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Berlin Blockade
June 24, 1948 - May 12, 1949
After the end of ww2, Germany was divided up and so was its capital Berlin. Tensions mounted between the USSR and Western allies. Stalin imposed a blockade cutting off transit. Allies responded with a massive airlift. This was the 5th most important event of the Cold War. -
Korean War
June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953
On June 25, 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korea was supported by the USSR and China. South Korea was supported by the USA and UN. They were separated by the 38th parallel. This led to the deaths of 3 million people. This is the second most important event of the Cold War. -
Vietnam War
1954 - 1975
The Vietcong wanted to unify the entire country under one communist regime. By 1969, more than 500,000 US personnel were stationed there. The USSR and China poured weapons into the North. The US withdrew in 1973 and South Vietnam fell in 1975. 2 million civilian deaths, 1.1 million Vietcong, 250,000 South Vietnam, 58,200 USA. This is the 3rd most important event during the Cold War. -
Suez Canal Crisis
October 29, 1956 - November 7, 1956
Israeli armed forces pushed toward Egypt's Suez Canal. They were joined by French and British forces. Nearly brought the USSR into the conflict. Egypt emerged victorious. The Suez Canal was a valuable waterway that controlled 2/3's of the oil used by Europe. This is the 10th most important event of the Cold War. -
Space Race
1957 - 1969
The USA and the USSR were both trying to establish dominance in space. On Oct 4, 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. The USSR and the US went back and forth with ways to put people in space. The US finally put the first humans on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969. This is the 4th most important event of the Cold War. -
U-2 Incident
May 5, 1960 - May 17, 1960
The U-2 reconnaissance plane was shot down by the Soviets. The pilot, Francis gary Powers, admitted to working with the CIA and was trying to gather information from the USSR. Eisenhower promised to suspend all flights over the USSR for the remainder of his presidency but that wasn't enough for the soviets. Powers was sentenced to 10 years of confinement but was exchanged for soviet spy Rudolf Abel. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Oct 22, 1962 - Nov 20, 1962
The USSR set up nuclear missiles in Cuba. JFK placed a naval blockade on Cuba. The USSR then informed the US that they will take the weapons off Cuba and take them back to Russia. JFK promised to never invade Cuba and that they will remove their nukes from Turkey. This was the closest to global nuclear war ever. This is the most important event of the Cold War. -
Yom Kippur War
October 6, 1973 - November 1973
Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. At first the US was reluctant to join Israel. They finally joined after the USSR commended its resupply effort for Egypt and Syria. The UN called for a ceasefire. Israel signed a cease fire with Egypt then with Syria. This is the 11th most important event of the Cold War. -
Soviet War in Afghanistan
Dec 1979 - Feb 1989
The USSR invaded Afghanistan in Dec 1979. The USSR supported the Afghan communist government. The new communist government formed close ties with the USSR. Uprisings led to the soviets sending in 30,000 troops to stop them. The US backed the mujahideen rebellion. This was the 8th most important event of the Cold War. -
Able Archer Military Exercise
This was a NATO training exercise. It almost started nuclear war. The USSR thought that the US may carry out a nuclear attack under the guise of a drill. It was designed to simulate the start of a nuclear war. -
Soviets downing Korean Air Lines flight 007
The flight was shot down by soviet missiles near Sakhalin Island, Russia. It killed all 269 people on board. It was en route from Anchorage, Alaska to Seoul. It strayed 200 miles out of path into Soviet air space. President Ronald Reagan declared it an act of barbarism. This is the 7th most important event of the Cold War.