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Cold War Timeline
Cold War Timeline -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference occurs, deciding the post-war status of Germany. The Allies of World War II (the USA, the USSR, Great Britain and France) divide Germany into four occupation zones. The Allied nations agree that free elections are to be held in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany. In addition, the new United Nations are to replace the failed League of Nations. -
The US announces new occupation policies in Germany.
The occupation directive JCS 1067, whose economic section had prohibited "steps looking toward the economic rehabilitation of Germany [or] designed to maintain or strengthen the German economy", is replaced by the new US occupation directive JCS 1779 which instead notes that "An orderly, prosperous Europe requires the economic contributions of a stable and productive Germany." -
The Soviet Union declares the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of all of Korea
The Soviet Union declares the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, with Kim Il-sung as Prime Minister. -
the foundation of the People's Republic of China
Mao Zedong declares the foundation of the People's Republic of China - adding a quarter of the world's population to the communist camp. -
The Soviets declare their zone of Germany to be the German Democratic Republic
The Soviets declare their zone of Germany to be the German Democratic Republic, with its capital at East Berlin. -
The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China.
The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. -
North Korea invades South Korea
The Soviet Union cannot veto, as it is boycotting the Security Council over the admission of People's Republic of China. Eventually, the number of countries operating under the UN aegis increases to 16: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. -
the end of Korean War
An armistice agreement ends fighting in the Korean War. -
Foundation of the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO)
Foundation of the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) by Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Like NATO, it is founded to resist Communist expansion, this time in the Philippines and Indochina. -
The Warsaw Pact is founded in Eastern Europe
The Warsaw Pact is founded in Eastern Europe and includes East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. It acts as the Communist military counterpart to NATO. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviets have secretly been installing military bases, including nuclear weapons, on Cuba, some 90 miles from the US mainland. Kennedy orders a "quarantine" (a naval blockade) of the island that intensifies the crisis and brings the US and the USSR to the brink of nuclear war. In the end, both sides reach a compromise. The Soviets back down and agree to withdraw their nuclear missiles from Cuba, in exchange for a secret agreement by Kennedy pledging to withdraw similar American missiles from -
John F. Kennedy is shot and killed
John F. Kennedy is shot and killed in Dallas. There has been some speculation over whether communist countries or even CIA were involved in the assassination, but those theories remain controversial. Kennedy's vice-president Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President of the United States. -
US President Lyndon B. Johnson claims that North Vietnamese naval vessels had fired on two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
US President Lyndon B. Johnson claims that North Vietnamese naval vessels had fired on two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Although there was a first attack, it was later proven that American vessels had entered North Vietnamese territory, and the second attack is proved unfounded. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident leads to the open involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War, after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
Nixon visits China
the first visit by a U.S. President since the establishment of the People's Republic of China. -
Sino-Vietnamese War
China launches a punitive attack on North Vietnam to punish it for invading Cambodia. -
invade Afghanistan
The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan to oust Hafizullah Amin, resulting in the end of Détente. -
Soviet institutions
All Soviet institutions cease operations.
