The Cold War

Stalin's Speech

Feb 9, 1946

Stalin gave a speech in February 1946 claiming communism and capitalism would never mix and praising the Socialist regime. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

The "Iron Curtain"

Mar 5, 1946

The Iron Curtain was an imaginary boundary created to divide Europe into two separate entities from the end of WWII in 1945 to the end of the Cold War in 1991.The phrase "Iron Curtain" was coined on this date in a speech given by Winston Churchill http://thekholdwar.weebly.com/10-major-events.html

Berlin Blockade

Jun 24, 1948

The Soviets placed a blockade on the Western railroads starving out sectors of Berlin. From that came the Berlin airlift where an aircraft would fly over Berlin through the day and drop supplies to feel citizens. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Formation of NATO

Apr 4, 1949

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in fear that the Soviet Union would expand their control in 1949. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Berlin Blockade Ends

May 12, 1949

Stalin called an end to the Berlin Blockade after 11 months because the Soviet's failed to starve out Berlin. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Korean War

Jun 25, 1950

Korea was divided by the U.S. to the South, and by China/Russia to the North. In 1950, the North invaded the South causing the U.S. to quickly intervene. http://thekholdwar.weebly.com/10-major-events.html

Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti

Mar 13, 1954

The KGB was established as the Soviet's main security agency. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

President Dwight D. Eisenhower referred to the Soviet Union launching an artificial satellite into orbit as the Sputnik Crisis. Although the satellite was harmless, the rocket used to launch it could potentially launch a nuclear missile. This thought sent Americans into a panic. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26788606

U-2 Incident

May 1, 1960

On May 1, 1960 the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 plane. The U.S. denied that the pilot F. Gary Powers was there to collect Soviet information, but he was later tried in the Soviet Union, found guilty, and sentenced to 10 years. Powers was exchanged in 1962 for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Bay of Pigs

Apr 17, 1961

America's failed military invasion of Cuba http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Tear Down This Wall

Aug 12, 1961

President Ronald Reagan visited the Berlin Wall to show continuous support to Berlin and challenge Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall and reunite Germany. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26788606

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 14, 1962

In October of 1962 a U-2 spy plane flew over Cuba to discover nuclear missile sites under construction. Eight days after the site was discovered, Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of all U.S. forces. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Soviet Afghan War

Dec 24, 1979

Fought between Soviet-led Afghanistan and multinational rebel groups. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

Germany Reunited

Oct 3, 1990

Gorbachev agreed to tear down wall and reunite Berlin on Unification day after almost 30 years of separation. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26788606

Gorbachev Resigned

Dec 25, 1991

Gorbachev resigned from his position of power ultimately bringing an end to the Cold War. http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm