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Yalta Conference
The Big Three, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin all meet to discuss what would happen after the war. Stalin demanded buffer states in Eastern Europe. Roosevelt wanted help from USSR to fight Japan in exchange for Northern Japanese islands. Churchill didn't want to give up Eastern Europe to Stalin, which made Stalin upset. -
VE Day (Victory in Europe Day)
The allied forces push through to West Germany, while the USSR forces take over Berlin after advancing all the way from a crucial victory in Stalingrad. Hitler killed himself amidst the ruins of Berlin and Germany signed an unconditional surrender on May 7. On May 8 the Allies celebrated the Victory in Europe. -
Potsdam Conference
The Big Three leaders Truman, Atlee and Stalin discussed the European peace settlements, the administration of defeated Germany, the demarcation of the boundaries of Poland, the occupation of Austria, the Soviet Union's role in eastern Europe, the determination of reparations. The four occupation zones of Germany conceived at the Yalta Conference were set up. Stalin refused to let the West do anything to East Europe. demilitarization, denazification, democratization, decentralization -
Japan Gets A-Bombed
On August 6, the Enola Gay dropped "Little Man" on Hiroshima. The bomb wrecked the city, killing 70 000 immediately and 130 000 more after 5 years, due to burns, radiation and related disease, for a total of about 200 000 by 1950. On August 9th the Bockscar dropped "Fat Man" on Nagasaki. There were similar casualty numbers in Nagasaki to Hiroshima. Many believe the bombs were also used to threaten the USSR and scare them and assert US dominance. An arms race would begin and USSR build own a-bomb -
VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day)
The Japanese surrender the war against the US after the battle of Okinawa in April-June, which saw 140 000+ casualties for Japan, and the droppings of atomic bombs "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, and "Fat Man" on Nagasaki. The Japanese signed an unconditonal surrender and people around the world celebrated VJ Day. -
Iron Curtain Speech
Winston Churchill travelled to Ameica to deliver the famous Sinews of Peace speech in Fulton, Missouri. The speech called for an alliance of the West against the spread of Communism. He referred to the divide between East and West Europe "an iron curtain has descended across the Continent." Many believe this speech played a vital role in triggering the Cold War -
Truman Doctrine
The US President Harry Truman issued a policy that stated that the US would aid any country attacked by armed minorities. This policy was issued to prevent the spread of communism. It was used in Greece to help the monarchist government against the communists as well, in May 1947 -
Marshall Plan
George C Marshall, the US Secretary of State issued the Marshall Plan that would provide financial aid to any European country except for the Communist states in Eastern Europe. -
Czechoslovakian Crisis
Czechoslovakia was the only democratic country in Eastern Europe by 1948. Elections were due in May, however the communists in the country staged a coup d'état before the election. The Czech communists took over Czechoslovakia with no direct help from the USSR. President Benes resigned and was replaced by communist Gottwald. The crisis created fear in the West of the spread of communism.
