Early Events of the Cold War

  • Bufffer States of The USSR

    Poland and other states between Germany and the Soviet Union have sometimes been described as buffer states, with reference both to when they were non-communist states before World War II, and to when they were communist states after World War II.
  • Buffer States of the USSR

    Poland and other states between Germany and the Soviet Union have sometimes been described as buffer states, with reference both to when they were non-communist states before World War II, and to when they were communist states after World War II.
  • Atomic Bomb

    President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end. The American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
  • Atomic Bomb

    President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end. The American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
  • Molotov Plan

    The Molotov plan was symbolic of the Soviet Union's refusal to accept aid from the Marshall Plan, or allow any of their satellite states to do so, because of their belief that the Plan was an attempt to weaken Soviet interest.
  • Truman Doctorine

    President Harry S. Truman asked for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Greece and Turkey and established a doctrine, aptly characterized as the Truman Doctrine, that would guide U.S. diplomacy for the next 40 years.
  • U.S. Aid to Greece & Turkey

    It was incumbent upon the United States to support Greece so that it could “become a self-supporting and self-respecting democracy.” The people of Turkey also needed U.S. aid, which was “necessary for the maintenance of its national integrity.” Truman requested $400 million in assistance for the two nations. Congress approved his request two months later.
  • U.S. Aid Greece & Turkey

    It was incumbent upon the United States to support Greece so that it could “become a self-supporting and self-respecting democracy.” The people of Turkey also needed U.S. aid, which was “necessary for the maintenance of its national integrity.” Truman requested $400 million in assistance for the two nations. Congress approved his request two months later.
    Also in the Truman Doctrine.
  • Truman Doctorine

    President Harry S. Truman asked for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Greece and Turkey and established a doctrine, aptly characterized as the Truman Doctrine, that would guide U.S. diplomacy for the next 40 years.
  • Marshall Plan

    Marshall Plan was a program by which the United States gave large amounts of economic aid to European countries to help them rebuild after the devastation of World War II.
  • Berlin Airlift

    Berlin aircraft was a military operation in the late 1940s that brought food and other needed goods into West Berlin by air.
  • Berlin Airlift

    Berlin aircraft was a military operation in the late 1940s that brought food and other needed goods into West Berlin by air.
  • NATO Established

    NATO was a military alliance of European and North American democracies founded after World War II.
  • NATO Established

    NATO was a military alliance of European and North American democracies founded after World War II.
  • USSR Atomic Bomb

    The USSR detonated its first atomic bomb. This scared the U.S. that they had caught up. Led to a period of mutual assured destruction.
  • USSR Atomic Bomb

    The USSR detonated its first atomic bomb. This scared the U.S. that they had caught up. Led to a period of mutual assured destruction.
  • Communist Win over China

    The Americans reinstated Chiang Kai-shek as ruler of China, and tried to organise a truce between Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, but after the surrender of Japan a civil war broke out, which the Communists won after a vicious struggle.
  • Communist Win Over China

    The Americans reinstated Chiang Kai-shek as ruler of China, and tried to organise a truce between Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, but after the surrender of Japan a civil war broke out, which the Communists won after a vicious struggle.
  • Korean War

    Korean War was fought in the early 1950s between the United Nations, supported by the United States, and the communist North Korea. The war began in 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea.
  • Coup in Iran

    The overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favour of strengthening the monarchical rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
  • Coup in Iran

    The overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favour of strengthening the monarchical rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
  • Coup In Guatemala

    The 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état was a covert operation carried out by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that deposed the democratically elected Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz and ended the Guatemalan Revolution.
  • Coup in Guatemala

    The 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état was a covert operation carried out by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that deposed the democratically elected Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz and ended the Guatemalan Revolution.
  • Communist Angola

    The Angolan War of Independence began as an uprising against forced cotton cultivation, and became a multi-faction struggle for the control of Portugal's Overseas Province of Angola among three nationalist movements and a separatist movement.
  • Communist Angola

    The Angolan War of Independence began as an uprising against forced cotton cultivation, and became a multi-faction struggle for the control of Portugal's Overseas Province of Angola among three nationalist movements and a separatist movement.
  • Warsaw Pact Formed

    Warsaw Pact was an alliance between the soviets and all of the eastern European countries.
  • Beginning of the Troop in Vietnam

    The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War, was a conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
  • Beginning of the Troops in Vietnam

    The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War, was a conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
  • Suez Canal Crisis

    The Israelis soon were joined by French and British forces, which nearly brought the Soviet Union into the conflict, and damaged their relationships with the United States. Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-70) nationalized the canal in July of that same year, initiating the Suez Crisis.
  • Hungary Rebellion

    A nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies.
  • Hungary Rebellion

    A nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies.
  • Sputnik

    Former Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite. This begins the space race.