-
1945
Defeat of Germany and Japan -
Yalta Conference
Yalta Conference meeting of FDR, Churchill, Stalin - the 'Big Three' -
Soviet Control of Europe
Soviet Union has control of Eastern Europe. The Cold War Begins -
VE day
Victory in Europe. Germany surrenders to the Red Army in Berlin -
Potsdam Conference
Germany was officially partitioned into four zones of occupation. -
Hiroshima Bombing
The United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima (20 kiloton bomb 'Little Boy' kills 80,000) -
Russia declares war on Japan
Russia declares war on Japan -
Nagasaki Bomb
The United States drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki (22 kiloton 'Fat Man' kills 70,000) -
Japanese surrender
Japanese surrender End of World War II -
Emperor surrender
Emperor surrender broadcast - VJ Day -
Stalin hostile speech
Stalin hostile speech - communism & capitalism were incompatible -
Sinews of peace
Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill - "an "iron curtain" has
descended on Europe" -
March 10 - Truman demands Russia leave Iran
March 10 - Truman demands Russia leave Iran -
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads with Test Able was the first public demonstration of America's atomic
arsenal -
America's test baker
underwater explosion -
Truman Doctrine
Truman declares active role in Greek Civil War -
Martial plan
Marshall Plan is announced setting a precedent for helping countries combat poverty, disease and
malnutrition -
Rio pact
U.S. meet 19 Latin American countries and created a security zone around the
hemisphere -
Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia -
Truman's Loyalty Program created to catch Cold War spies
Truman's Loyalty Program created to catch Cold War spies -
Brussels pact
Brussels Pact organized to protect Europe from communism -
Berlin Blockade
Berlin Blockade begins lasting 11 months -
NATO ratified
NATO ratified -
Berlin Blockade ends
Berlin Blockade ends -
Russia testing
Russia tested its first atomic bomb -
Mao Zedong takes control
Communist Mao Zedong takes control of China and establishes the People's Republic of
China -
Chian Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek moved to Formosa and created Nationalist government -
Truman approved H-bomb development
Truman approved H-bomb development -
Korean war begins
Korean War begins. Stalin supports North Korea who invade South Korea equipped with
Soviet weapons -
Federal Civil Defense Administration established
Federal Civil Defense Administration established -
Truman fires MacArthur
Truman fires MacArthur -
Nuclear Arms Race atomic test series of 11 explosions at Nevada Test Site
Nuclear Arms Race atomic test series of 11 explosions at Nevada Test Site -
RAND report on the "Vulnerability of U. S. Strategic Air Power"
RAND report on the "Vulnerability of U. S. Strategic Air Power" -
Korean war ends
Korean war ends -
Ike's Atoms for Peace speech
Ike's Atoms for Peace speech -
H-bomb Castle-Bravo test
H-bomb Castle-Bravo test -
KGB established
KGB established -
Vietnam split at 17th parallel
Vietnam split at 17th parallel -
Warsaw Pact formed
Warsaw Pact formed