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The Iron Curtain
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Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
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The Berlin Airlift
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Creation of East and West Germany
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Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier
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China enters the Korean War
Four months into the Korean War, China sent troops to North Korea, initially to drive UN forces out of the north and later to unify the peninsula under one communist regime. Their involvement led to a long stalemate, forcing the UN forces to retreat and eventually dividing Korea at the 38th parallel, to which we know of today. This event was crucial to the Cold War because it escalated the conflict into a direct military confrontation between communist and capitalist regimes. -
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The Korean War
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Joseph Stalin's Death
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End of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
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Austria Independence
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The Vietnam War
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End of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956
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Sputnik I
Sputnik I, launched by the Soviet Union, was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, sending radio pulses. It's success prompted the U.S to take immediate action, creating NASA and increased funding for space and science technology. In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik II, leading to the U.S to launch Explorer I. The launch of Sputnik expanded the Cold War beyond military and ideological rivalry, sparking competitive space race between the two global superpowers. -
The U2 Crisis
A week before the Paris Summit, a U.S. U2 spy plane piloted by Gary Powers was shot down over the USSR. Initially, the U.S. claimed it was a weather flight, but film from the plane revealed it was a spy mission. At the Paris Summit on May 16, Soviet leader Khrushchev demanded for an apology for the spy mission, which U.S president Eisenhower refuse. The summit was never signed. This event was important because it shows how a single spy mission was able to strain U.S- Soviet relations. -
The Bay of Pigs Invasion
The U.S backed a failed invasion of Cuba by trained exiles to overthrow dictator Fidel Castro. The original plan involved 1,400 men, airstrikes, paratroopers, and a smaller force landing in Cuba's east coast. However, it resulted in the capturing of over 1,000 exiles, who were released after 20 months of negotiations in exchange for $53 million in baby food and medicine. This event was important in the Cold War because it heightened Cuba-U.S relations, and strengthened Cuba ties with the USSR. -
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The Berlin Wall
The 155-kilometer long Berlin Wall cut through the city center, separating West and East Berlin. This wall was built to prevent people from escaping to the West, and initially, made with barbed wire. However, it was proved to be ineffective, later replaced with concrete material, watchtowers, and guards with the 'order to shoot'. This event was important in the Cold War because it symbolized the physical divide between capitalist West and communist East Berlin, reflecting the US and USSR. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was a direct standoff between the U.S and the USSR after Soviet nuclear missiles were found in Cuba. The U.S responded with naval blockade and diplomatic negotiations, leading to the deal of Soviet missiles removed from Cuba, in exchange for U.S non-invasion pledge, and removal of American missiles from Turkey. The crisis ended on October 28, 1962, where both sides upheld the terms of the agreement. This event was important in the Cold War because of its key confrontations and negotiations. -
Leonid Brezhnev becomes Soviet Leader
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Gulf of Tonkin Incident
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U.S enters the Vietnam War
In 1965, U.S sent the first 60,000 ground troops to support the South Vietnamese government against its fight to communist North. The U.S sought to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, adhering the "domino theory". Despite significant military involvement, the war ended in 1975 with the fall of Saigon, resulting in the unification of Vietnam under communist rule. This event was important in the Cold War because it showed the U.S's great commitment to containing communism. -
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Détente and Arms Control
Détente from the late 1960s to 1970s, was a thawing of Cold War tensions between the U.S and USSR, marked by arms control agreements like SALT and Helsinki. Both sides sought improved relations due to economic struggles and the Sino-Soviet split. However, with the invasion of Afghanistan by the USSR in 1979, tensions rose once again, halting arm control talks 'till the 1980s. This event was important in the Cold War because it temporarily eased the risk of nuclear war between the U.S and USSR. -
The Tet Offensive
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U.S and North Vietnam Ceasefire
The North Vietnam and U.S. ceasefire occurred in 1973 as part of the Paris Peace Accords, aimed at ending the Vietnam War. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire, with the U.S. withdrawing its troops, and for the return of prisoners of war. However, the ceasefire did not hold long-term, and fighting resumed, ultimately leading to the fall of Saigon in 1975. This event was important because it highlighted the limits of U.S. power and communist resilience. -
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The Soviet-Afghan War
This war began when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the communist government against a growing rebellion. The U.S got involved by supporting the Afghan rebels or Mujahideen, through weapons and training. This war soon became a drain on Soviet resources, leading to their pull out in 1989. This conflict played an important role in the Cold War because it weakened the Soviet Union, along with setting the stage for the end of the Cold War. -
Josip Broz Tito's death
Josip Broz Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and political leader, and the first communist leader in power to defy Soviet hegemony. Tito was known for his strong, independent leadership, maintaining a non-aligned position during the Cold War, and uniting the country's diverse ethnic groups. Tito's death is often seen as the beginning of the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, ending its non-aligned stance and fueling ethnic tensions. -
The Solidarity Movement in Poland
The Solidarity Movement in Poland, was a labor and political movement that began with a strike at the Gdansk Shipyard led by Lech Wałęsa. It became the first independent trade union in a Soviet-bloc country, advocating for workers' rights, political freedoms, and reforms. It ultimately led to the fall of communism in Poland and inspiring similar movements across Eastern Europe. This event was important because it challenged Soviet control, inspiring anti-communist resistance. -
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet Leader
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Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declare independence
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German Reunification
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Union Republics of the Soviet Union Declaration of Independence
Following the dissolve of the Soviet Union, Soviet Republics such as Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan declared their independence, and Mikhail Gorbachev president of the USSR, resigns. -
Boris Yeltsin, First President of the Russian Federation
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Czechoslovakia splits into the Czech Republic and Slovakia
