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A-bomb
The Soviet Union detonates its first atomic device. -
Soviet and chinese worsening relations
After Moscow’s policy of peaceful coexistence with the West, China and the Soviet Snion have a falling out with eachother. They had previously signed a 30 year allience treaty in 1950. It was in 1956 when Nikita Khrushchev denounced the legacy of Stalin, weakening the two countries relations. -
Berlin wall
This was a wall built to serparate East and West Berlin. This started on the night of August 12 by placing barbed wire through the center of Berlin. This was later replaced with segments of concrete reaching up to 15 feet tall. -
The Cuban Missle Crisis
This crisis erupts over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. This led to a period of time that involed tense negotiations. The USSR would have to publically dismanle their weapons. This was the closest the cold war came to becoming a full blown atomic war. -
Soviet and Chinese troops clash across border
This was a seven month millitary conflict that was no officially declared. This brought these two communist countries the brink of war. -
Brezhnev elected president
After previously being the first secretary of the Communist Party, as well as the head of the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev is elected president of the Soviet Union under the new constitution. He helped the Soviets keep up with U.S. advancement in regards to nuclear development and strategy. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
The Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan, taking millitary and political of major portions of this country. This invasion was quickly condemned by many countries. -
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary of the communist party after Konstantin Chernenko died. -
Superpower Treaty
With the help of Mikhail Gorbachev this treaty was signed between the USSR and Americans regarding scrapping nuclear warheads. Over the next few years over 1,000 weapons would be decommissioned. -
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
This occured when the Congress of People’s Deputies voted that the soviet union should be discontinued, or essentially spit up. Later that decemeber, Mikhail Gorbachev gave up his presidential powers, and the Soviet Union was formally dissolved.