Cold War Timeline Project

By jassiex

  • An iron curtain descends across Europe.

    An iron curtain descends across Europe.

  • Berlin Airlift occurs and Czechoslovakia becomes the last Eastern European country to become Communist.

    Berlin Airlift occurs and Czechoslovakia becomes the last Eastern European country to become Communist.

  • China comes to the aid of North Korea and forces UN troops to retreat.

    China comes to the aid of North Korea and forces UN troops to retreat.

  • Creation of East and West Germany.

    Creation of East and West Germany.

  • North Korea invades South Korea.

    North Korea invades South Korea.

  • Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier and Austria reunifies under the condition they remain neutral in the Cold War.

    Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier and Austria reunifies under the condition they remain neutral in the Cold War.

  • The Korean War ends with a cease fire and Korea remains divided at the 38th parallel and Stalin, leader of Soviet Union, dies.

    The Korean War ends with a cease fire and Korea remains divided at the 38th parallel and Stalin, leader of Soviet Union, dies.

  • The French lose the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and decide to pull out of Indochina.

    The French lose the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and decide to pull out of Indochina.

  • Soviets crush a revolt in Hungary while the West does nothing

    Soviets crush a revolt in Hungary while the West does nothing

  • Sputnik I is launched.

    Sputnik I is launched.

  • American U-2 spy plane is shot down by the Soviet Union.

    American U-2 spy plane is shot down by the Soviet Union.

  • Construction begins on the Berlin Wall and the Bay of Pigs Invasion occurs.

    Construction begins on the Berlin Wall and the Bay of Pigs Invasion occurs.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis occurs and U.S. increases number of military advisors to South Vietnam to 16,000.

    Cuban Missile Crisis occurs and U.S. increases number of military advisors to South Vietnam to 16,000.

  • President Lyndon B. Johnson sent the first 60,000 ground troops to Vietnam.

    President Lyndon B. Johnson sent the first 60,000 ground troops to Vietnam.

  • The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurs and the United States’ Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Leonid Brezhnev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union.

    The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurs and the United States’ Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Leonid Brezhnev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union.

  • Tet Offensive occurs

    Tet Offensive occurs

  • Détente begins.

    Détente begins.

  • United States and North Vietnam agree to a cease fire.

    United States and North Vietnam agree to a cease fire.

  • The last combat troops leave South Vietnam and the nation falls to Communist North Vietnam.

    The last combat troops leave South Vietnam and the nation falls to Communist North Vietnam.

  • Soviet-Afghan War begins.

    Soviet-Afghan War begins.

  • Josip Broz Tito, president of Yugoslavia, dies and Lech Walesa establishes the Solidarity Movement in Poland.

    Josip Broz Tito, president of Yugoslavia, dies and Lech Walesa establishes the Solidarity Movement in Poland.

  • Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union.

    Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union.

  • The Soviet Union withdraws troops from Afghanistan, Romanian uprising ousts Nicholae Ceausescu and his wife, and the U.S.S.R. allows the dismantling of the Berlin Wall.

    The Soviet Union withdraws troops from Afghanistan, Romanian uprising ousts Nicholae Ceausescu and his wife, and the U.S.S.R. allows the dismantling of the Berlin Wall.

  • Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declare their independence and East and West Germany reunite under Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

    Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declare their independence and East and West Germany reunite under Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

  • Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan declare independence and Gorbachev resigns and Boris Yeltsin becomes the first president of Russia.

    Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan declare independence and Gorbachev resigns and Boris Yeltsin becomes the first president of Russia.

  • Czechoslovakia becomes the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

    Czechoslovakia becomes the Czech Republic and Slovakia.