Cold War Timeline

  • United Nations Formation

    United Nations Formation
    After the end of World War 2, countries were in ruins. And to further prevent the world-wide spread of war, Representatives of 50 different countries including the United States, China, and the Soviet Union, formed the United Nations, A diplomatic organization focused on national peace and security.
  • Truman Doctrine

    Truman Doctrine
    President Truman's foreign policy against the Soviets; stating "support for democracies against authoritarian threats."
  • Marshall Plan

    Marshall Plan
    The Marshall Plan was a plan by the US to give economic aid to european countries affected by World War 2; excluding soviet countries as economic aid was not allowed by Russia.
  • Nato Forms

    Nato Forms
    In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created by several european countries including the United States to prevent the spread of the Soviet Union and Communism.
  • Hollywood 10

    Hollywood 10
    During Senator Joseph McCarthy's Red Scare, A group of 10 directors who made a short film in the 50s denounced McCarthyism and hollywood blacklisting as a form of protest against having to testify in an anti-soviet trial. Later, most of the members were arrested
  • Korean War

    Korean War
    After the end of World War 2, Japanese-occupied Korea was occupied by the soviets in Russia and the democrats of America. This would end up splitting it in two once the prospect of reuniting korea into a single country failed. The war followed the American / Nato backed South Koreans vs the Russian backed North Koreans.
  • Space Race

    Space Race
    The space race occurred in the 1940s to 1960s between the Soviets and Americans to achieve superior space technology. It mainly started when the Russians launched Sputnik, the world's first satellite, scaring the hell out of america and propelling them into the space race. And the space race ended once america put men on the moon.
  • Bay of Pigs

    Bay of Pigs
    The Bay of Pigs incident was a plan by president JFK to send in cuban exiles to communist occupied Cuba to topple the new government. However, the cuban exiles had little to no support and the whole plan ended in failure.
  • Berlin Wall goes up

    Berlin Wall goes up
    During the reign of the soviets in europe, Germany was split into the Economically prosperous East and the Downtrodden Soviet West. Many West Germans decided to travel and stay in East Germany. So in August 1961, West German guards created the berlin wall, going right through Berlin, separating thousands. Over the years, several would attempt to cross the wall; many would die trying.
  • U.S. official enters Vietnam War

    U.S. official enters Vietnam War
    In the 50s, The Vietnamese Civil war started between the communist north and democratic south (where have we heard this before?). In 1965, then president Lyndon B. Johnson decided to send american troops into vietnam to help the south. The US involvement would end in 1975 and a year later, the south vietnamese fell.
  • Soviets invade Afghanistan

    Soviets invade Afghanistan
    In 1979, Soviet Russia invaded Afghanistan to support the newly created communist government and prevent several rebellions; Soviet Russia's version of vietnam.
  • Berlin Wall comes down

    Berlin Wall comes down
    In a hasty announcement by West Germany, it was announced that the travel ban would be lifted. The night of November 9th, Thousands lined up at the crossing gate, waiting for the next day. Crossing Guards still had orders to shoot on sight, but the crowd proved too much, and the soldiers opened the gate, ending years of separation.
  • The Soviet Union Falls

    The Soviet Union Falls
    In 1991, after more than 70 years, Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev dissolved the Soviet Union and separated russia, creating 15 new countries. This would eventually lead to the creation of the Russian Federation.