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The Cold War begins
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Yalta Conference
Occurred in February. Meeting between the Big Three to discuss what will happen after the end of the War. -
Potsdam Conference
Occurred in July. Second meeting of the Big Three. Held after Nazi surrender but before Japanese surrender. Decisions about what to do with Japan and the restructuring of Germany. Points of contention arise between the USA and Soviet Union -
Elbe River Meeting
Meeting of the two armies in Germany. The first sign that the Nazis have been defeated. Last time the US and the Soviet Union would meet as allies. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
United States drops atomic bomb to force Japanese surrender, as well as display military strength to Soviet Union. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
United States drops atomic bomb to force Japanese surrender, as well as display military strength to Soviet Union. -
Molotov Plan
Soviet Union's version of the Marshall Plan; not as effective in recovering the economy. -
Truman Doctrine
US foreign policy used to contain communist sphere of influence, while expanding their own. -
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Marshall Plan
USA provides $13 billion in aid to help European countries recover their economy. In order to receive funds, had to adapt to more capitalist policies. Stalin opposed this, and instituted the less successful Molotov Plan. -
Brussels Treaty
Military defence alliance between major western European nations to deter a Soviet attack and prevent the spread of communism. -
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Berlin Blockade and Airlift
11 month conflict between the Allies and Soviets over West Berlin. Stalin blocks all ground access to West Berlin as a method of "starving out" the population and take complete control of Berlin. Allies respond by airlifting in supplies to keep hold of West Berlin. -
NATO formed
Major military alliance between Western Europe and North America. Its initial purpose was to deter a Soviet attack. -
Soviet Union acquires Nuclear Weapons
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The Korean War
Communist North (backed by Soviet Union) and the democratic South (backed by USA) battle for territory. Results in no change, two independent nations and a demilitarized zone separating them. -
Stalin dies
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Warsaw Pact formed
The Soviet's version of NATO. Used to unite the Soviet Union with its satellite countries as a military alliance. -
Yugoslavia breaks free
Country quietly breaks free of the Iron Curtain. Easier to do because they do not share a border with the Soviet Union. -
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Vietnam War
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Hungary attempts to break free
Country sees anti-communist protests and a push to break away from the Soviet Union. Moscow sends in tanks to squash any chance of revolution and re-establish the communist government. -
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Fidel Castro takes power
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NORAD created
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Berlin Wall built
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Bay of Pigs invasion
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Cuban Missile Crisis
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Detente period
After Cuban Missile Crisis, both superpowers look to relax/ease tensions through diplomacy. -
Czechoslovakia attempts to break free
Similar to Hungary, major anti-communist protests occur and the Soviet Union sends tanks to squash the revolt. -
Nuclear Arms Treaties
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Afghanistan War
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Glastnost and Perestroika (End of the Cold War)
Soviet Union policies established by Gorbachev to reverse some of the totalitarian policies, like removing some censorship and the introduction of some individual rights and freedoms. This leads to a breaking of the dam, and the fall of the Soviet Union. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
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The Cold War ends