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Period: to
World War 2
The War officially ended with Germany's surrender on 8 May, 1945 -
Hitler Invades Soviet Union
The S.U. and the U.S. form an alliance (during WII), despite previously being enemies due to differing economic and political ideologies. Codenamed Operation "Barbarossa" -
Yalta Conference
Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Josef Stalin in the S.U. -
V-E Day
Allies defeat Germany. Stands for Victory in Europe. -
Atomic Bomb Test
The U.S. successfully tests the first a-bomb in Almogordo, New Mexico. -
V-J Day
Japan surrenders to the Allies. -
Iron Curtain Speech
Winston Churchill visits U.S. and delivers this speech attacking the S.U. -
Truman Doctrine
Early 1947, the governments of Greece and Turkey were fighting off Communist rebellions.
Great Britain was supporting the Greek government, but soon could no longer fund them. Britain appealed to the U.S. for help. President Truman makes speech called the Truman Doctrine on national television stating the U.S. was obligated to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities [Communists] or by outside pressures." -
NSC 68 Drafted
President Harry S. Truman's National Security Council drafts this secret document. One historian noted, that it would be a "blueprint for American policy in the Cold War." -
Greece and Turkey Fight Communist Rebellions
**Date unknown -
Marshall Plan
U.S. introduces this to provide $17 billion to aid Europe's economic recovery. "We must be prepared to pay the price of peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war." - Truman -
Soviets Leave Allied Control Council
France, Great Britain, and the U.S. announce plans to create a new form of German currency without consulting the S.U. As a result, Soviets formally withdrew from the Allied Control Council today. -
Soviets Blockade Berlin
In protest of the Allies introducing a new currency in West Berlin. This formal blockade closed off all roads, rail, and water routes to and from Berlin. -
United States Airlift Supplies to Berlin
U.S. begins airlifting supplies in order to aid West Berlin without starting a conflict with the S.U. -
NATO is Formed
The U.S. joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance. Includes western nations such as Canada, France, Great Britian, Italy, and the Netherlands. -
Soviets Remove Blockade on Berlin
All routes reopened to and from Berlin by Stalin. -
Soviets Test Atomic Bomb
The American monopoly on nuclear weapons ends when the S.U. develops nuclear technology and nuclear weapons along with it. -
Communist Revolution in China
Lead by Mao Zedong. -
Korean War
Supported by the S.U., Communist North Korea invades South Korea. -
United States Tests Hydrogen Bomb
U.S. successfully tests a more powerful nuclear weapon. -
Korean War Ends
Ends in a stalemate. -
Soviets Test Hydrogen Bomb
**Date unknown -
Warsaw Pact is Formed
The S.U. forms the Warsaw Treaty Organizations (aka Warsaw Pact), a military alliance, in response to NATO. Includes Eastern European nations such as Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. -
Hungary Riots Against Communist Government
**Date unknown -
Berlin Wall Built
S.U. builds the Berlin Wall, divding East and West Berlin in order to prevent people from escaping to the west. -
Soviets Stop Uprising in Czechoslovakia
S.U. invades Czechoslovakia.
