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Germany invades Poland, marking what many regard as the start of WWII. -
Germany takes control of much of Western Europe, including France, the U.S. remains ‘neutral’.
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Germany launches an air war, known as the Battle of Britain, against the United Kingdom. Britain was able to push back the Nazis and showed that Germany could be defeated. -
The Lend-Lease Act passed, the US committed to supporting the Allies.
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Japan’s naval air force attacks military bases on Oahu, Hawaii (Pearl Harbor). -
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war against Japan, joining the Allies. -
The U.S. Navy defeats the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway.
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Allied forces invade Sicily. -
Italy surrenders to the Allies, but German forces occupy northern Italy.
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Allied forces land on the beaches of Normandy, France, marking D-Day. -
Allies take control of Paris. -
Germans counterattack in northern France, Belgium and Luxembourg, known as the Battle of the Bulge. -
U.S. Marines land on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. -
The U.S. 3rd Army crosses the Rhine River in Germany. -
U.S. soldiers and Marines invade Okinawa, Japan.
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The Soviet army encircles Berlin and links up with the Americans on the Elbe River. -
Germany surrenders to the Allies, marking V-E Day. -
The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. -
The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. -
End of WWII. Japan formally surrendered to the Allies, marking V-J Day, although the initial surrender announcement was made on Aug. 15, 1945. -
President Truman enunciated the Truman Doctrine, promising to help any country facing a Communist takeover.
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Soviet leader imposed the Berlin Blockade, Allies responded with a massive airlift to come to West Berlin's aid.
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Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, “Joe 1”, officially marking the beginning of the Cold War, sparking the US and Soviet rivalry. -
President Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated its first atomic bomb. -
Demonstrated the significant impact of the containment policy of the U.S. government, aimed at preventing the spread of communism.
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The US tested the first Hydrogen bomb. -
Military alliance between Communist countries in East Europe to counter the threat of Capitalism in Europe.
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The war was a long, costly, and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States.
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the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik-1, the world's first artificial satellite. This shocked the US and sparked the start of the “Space Race”. -
Berlin wall went up. The United States quickly condemned the wall, which divided families and limited freedom of movement. -
Soviet thermonuclear bomb that was detonated in a test over Novaya Zemlya island in the Arctic Ocean– most powerful human-made explosion ever recorded. Only increased US rivalry. -
The US deployed the Titan II which carried the largest nuclear warhead ever deployed on an ICBM. This was a show of the US’s power. -
The Soviets installed missiles in Cuba to launch at the US, but Kennedy struck an agreement. Strengthened Kennedy's image domestically and internationally.
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An agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union that recognized the problem of modern nuclear weapons systems. This was a step to bring those troubles under control.
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Jimmy Carter became the 39th President of the United States, emphasizing human rights, democratic values, nuclear proliferation, and global poverty. -
Military exercise conducted by NATO that nearly sparked a nuclear war with the Soviets.
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The US Titan II program was phased out and taken off alert for good
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Convinced Americans that the communist world was coming undone. -
The Warsaw Pact which allied Communist countries was ended. -
Soviet hammer and sickle flag lowered for the last time over the Kremlin, Soviet Union collapses marking the end of the Cold War.