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The Tehran Conference
First meeting of the heads of government for the "Big Three" Allied Powers to discuss opening a Western front in the war with Germany, relations with Turkey & Iran, operations in Yugoslavia, fighting Japan, the beginnings of post-war discussion, and a pledge to recognize Iran's independence. This event is tradtionally not considered a part of the Cold War; however, it set the precedent for the following Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. -
The Yalta Conference
Second meeting of the heads of government for the "Big Three" Allied Powers to discuss the reorganization of Europe at the end of World War II. Specifically, Germany was to be divided into separate zones controlled by the Americans, British, French, and Soviets. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day marked the formal acceptable of the Third Reich's unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers. -
The Potsdam Conference
Third, and final, meeting of the heads of government for the "Big Three" Allied Powers to discuss how to handle punishment of Nazi Germany, how to establish post-war order in Europe, the manner in which peace treaties would be implemented, and rebuilding after the devastation in Europe and the Pacific. -
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The Nuclear Arms Race
After the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagaski, the United States and the Soviet Union amassed, oollected, and created nuclear armaments in a competition for supremacy. Both sides recognized the possibility of Mutually Assured Destruction, but used the weapons as negotiating tools. Near the end of the Cold War, both sides began strategically reducing or dismantling their launchers and warheads. START I and other political treaties to reduce arms existed into the 21 century. -
V-J Day
Victory in Japan Day marked the formal acceptance of Imperial Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers. -
The Truman Doctrine
American President Harry S. Truman delivered a speech on his foreign policy to appropriate funds for states threatened by the expansion of Soviet communism. The central tenet of The Truman Doctrine was containment. This date is commonly used as the starting date for the Cold War. -
The X Article
Titled "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" and published in Foreign Affairs, the American Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States to the USSR, George Kennan, supports the policy of containment through meeting any Soviet moves at expansion with counterpressure. This article was preceeded by his "Long Telegram." -
The Marshall Plan
Initially drafted on June 5, 1947 and formally enacted on April 3, 1948, the European Recovery Program was a four-year large-scale economic rescue program that provided $13 billion dollars of monetary and material support to rebuild the regions of Europe that were ravaged by World War II. Aid was offered to and refused by the Soviet Union because it represented some form of American control over the USSR. The plan, itself, is named after George Marshall, the American Secretary of State. -
The Berlin Blockade
After providing many difficulties for transportation and resource delivery to the city of Berlin, the USSR implemented a blockade of the city located in Soviet-controlled East Germany. Cutting off land and water travel to the city meant that Western Berlin, which was Ally supported, would not be able to receive food or resources. The American and British run Berlin Airlift provided the necessary goods for West Berlin to survive. It also relieved tensions between Berliners and the Allies. -
Formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
The formation of NATO created an international military alliance for European and North American non-Communist countries. Included in the North Atlantic Treaty is a mutual defense pact. NATO is seen as an influent document and institutional support to Atlanticism. One could argue that Atlanticism is a link to the hierarchy of race established in American Foreign Policy. -
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The Korean War
North Korean troops, supported by the Soviet Union and China, crossed their the southern boundary of their occupation zone at the 38th parallel north. This initiated war with South Korea, supported by the United Nations. United Nations forces, after being repulsed, eventually rectified their line at the 38th parallel and, eventually, crossed it. The crossing drew Chinese military, who pushed United Nations forces back to the 38th parallel. Two years of stalemate later, an armistice was signed. -
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The Treaty of Freidnship, Co-operation, and Mutual Assistance (Warsaw Pact)
In reaction to the inclusion of West Germany in NATO, along with the Soviet desire to control satellite states, the Warsaw Pact was a military pact signed to complement the economic organization of communism throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The Warsaw Pact aligned the Brezhnev Doctrince in promoting the prominance of communism over capitalism. -
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The Space Race
The ompetion for spaceflight supremacy started when the United States announced they would launch an artifical satellite into space and the Soviet Union responded in kind. The Soviet Union would be the first to launch a satellite, Sputnik I, on October 4, 1957. The Soviet Union would also be the first to place a human into space when Yuri Gagarin, aboard Vostok 1, orbited the Earth on April 12, 1961. The United States peaked the race on July 20, 1969 when the Apollo 11 crew landed on the Moon. -
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The Vietnam War
A proxy war between Communist North Vietnam, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and the Republic of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other NATO nations. Considered to be the first war dominated by guerrilla fighting. The United States was following through with their containment policy, while the North Vietnamese were fighting for a Communist-unified Vietnam. The Vietnam War worsened Third World relations and created a counterculture within the United States. -
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Sino-Soviet Split
Though both routed in Communism, the relationship between China and the Soviet Union began to detioriate in the 1960s. Differences in doctrine, foreign policy, and world view led to a number of political and military small conflicts between the two countries. From a world perspective, this significantly weakened communism because of the impact on the Cold War and Vietnam War. The schism between the two was rectified by a visit from Gorbachev to Beijing in May of 1989. -
The Bay of Pigs Invasion
Brigade 2506, supported by the United States CIA, attempted to overthrow Cuba's Communit leader, Fidel Castro. The invasion failed and resulted in a strengthening of Castro's regime and ties with the Communist USSR. It ended on April 19, 1961 and was widely viewed as an embarrassment for the United States. It led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
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The Berlin Wall
In reaction to the emigration of educated professionals from East to West Berlin, the Soviet Union gave the Allies an ultimatum: Either leave West Berlin or be separated by a physical barrier. This led to the construction of the Berlin Wall, which completely divided Berlin and stopped any emigration.The Wall included military defense to stop passage. Symbolically, it represented the rejection of the Allied Powers and physically manifested the Iron Curtain. It was torn down on November 9, 1989. -
The Cuban Missle Crisis
This 13-day long conflict revolved around the Soviet Union's deployment of ballistic missiles in Cuba. The United States deployment of ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey, along with the Bay of Pigs Invasion, led to an agreement between Cuba and the Soviet Union to place missiles on the island. During a reconaissance flight, a US U-2 took photographs of launch sites and concealed missiles. That prompted a naval blockade of Cuba by the US and required diplomatic resolution for missile removal. -
Marines land at Da Nang, South Vietnam
Although preceeded by the bombings of Operation Rolling Thunder, this represents the first tactical deployment of American land troops in the Vietnam War. -
United States troops withdraw from Vietnam
After slow withdrawls of forces due to the Paris Peace Accord, the United States ended direct involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Soviet troops invade Afghanistan
The Soviet Union, after assassinating Afghan leaders, deployed troops to stabilize Afghanistan under new Communist leadership. Their war was largely fought against mujahideen, who were backed by weapons and goods from the United States. -
The "Miracle on Ice"
The largely favored and dominant Soviet Union national hockey team was defeated by the United States national hockey team in the semi-final of the 1980 Winter Olympics. Team USA went on to beat Finland for the gold medal. -
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics took place in Moscow, even though 65 nations (including the United States) boycotted because of the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. -
Perestroika
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev gives the first speech that starts his political movement for reformation within the Soviet Communist Party. This speech, in Leningrad, advocates glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructing). This begins the weakening of the Soviet Union. -
Soviet troops leave Afghanistan
After a largely unsuccessful conflict, similar to US involvement in Vietnam, Soviet troops finally exit Afghanistan. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The dismantling of the Berlin Wall, along with the free passage through Berlin, symbolized the end of the Iron Curtain. It sparked peaceful revolutions that overthrew Communist regimes in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, and Poland; along with a violent revolution in Romania. -
The Malta Summit
United States President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declare an end to the Cold War. -
East and West Germany reunite
After 45 years of separation, East and West Germany form the reunited nation of Germany. -
Warsaw Pact disbanded
Government representatives of Pact countries meet in Hungary to formally dissolve the Warsaw Pact. -
The Strategic Arms Reducation Treaty (START)
START, a treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union, was enacted to reduce the number of nuclear missiles. It was the largest arms control treaty in history. After it sunset, it was followed by New START in 2011. -
Formal Declaration of the end of the Soviet Union
One day after Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the president of the USSR, the Council of Republics voted to cease existence of the Soviet Union.
