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Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was the first president of the Soviet Union. He served from 1990-1991 and was awarded the Nobel Prize due to his role in ending the Cold war. -
Japan’s invasion of China
In 1931, Japan was waiting to recieve the vast resources that China had to offer. Once they saw China in a state of weakeness, the decided to invade and successfully occupy Manchuria. Throughout the 1930's, China lands suffered from the encroachment of Japanese invaders. -
Germany invades Poland
German troops, about 1.5 million of them, invade Poland along its 1,750 mile border. The Germans bombed airfields and attacked Polish naval forces. Though Adolf Hitler claimed it was for defensive reasons, France and Britain declared war on Germany, starting WWII. -
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was the second air campaign in WWII waged by the German Air force. The Germans attacked the United Kingdom during autumn of 1940. -
Tripartite pact
This Pact was an agreement between Japan, Germany, and Italy to become Allies. This agreement gave mutual assistence if any of the involved signers were attacked by a nation not already involved in the war. It also was to try and hint at the Americans to think before they venture in on the side of the Allies. -
Lend-Lease Act
This act provided U.S. military aid to foreign nations during WWII. It allowed the president to transfer defense and armies to the government of any country that seemed that the aid to this country was vital to the defense of the U.S, -
Leningrad blockade
Known as the 900-Day Seige, the German forces attempted to take over Leningrad. It was a grueling battle which the Germans had some victories and were advancing. However, the Red Army was able to push them back and eventually the Soviet Union got rid of the rest of German invaders. Leningrad was able to stay under the control as Germany suffered a defeat. -
German Blitzkrieg on Soviet Union
Hitler tried to use Blitzkrieg against the Soviet Union but failed. The Red Army was able to launch a devasting counter attack to Hitler which then Hitler knew, he was going to lose the fight. The Red Army was able to hold out and land a victory. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attacked American naval base at Pearl Harbor lasting 2 hours. The Japanese used fighter planes for this attack, detroying nearly 20 American naval vessels, 200 airplanes, and more than 2000 American soldiers/sailors died. -
Formation of the U.N.
On January 1, 1942, 26 nation representatives tht were at war with Axis powers, met in wWashington to sign and form the United Nations, pledging to use all resources needed to defeat the Axis powers. -
Wannsee Conference
General Reinhard Heydrich gathered 14 men representing the government and military branches most involved with the final solution. The final solution was the extermination of and murder of all European Jews. -
Battle of Midway
Japanese Admiral, Yamamoto, planned an invasion of Midway Island which would provide a base for attacking Hawaii. The US , however, was able to attack using aircrafts, sinking 4 japanese carriers and forcing Yamamoto to withdrawal. -
D-Day
D-Day was the largest amphibious attack in history. About 156,000 Canadian, British, and American forced landed on 5 different beaches. The 156,000 men stormed the beaches of Normandy and starting taking over and securing grounds behind enemy lines. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was the second wartime meeting of Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The three people agreed to demand Germany's surrender and began to plan for the wolrd, post-war. It was aslo agreed by Stalin to permit free election in Eastern Europe, enter the Asain war against Japan, and retun the lost lands to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War. -
Iwo Jima/Okinawa
The americans invaded Iwo Jima because they were in need of a base near the Japanese coast. The Japanese tried to defend and hold back the U.S. Marines. However, after a month of fighting, the marines were able to wipe out the Japanese defenders and claim a victory. -
Hitler’s suicide
On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler commited suicide. He did so by shooting himself in the head and swallowing a cynaide capsule. Shortly after, Germany surrendered to the Allies, ending the "1,000-year" Reich, Hitlers dream. -
VE Day
This day was the celebration of Britain and the U.S. victory against the Nazi war machine. Cities in both nations, and formely occupied cities in Europe, put flags and banners up in mind that this day was the day when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms. -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was the last WWII meeting held by the "Big Three" heads of state. The three heads are Harry Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. During this meeting, they established a Council of Foreign Minister and a central Allied Control Council for administration of Germany. -
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki
In response to Pearl Harbor, the United Staes used a huge atomic weapon against the Japanese. This bomb obliterated the city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians. -
VJ Day
When World War II ended, the news brought about a spontaneous celebration. Japan had finally surrendered to the Allies. -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman established that the U.S will provide economic, political, and military assistance to the democratic nations under threat from any internal or external authoritorian forces. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was an American attempt to aid Europe, where the U.S. gave 17 billion in economic support. This momey was used to help endorse the rebuild of European economies at the end of WWII. -
NATO
The NATO, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance. This was an organization to help rebuild countries after the World War and to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. -
Mao Zedong &People’s Republic of China
On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong officially proclaimed the existence of the People's Republic of China. This was the climax between the communist force and the Nationalist Chinese leader. The loss of China to communism was detrimental to the United States, but President Truman tried to prepare for the worst. -
Korean War
The Korean War began when about 75,000 soldiers from North Korea People's Army came across the 38th parallel, a boundary not supposed to be crossed.This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. -
Stalin’s death; Khrushchev
Once Stalin died, Khrushchev was a member of the Communist Party's Presidium and on September 12, 1953, he was appointed the first secretary of the party. With this position, Khrushchev was able to build up power and be very influentual. -
Warsaw Pact
This pact was a collective defense treaty between 8 comminist states of Eastern and Central Europe during the Cold War. It called the member states to come to the defense of any member attacked by an outside force. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a very long, grueling, and costly armed conflict of the communist North Vietnam and its allies, verse the South and the U.S. The United States President withdrew from the war as it caused major conflicts within the U.S. The folling year, Vietnam became a Socialist Republic. -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite. It had 4 outside antennas to report radio pulses. The Soviet Union are the ones to lauch the Sputnik, which was put into low Earth orbti. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs invasion began when a trained group of Cuban refugess goes to Cuba and tries to take over Fidel Castro and his communist government, the attack didnt succeed at all. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier built to divide Berlin and it completely cut off West Berlin from East Berlin. This wall included guard towers and concrete slabs. Anyone leaving or trying to pass the wall was typically executed. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This crisis was an intense 13-day political and militar standoff over the installation of nuclear soviet missiles in Cuba. The U.S. president took actions to make a naval blockade around Cuba and was ready to neutralize the threat if necessary. -
Soviet Union falls
On this date, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned his presidency of the Soviet Union, ending the Soviet Union and leaving Boris Yeltsin as president of the newly independent Russian state,
