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Formation of the Eastern Bloc
The Eastern Bloc was a group of Communist states in central and eastern Europe. During World War II, these countries were taken by Germany. After the war, the Soviet Union did not want to leave these countries and staged fake elections to show that the citizens wanted to be Communist. This is when the countries were adapted into Communist states, forming the Eastern Bloc. -
Postwar Occupation and Division of Germany
During WWII, Germany experienced great losses, in both citizens and economy. At the Potsdam Conference, Germany was split up into four separate sections; giving a section to Britain, France, The United States, and the Soviet Union. Each section's parent country had different methods to restoring Germany, such as the Allies aimed for Democracy, while the Soviet Union wanted a Communist Germany. -
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought in Greece from 1946 to 1949 between Greece's government army and the Democratic Army of Greece. This war was an attempt of the communist party to take over Greece. The Greek government won, and the communists were unsuccessful. -
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The Cold War
The Cold war was called the "cold war" because it was a period of "cold" or indirect fighting between the Soviet Union and the United States along with their allies. The Cold War was characterized by Proxy Wars, or wars instigated by a major power that does not itself become involved. -
Enactment of Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was a program developed by a United States' Secretary of State. The plan gave large amounts of economic aid to European countries to help them rebuild after the devastation of World War II. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
The Berlin Blockade was an effort by the Soviet Union to abolish the influence of France, Great Britain and the United States in the Soviet Union's section of Berlin. The Allies retaliated by flying in supplies rather than transporting them by land. The Soviet Union surrendered and opened their ports on May 12th, 1949. -
Chinese Communist Revolution
The Chinese Communist Revolution revolution began after the citizens of China were unhappy about the decision of the republic. This resulted in a retaliation of the citizens and an overthrow of the government. The communist party stepped in and took over China with minimal resistance. -
Korean War
The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States and it's allies provided support to the democratic South Korea to defeat the communist North Korea. The Soviet Union and China stepped in and aided North Korea. The war ended in a stalemate and a hostile border between the two countries. This war ended July 27th, 1953. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt conducted by communist leader Fidel Castro against the authoritarian government of Cuban President. The communist party overthrew the Cuban government and became a communist state. The Cuban Revolution ended January 1st, 1959. -
Iranian coup D'état of Mossadegh Government
The Iranian coup d'état was the overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh to become a monarchical rule. The citizens desired a more extremist leader that shared their religious beliefs. -
Guatemalan Coup D'etat
The Guatemalan coup d'état was a secret operation carried out by the United States' government that allowed the overthrow of the democratically elected Guatemalan President. This ended the Guatemalan Revolution. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was an armed conflict to fight against the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies. North Vietnam's opponents were South Vietnam and its ally, the United States. The war was unfavored in the homeland USA, which resulted in the United States withdrawing from the war before it was finished. Vietnam fell under Communist control shortly after. This conflict ended April 30th, 1975. -
Hungarian Uprising
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 or the Hungarian Uprising was a nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies. The revolution resulted in the fall of the Hungarian government and the uprising of a democracy. This lasted approximately three weeks. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Cuban revolutionaries attempted to invade Cuba in what is known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion. They tried to overthrow communist Fidel Castro but failed. Cuba was still a communist state with strong ties with the Soviet Union despite efforts to prevent this. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 12 day fear of the development of a third world war. The Soviet Union placed several missile in Cuba in which faced the United States. The United States found them and threatened to bomb both Cuba and the Soviet Union if they were not removed. After much discussion and fear, the Soviet Union backed down and dismantled the missiles. -
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of desired political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the domination by the Soviet Union after World War II. The citizens of Czechoslovakia demanded more rights and for their country to become a democracy. The Soviet Union retaliated and sent troops to Czechoslovakia to control its citizens. Czechoslovakia remained under Soviet power. -
Chilean Coup D'état of Allende Government
The Chilean Coup D'état was the overthrow of the Allende Government to become a more extremist nation. The rebels carried out air raids and ground attacks. The President of Chile gave a last speech, apologizing to his citizens and later committed suicide in his palace. The rebels then took over Chile -
Soviet-Afghan War
An extremist group known as the mujahideen attempted to fight against the Soviet Army in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, in which was ran by the Soviet Union. The rebel group could not be controlled and the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan. A civil war between the Afghan government and the rebels continued until February 15th, 1989. -
Solidarity Movement in Poland
The Solidarity Movement in Poland was an independent trade union movement that developed into a mass campaign for political change through out Poland. The citizens of Poland showed great opposition towards the communist state. Over the span of 10 years, the movement spreads and the Solidarity Movement completely takes over Poland. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Tiananmen Square Massacre was originally student-led protests in Beijing. The protesters were unhappy with the actions of the Chinese government and desired more rights. As the days continued, more protesters gathered. The Chinese government decided to use this protest as an example as to what would happen if the citizens rebelled. The army came in and forcefully dismantled the protest and kill many. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
After a long period of unrest within the citizens of the communist side of Berlin, the Soviet Union spontaneously opened the border between east and west Berlin. The citizens of both sides soon created large holes in the walls and were pulling each other over the Berlin Wall to the democratic side of Berlin. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
On December 25, 1991, the Soviet Union's communist flag was lowered and replaced by the Russian tricolor. This is a result of the resignation of communist leader Mikhail. The presidency was left to Boris Yeltsin, who instantly created an independent Russian state and abolished the previous communist state of the Soviet Union.
