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USSR Declared War on Germany
Differences between the United States and the Soviet Union surfaced. The Soviets sought huge reparations from Germany in the form of money, industrial equipment, and resources. -
The Berlin Blockade
Russia’s response to the merger of the French, USA and UK partitions of Berlin was to cut all road and rail links to that sector. This meant that those living in Western Berlin had no access to food supplies and faced starvation. Food was brought to Western Berliners by US and UK airplanes, an exercise known as the Berlin Airlift. -
NATO formed
The USA could place weapons in member states. This would allow more effective defence in the event of a Soviet attack. American nuclear missile sites could be established close to the Soviet border. -
Korean war
Important development in the Cold War because it was the first time that the two superpowers , the United States and the Soviet Union, had fought a 'proxy war ' in a third country. The proxy war or 'limited war ' strategy would be a feature of other Cold War conflicts, for example the Vietnam War. -
Death of Joseph Stalin
The death of Stalin was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. Stalin's death left an unmanageable legacy, economically and in terms of security. -
Suez Canal Crisis
Nasser emerged from the Suez Crisis a victor and a hero for the cause of Arab and Egyptian nationalism. Israel did not win freedom to use the canal, but it did regain shipping rights in the Straits of Tīrān. Britain and France, less fortunate, lost most of their influence in the Middle East as a result of the episode. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The failed invasion strengthened the position of Castro's administration, which proceeded to openly proclaim its intention to adopt socialism and pursue closer ties with the Soviet Union. It also led to a reassessment of Cuba policy by the Kennedy administration. -
Cuban missile crisis
It was the closest the world has come to war between the US and USSR, nuclear war and annihilation. -
Vietnam war
It was the first war to come into American living rooms nightly, and the only conflict that ended in defeat for American arms. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)
Restrain the arms race in strategic (long-range or intercontinental) ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons.