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Potsdam Conference
The Allies agree to the occupation of Germany following World War Two at the Potsdam Conference.
[Courtesy of German History Docs, 1945] -
The Truman Doctrine
President Truman publicizes the Truman Doctrine which offers assistance to countries threatened by communism.
[Courtesy of Historiana, 1947] -
The Soviet Blockade of West Berlin Begins
The Soviet Union's blockade of West Berlin was the first major conflict in the Cold War that regarded Berlin. The purpose of this was an attempt to force the allied powers to give up their presence in West Berlin. This blockade forced the western allies to airlift supllies into West Berlin for nearly a year in order to maintain a democratic presence in this crucial territory within the communist bloc.
[Courtesy of Britannica, 1948] -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Formed
NATO, an intergovernmental military alliance of countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, was formed. Today, this treaty included Canada, the United States, Turkey, and most members of the European Union.
[The Canadian Encyclopedia, 1949] -
The Soviet Blockade of West Berlin Ends
The Soviet Union removed their blockade of West Berlin, allowing the allied powers to stop airlifiting supplies into this territory in order to sustain its population.
[Courtesy of Today in History, 1949] -
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) is Established
The FRG, or West Germany is established, officially separating itself from the Eastern half of Germany.
[Courtesy of Bundestag, 1949] -
The German Democratic Republic (GDR) is Founded
Not long after the FRG was formed, the communist GDR was founded, creating two separate German states.
[Courtesy of Bundesregierung, 1949] -
The Korean War Begins
Following North Korea's invasion of South Korea, the U.S. and the Soviet Union became involved. The U.S supported South Korea and the Soviet Union supported North Korea, escalating this conflict into a proxy war within the Cold war.
[Courtesy of Wikipedia, 1951] -
The Korean War Ends
The Korean War ended in a cease fire with the United States and the Soviet Union removing their troops. This ceasefire is still in effect and has still not been officially resolved.
[Courtesy of When in Time,1953] -
The Warsaw Pact
Treaty between the eight communist states of Central and Eastern Europe in existence during the Cold War. This treaty was similar to NATO and was lead by the Soviet Union.
[Courtesy of History Today, 1955] -
The Berlin Wall was Built
The Berlin Wall was built overnight, effectively sealing Berlin, and East Germany off from the West.
[Courtesy of The Guardian, 1961] -
NATO Double-Track Decision Approved
The NATO Double-Track decision allowed the United States to station 572 "Perishing II" nuclear warheads in western Europe if the negotiations with the Soviet Union about dismantling their SS-20 midrange missles were to fail.
[Courtesy of George Washington University, 1979] -
Elimination of Land-Based Missles
Gorbachev and Regan come to the agreeement to eliminate all land-based immediate range missles, effectively reliving some tensions in the Cold War.
[Courtesy of Defense News, 1987] -
The Berlin Wall Falls
The Berlin Wall falls on November 9, 1989, opening the barrier between communism and democracy, and symbolizing the easing of tensions between the two superpoers of the United States and the Soviet Union.
[Courtesy of Haiku Deck, 1989] -
The Warsaw Pact is Dissolved
The Warsaw Pact is ended on March 31, 1991, effectively ending the Cold War once and for all. The Societ Union was dissolved and Gorbachev stepped down. This end to the Cold War shows the prevailance of democracy and reshaped the world for generations to come.
[Courtesy of NATO, 1991]
