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The Postdam Conference
Allied and Soviet representatives meet to divide Germany. The Soviets took East Germany and East Berlin. -
Soviets Threaten Turkey and Greece
Soviet-backed nations threaten Greece and Turkey. This marks one of the first steps towards an actual war. In responce the U.S. supported Greece and Turkey via the Truman Docturne. -
Berlin Crisis (Blockade and Airlift)
The Soviet Union Block off all land and sea traffic in West Berlin in order to force the West to leave. This cut off all imported goods to West Berlin. However the West stayed and the Soviet Union gave in and supported the West with airdrops with the Berlin Airlift. -
The Arms Race
When The United States Heard news of the destructive technology the Soviet Union were developing in 1949 they responded by building the hydrogen bomb. The Soviets responded by making thier own better arms. This back and forth continued untill the union disbanded in 1991. -
NATO and the Warsaw Pact
Shortly After the Berlin Airlift NATO formed to combat against Communist growth. Later in 1955 the Warsaw Pact was established by the Soviet Union to expand Communism. -
The Korean War
Communist North Korea attacks South Korea in hopes of converting South Korea to Communism. The United Nations intervined and Supported South Korea. The war ended in a stalemate in 1951 then agreed to an armistice in 1953. -
Arms Control
During this time a hand full of arms treaties were negotiated. Some treaties included an open skies treaty, the Test Ban Treaty, the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT 1 and 2), the Anti-Ballistic Missle Treaty (ABM), and The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. -
Sputnik
The Soviet's artificial Sattelite started the space race a sub catergory of the arms race. The United States responded with the formation of NASA. Various advancements in space ensued such as the launching the first people into space and the Lunar Landing. -
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was raised to prevent losing more and more Communist Berliners to the more lucritive Westside. This barrier prevented the West from entering the East and vice versa. The risk of being shot was very high when crossing wall even if they let people through. -
The End of the Cold War
Lithuania declares independence fron the Soviet Union's 14 other republics. Many other territories followed suit untill the whole Soviet Union was disbanded and ceaced to exist by the end of 1991. 12 of the 15 republics became the Commonwealth of Independent States.