Cold War

[O] Iron curtain descends across Europe

1945

In 1945 an "iron curtain" descended across Europe, diving the capitalism West and communism East. No communication or item exchange was allowed between the divided Europe.

[O] Berlin Airlift

1948

To drive US away from Europe, Soviet Union landlocked West Germany to stop US from delivering aids to them. However, US found a way around by using planes and going by air.

Czechoslovakia becomes the last European country to become communist

1948

Creation of East and West Germany

1949

China aids North Korea and force UN troops to retreat

1950

[O] North Korea invades South Korea

1950

In 1945 Korea was divided into a communist North and capitalist South. There was great tension, and a war finally started in 1950. China and Soviet Union supported North Korea, while United Nations supported South Korea.

[O] Korean War ends with cease fire

1953

In 1953 the war between North and South Korea ended with a cease fire. The country still remain divided as a communist North and a capitalist South.

Stalin dies

1953

Soviets crush a revolt in Hungary

1954

France lose the Battle of Bien Bien Phu and pull out of Indochina

1954

Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier

1955

[O] Tet Offensive occurs

1955

Tet Offensive was an important part of the Vietnam War. It happened during the Vietnam New Year, which is how it got its name. It was a raid by the US to Vietnam and continued for a month.

[O] Sputnik I was launched

1957

Sputnik I was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by Soviet Union. At that time, US always considered itself the country with the most advanced technology, so they panicked when Soviet Union became the first one to launch a satellite. Many countries thought Sputnik I was a weapon and it almost turned into a hot war.

American spy plane shot down by Soviet Union

1960

[O] Construction of Berlin Wall

1961

The Berlin Wall was built by East Germany in 1961. It was used to physically divide West and East Germany. It was built without warning, so a lot of people were suddenly stuck on one side of the country.

Cuban Missile Crisis and US increase military in South Vietnam

1963

Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurs and US Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964

President Lyndon B. Johnson first send troops to Vietnam

1965

Détente begins

1972

US and North Vietnam agree to cease fire

1973

Vietnam becomes full communist

1975

Soviet-Afghan War starts

1979

Josip Broz Tito dies

1980

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of Soviet Union

1984

Soviet Union withdraw troops from Afghanistan

1988

[O] Romanian uprising and Nicholae Ceausescu and his wife killed

1988

Nicholae Ceausescu was a communist leader in Romania. He was a dictator that killed thousands of Romanians and disrupted the country's economy. After Soviet Union quitted Europe, people started rioting for Nicholae to step down. Soon afterwards he and his wife were captured and convicted. The army executed them, and sarcastically, immediately afterwards the new government abolished death penalty in Romania.

[O] Fall of Berlin Wall

1989

After Soviet Union broke apart due to multiple independence movements, they quitted Eastern Europe politics. Civil unrest in Germany finally made the government allow dismantling the Berlin Wall. This was a great step to Germany reunification.

[O] Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declare independence, and Germany reunites

1990

In 1990 Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declared their independence from Soviet Union. It was finally recognized in 1994. On the other hand, after Berlin Wall fell, East and West Germany reunited.

11 republics in Soviet Union such as Ukraine and Georgia declare independence

1991

Boris Yeltsin becomes first president of Russia

1991

Czechoslovakia becomes Czech Republic and Slovakia

1993