1945-1955 cold car By appleman Period: May 8, 1945 to May 9, 1945 May 8: VE Day - Victory in Europe. Germany surrenders to the Red Army in Berlin Feb 9, 1946 February 9: Stalin hostile speech - communism & capitalism were incompatible Mar 12, 1947 March 12 : Truman Doctrine - Truman declares active role in Greek Civil War Feb 25, 1948 February 25 : Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia Apr 4, 1949 April 4 : NATO ratified Jan 30, 1950 Truman approved H-bomb development Jan 12, 1951 January 12 : Federal Civil Defense Administration established Jan 25, 1952 A-bombs developed by Britain Mar 17, 1953 March 17-June 4 Nuclear Arms Race atomic test series of 11 explosions at Nevada Test Site Mar 1, 1954 March 1: H-bomb Castle-Bravo test May 25, 1955 May : Warsaw Pact formed