forced relocation of South Vietnamese peasants in fortified hamlets to protect/isolate from Vietcong - 3000 hamlets with 1 million people by the end of 1962. Corruption + Alienation = Failure

  • Before CMC: U2 Spy Planes Photograph Nuclear Sites under construction in Cuba

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    Cuban Missile Crisis

    The United States discovers Soviet ballistic missiles being installed in Cuba, leading to a tense standoff between the superpowers. The crisis is resolved through a back-channel deal, with the Soviets removing the missiles in exchange for US assurances not to invade Cuba.
    27th October 1962 - Naval Quarantine on Cuba Khrushchev offers removal of nuclear missiles (in second messages requests removal of US Jupiter misisles from Turkey) - Kennedy ignores 2nd message - Khrushchev humiliated
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    Conflict in Asia: Buddhist Crisis

    Buddhists persecuted by Diem as he favoured Catholics. May 1963 - Buddhists banned from flying flags for Buddha's birthday leading to protests - 9 killed
    Buddhist leader Tri Quang warned USA against Diem
    June 1963 first monk burns himself alive - Thích Quang Duc

  • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed

    The Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is signed by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, marking a small step towards arms control.

  • Valentina Tereshkova becomes First Woman in Space

  • Conflict in Asia: Diem and Nhu Assassinated

    South Vietnamese Rebel Generals plan a coup that leads to Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu being assassinated