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Invasion
Germany invades Poland, marking what many regard as the start of WWII. -
Germany's Control
Germany takes control of much of Western Europe, including France, the U.S. remains ‘neutral’. -
Battle of Britain
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. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act passed, the US committed to supporting the Allies. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan’s naval air force attacks military bases on Oahu, Hawaii (Pearl Harbor). -
U.S. Joins the War
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war against Japan, joining the Allies. -
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Midway
The U.S. Navy defeats the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. -
Sicily
Allied forces invade Sicily. -
Italy Surrenders
Italy surrenders to the Allies, but German forces occupy northern Italy. -
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Paris
Allies take control of Paris. -
Battle of the Bulge
Germans counterattack in northern France, Belgium and Luxembourg, known as the Battle of the Bulge. -
Iwo Jima
U.S. Marines land on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. -
3rd Army
The U.S. 3rd Army crosses the Rhine River in Germany. -
Okinawa
U.S. soldiers and Marines invade Okinawa, Japan. -
Berlin
The Soviet army encircles Berlin and links up with the Americans on the Elbe River. -
V-E Day
Germany surrenders to the Allies, marking V-E Day. -
Hiroshima
The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. -
Nagasaki
The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. -
V-J Day
End of WWII. Japan formally surrendered to the Allies, marking V-J Day, although the initial surrender announcement was made on Aug. 15, 1945. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman enunciated the Truman Doctrine, promising to help any country facing a Communist takeover. -
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Berlin Blockade
Soviet leader imposed the Berlin Blockade, Allies responded with a massive airlift to come to West Berlin's aid. -
Joe 1
Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, “Joe 1”, officially marking the beginning of the Cold War, sparking the US and Soviet rivalry. -
First Atomic Bomb
President Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated its first atomic bomb. -
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Korean War
Demonstrated the significant impact of the containment policy of the U.S. government, aimed at preventing the spread of communism. -
Hydrogen Bomb
The US tested the first Hydrogen bomb. -
Warsaw Pact
Military alliance between Communist countries in East Europe to counter the threat of Capitalism in Europe. -
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Vietnam War
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. -
Space Race
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
Berlin wall went up. The United States quickly condemned the wall, which divided families and limited freedom of movement. -
Tsar Bomba
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. -
Titan II
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. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviets installed missiles in Cuba to launch at the US, but Kennedy struck an agreement. Strengthened Kennedy's image domestically and internationally. -
Hotline Agreement
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. -
39th President
Jimmy Carter became the 39th President of the United States, emphasizing human rights, democratic values, nuclear proliferation, and global poverty. -
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Able Archer & The War Scare
Military exercise conducted by NATO that nearly sparked a nuclear war with the Soviets. -
End of Titan II
The US Titan II program was phased out and taken off alert for good -
Berlin Wall Comes Down
Convinced Americans that the communist world was coming undone. -
End of The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact which allied Communist countries was ended. -
End of The Soviet Union
Soviet hammer and sickle flag lowered for the last time over the Kremlin, Soviet Union collapses marking the end of the Cold War.
