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Italian Neorealism
The film movement, Italian Neorealism, began during the fall of Fascist Italy and the demise of Benito Mussolini. The film movement marked a change in social, political and cultural change. Its storylines follow everyday Italian citizens and the hardships they endured due to poverty. Often, the actors were everyday Italians, who fit the descriptions of their characters. Italian Neorealism still remains one of the most influential and important of all time. -
Yalta Conference
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The commencement of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu began on 13th of March, 1954 and ended on the 7th of May, 1954. The battle was the first confrontation of the First Indochina War and was fought between the French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist-nationalist revolutionaries. The battle ended in the French no longer being involved in Indochina. -
Mussolini killed
Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were stopped by Italian partisans, after attempting to flee Italy to Switzerland. Two days later, their bodies were hung in Piazzale Loreto. -
Hitler commits suicide
Soviet troops were advancing to the Reich Chancellery, causing Adolf Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun to commit suicide. Their bodies were taking outside, doused and burned. -
Germany's surrender
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Occupation zones in Berlin
Berlin was split into four major sectors occupied by the Soviet Union, France, United Kingdom and the United States. -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference began on the 17th of July, 1945 and concluded on the 2nd of August. The conference was attended by Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, Winston Churchill, and later Clement Attlee, of the United Kingdom, and Harry S. Truman of the United States. During the meetings, the fate and punishments for Germany were discussed. -
The death of Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt died after the dramatic decline in his health. Harry S. Truman becomes President of a grieving United States. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States bombs the city of Hiroshima, in Japan, and was the first use of the nuclear weapon. The bombing destroyed the majority of the town, with 90,000 to 166,000 causalities. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
The second bombing by the United States, this time directed to the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The bombing claimed 39,000 to 80,000 residents. This remains the last use of a nuclear weapon. -
Japan's surrender
The signing of the unconditional surrender marks the end of WWII. -
Nuremberg Trials commence
The Nuremberg Trials commenced on the 20th of November, 1945 and concluded on the 1st of October. The trials served to prosecute Nazi war crimes. High military and political Third Reich members were present. -
'Iron Curtain' speech
Winston Churchill delivered this speech at Westminster College, where he described the 'iron curtain' descending across the continent. -
Greek Civil War commences
The Greek Civil War began on the 30th of March, 1946 and concluded on 16th October, 1949. It was fought by the Greek government, supported by Great Britain and the United States, and the Greek communist party. -
Tokyo War Trails
The Tokyo War Crimes Trials tried the leaders of Japan for three types of war crimes, conspiracy to start and wage war, "conventional" atrocities or crimes against humanity, planning, ordering, authorization, or failure to prevent such transgressions at high levels. -
Paris Peace Conference
The Paris Peace Conference ended in the Paris Peace Treaties signed on 10 February 1947, and consisted of the Allies negotiating the details of treaties with Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland. -
Policy of containment announced
President of the United States, Truman, announces the policy of containment to deal with the spread of communism. -
'Truman Doctrine' speech
Harry S. Truman delivered his famous 'Truman Doctrine' speech to the US Congress. The policy was an attempt at stopping Soviet expansion during the Cold War. -
'Marshall Plan' speech
The secretary of the state, George Marshall, delivered the 'Marshall Plan' speech. -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade began on the 24th of June, 1948, concluded on the 12th of May, 1949, and was considered the first major internation crisis of the Cold War. Before this event, the Soviets blocked all acess the Western allies had to their sector of Berlin, with the intention of the Soviets gaining power over the entire city. The Western Allies organised the Berlin airlift, in order to bring supplies into West Berlin. The airlift provided 4700 supplies daily. -
NATO established
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Chinese Civil War ends
The Chinese Civil War concludes with the victory of the Chinese Communist Party. It results in the establishment of the People's Republic of China. -
Sino-Soviet Treaty established
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Korean War commences
The Korean War began on the 25th June, 1950, and finished on the 27th July, 1953. The war was fought between North Korea, supported by China and South Korean, supported by the United States. -
Death of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin died on the 5th of March, due to his decline in health. -
Revolution in Cuba
The revolution in Cuba began on the 26th of July, 1953, and ended on the 1st of January, 1959, and was lead by Fidel Castro. The results include the overthrowing of the government and the establishment of a socialist state and communist government. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu began on the 13th of March and ended the same year, on the 7th of May, 1954. This was the first confrontation of the First Indochina War and was fought between the French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist-nationalist revolutionaries. -
Geneva Conference
The Geneva Conference concluded in the dividing of Vietnam into the North and the South. -
Formation of Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was formed in 14th of May, 1955 and diminished on the 1st of July, 1991. The treaty was between 8 communist states and was the Soviets answer to NATO. -
Vietnam War begins
The Vietnam War began on the 1st of November, 1955, and ended on 30th of April, 1975 and it was the largest proxy war of the Cold War era. The war resulted in the United States withdrawal, the rise of Communist powers in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. -
Hungarian Uprising defeated
The Hhungarian Uprising, which lasted 12 days, was supressed by the Soviet Union. -
French New Wave
The French New Wave film movement began in 1958 and lasted until the late 1960's. Although the film movement was never organised, they were linked by self-conscious rejection, political and social issues and youthful iconoclasm. Major figures in this movement include Jean-Luc Godard, André Bazin, François Truffaut. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
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Building of the Berlin Wall
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Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis began on the 14th of October and ended in the same year, on the 28th of October, 1962. The results include the withdrawl of the Soviet Union's nuclear missiles and the United States' nuclear missiles, an agreement that the United States would never invade Cuba without direct provocation and the creation of a nuclear hotline between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Sino-Indian War
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JFK assassination
John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963. This marked the beginning of a slew of violence in the United States that would reach up until present day. -
Tet Offensive begins
The Tet Offensive began in Vietnam and were a series of wave attacks. -
Robert F. Kennedy assassinated
John F. Kennedy's brother, Robert F. Kennedy was shot at a ballroom by Sirhan Sirhan, on the 5th of August, 1968. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
The invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union began on the 21st of August and ended 6 days later. -
SALT I and AMB Treaty signed
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty were signed. -
Pier Paolo Pasolini's death
The great Italian poet and director, Pier Paolo Pasolini, was murdered by Giuseppe Pelosi, just 20 days before the release of 'Salo, or the 120 days of Sodom'. Just days before his murder, Pasolini went to recover the stolen reels of 'Salo'. The motive behind his murder still remains a mystery; however there are many rumours claiming that it was politically motivated, as Pasolini was an open homosexual and communist. This date is believed to mark the end of the golden age of Italian cinema. -
Sino-Vietnamese War Begins
The Sino-Vietnamese War began on the 17th of February and ended on the 16th of March 1979. China launched the offensive in response to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. -
Soviet War in Afghanistan
The Soviet War in Afghanistan began December 24, 1979 and lasted until February 15, 1989, which ended in the withdrawal of Soviet forces and the continuation of the Afghan Civil War. -
The foundation of Solidarity
Solidarity, a polish trade union, was founded on the 31st of August, 1980, and was the first non-communist party in a country involved in the Warsaw Pact. -
Ronald Reagan inaugurated
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Leonid Brezhnev dies.
Leonid Brezhnev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, died on the 10th of November, 1982, and was succeeded by Yuri Andropov. -
SDI announced
The Strategic Defense Initiative is announced by Ronald Reagan. the intention of the initiative was to utilise ground-based and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. -
Korean Airlines 007 shot down
The Soviet Union, at first denied all accusations of shooting down Korean Airlines 007 flight, but later admitted to it. All 269 passangers and crew were killed. -
Yuri Andropov dies
Yuri Andropov dies and is succeeded by Konstantin Cherneko. -
Konstantin Chernenko dies
Konstantin Chernenko dies and is succeed by Mikhail Gorbachev. -
Geneva Superpower Summit
Geneva Superpower Summit between both Reagan and Gorbachev. -
Reykjavik Superpower Summit
Reykjavik Superpower Summit between both Reagan and Gorbachev. -
Hungarian border opens
The open Hungarian border allowed hundreds of East Germans in Hungary to escape to Austria, and finally crossing over to West Germany. -
Elections in Poland
With the victory of Solidarity, Communism was voted out of office and paved the way for the fall of Communism. -
Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia
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Romanian Revolution
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Communist coup against Gorbachev
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Berlin Wall opens
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Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The USSR ceased to exist due to a declaration noting the independence of 12 Soviet States.
