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Period: to
Cuban Missile Crisis
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The Birth of Nuclear Arms
USA detonates first ever nuclear device at a testing site codenamed Trinity. -
Hiroshima Bombed
US plane Enola Gay deploys atomic bomb ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima, firepower equivalent of 20000 tonnes of TNT. 90,000-166,000 presumed casualties. American military capabilities seen by world. -
WWII Ends
Euphoria quickly disappears as tension begins to rise between the two superpowers over their different political and economic ideologies. -
First Lightning
USSR conducts successful testing of atomic bomb codenamed First Lightning. -
Castro seizes Cuba
Fidel Castro seizes power over Cuba, USA fears proximity of Communist influence. -
US Missile Bases in Turkey
US establishes Jupiter nuclear missiles in Turkey(IRBM missile) capable of attacking Moscow. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
CIA Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, Castro’s military successfully defeats invaders. With fear of another invasion Castro declares Cuba a communist state. -
Cuban Bases Discovered
US spy planes discover nuclear missile bases in construction in Cuba, Kennedy is told he has 10 days before an attack is imminent, missiles have a range of 1,000 miles and are capable of hitting many major US cities. -
National Security Council Established
Committee of the Nation Security Council is established to advise Kennedy on what he should do. -
Naval Blockade
Kennedy announces naval blockade of Cuba in an attempt to halt USSR supplies coming in via boats and deploys B52 bombers to patrol US borders. -
Khrushchev declares missiles are built for Cuba's defense
October 1962- Khrushchev announces that missile sites were only built to defend Cuba. 20 Russian supply ships on course for Cuba. -
Soviet ships reach blockade
Russian ships reach naval blockade, oil tanker is given passage but ships carrying nuclear warheads are ordered to turn back. US and USSR secretly agree to remove missiles from Turkey and Cuba. -
US attack on Cuba is imminent
USSR continues to build missile bases, Kennedy plans a military attack on Cuba. At 6:00pm Khrushchev sends a telegram to Kennedy agreeing to dismantle Cuban sites if blockade is lifted and Cuba was to be left alone. -
U2 spy plane shot down over Cuba
Khrushchev demands Turkish missile bases are dismantled immediately. U2 spy plane is shot down over Cuba, Kennedy writes to Khrushchev agreeing to lift the blockade and not invade Cuba if Cuban missile bases are dismantled. Kennedy also secretly offers to dismantle Turkish missile bases. -
Cuban Missile Crisis averted
Khrushchev agrees to terms. Cuban Missile Crisis is averted. US people are kept in the dark about Turkish missile bases, people believe that the Soviets cowardly backed down, Kennedy is considered a hero. -
Soviets leave Cuba
Soviet bombers leave Cuba, US naval blockade is lifted. -
Moscow-Washington Hotline
White House- Kremlin hotline established, allowing direct communication between superpower leaders.
