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Yalta Conference
The Big Three (USA, USSR and UK) meet to decide what would happen in Europe after the war. They agreed that the USSR would be allowed to "influence" Easstern Europe but that the people there should be free to elect their own governments. Germany was to be divided between the USA, USSR, UK and France USSR to join the war against Japan once Germnay had been defeated. -
World War II ends in Europe
Also known as "V.E. Day" (Victory in Europe) (Image: the The flag of the USSR is raised above the Reichstag in Berlin by a Soviet soldier 2nd May 1945) The war against Japan continued until 15th August. -
The Potsdam Conference
The Big Three (USA, UK and USSR) meet at Potsdam in Germany to decide on what to do with Germnay. It was decided that each power would occupy a zone and they were allowed to take reparations from that zone. At Potsdam we see the first signs of divisions as the West became annoyed with the way Stalin was stripping resources from Germany and setting up "Puppet Governments" in Soviet controlled Eastern Europe. Also, on the first day of the conference, the US had tested an Atomic Bomb. -
Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech
Speaking at Fulton College in the USA form British Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke about divisions between Western Europe and Soviet controlled Eastern Europe: "An Iron Curtain has descended across the continent" -
The Truman Doctrine
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan President Truman announces that the USA would use it's military and economic power to stop the spread of Communism. The first place this happened was in Greece in 1947 when $400m was given to the government to help it fight of communist rebels. -
The Marshall Plan
Senator George MArshall toured Europe and proposed that the USA should invest $13.3 billion into Europe. Stalin called this "dollar diplomacy" and he did not allow communist run countries to accept the money. Marshall Aid deepens the divisions between East and West as West recovers and East remains poor. USSR set up Comecon and Cominform in response which further polarises th etwo sides. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begins
June 1948 - May 1949
Stalin ordered the closing of all roads and railways into West Berlin in protest at the introduction of the new German currency - the Deutschmark. For over a year the USA and UK flew planes night and day to supply West Berlin.- 2 million tonnes of supplies
- Plane landed every 2 minutes
- 101 pilots killed in crashes
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Period: to
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
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NATO set up
In response to the Berlin blockade, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is set up by 12 western nations who agree to cooperate to resist Soviet aggression. This is viewed by the USSR as further evidence of the West's hostility to communism. Nato v Warsaw Pact Map -
German Federal Republic set up
The USA, Britain and France combine their zones to create a new independent German state called "The German Federal Republic" but usually referred to as "West Germany". -
German Democratic Republic set up
East Germany now operates as an independent state but it is under the control of the USSR - many claim that the communist countries in the East are merely "puppet governments" controlled from Moscow. -
The Korean War
The Korean War began when some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. Korean War on History.com -
Stalin dies
Joseph Stalin, the communist dictator who had defeated the Nazis and put Eastern Europe firmly behind an 'iron curtain', dies. He is succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev. Many people living in the 'satellite states' of Eastern Europe hope that the new leader of the USSR will allow some reforms which will lead to greater freedom and economic prosperity. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet bloc of countries set up the Warsaw Pact as a defensive alliance. This was partly a response to the integration of West Germany in NATO in 1954. Russia dominated the Warsaw Pact. -
Khrushchev's secret speech
Khrushchev's delivers his "Secret Speech" which denounces Stalin as a brutal despot leading to hopes that the USSR could possibly loosen it's grip on Eastern Europe and allow reforms. Khrushchev speaks of 'different roads to Socialism' and begins a process of 'de-Stalinisation'.He also announces his desire for 'peaceful coexistence' between the Soviet Bloc and the West. -
The Hungarian Uprising
23 Oct - 10 Nov.
Hungarian students protest against Russian control. A new moderate leader emerges called Imre Nagy. He replaces the Stalinist leader Rakosi. Nagy promises reforms including free elections and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. The USSR responds by sending 1,000 tanks and 30,000 troops in to suppress the revolt. 3,000 Hungarian civilians die and 250,000 refugees flee the country. Nagy is captured and executed. The West condems the USSR but takes no action. -
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
Soviet tanks roll into Prague (the capital of Czechoslovakia) and put an end to a period called "The Prague Spring". In April 1968, Czechosovakian leader Alexander Dubcek, announced reforms which he hoped would create "Socailism with a human face". The Soviet Union under the guise of the Warsaw Pact, invade in August putting an end to the reforms. Prague Spring: BBC Bitesize
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