Timeline: Cold War 1947-1966

Period: Jan 1, 1946 to Dec 31, 1964

Cold War 1947-1966

Mar 12, 1947

Truman Doctrine announced

The Truman Doctrine, announced in March 1947, was a U.S. policy pledging support to countries resisting communism, starting with aid to Greece and Turkey. It marked the beginning of America's containment strategy against Soviet expansion during the Cold War.

Jun 5, 1947

Marshall Plan proposed

The Marshall Plan, proposed in June 1947, was a U.S. initiative to provide economic aid to rebuild war-torn European nations. Its goal was to strengthen democratic governments and prevent the spread of communism.

Sep 22, 1947

Cominform created

The Cominform (Communist Information Bureau) was created by the Soviet Union in October 1947 to coordinate communist parties across Europe. It aimed to solidify Soviet control over Eastern Bloc countries and oppose Western influence.

Feb 25, 1948

Czechoslovak coup

The Czechoslovak coup of February 1948 was a Soviet-backed takeover in which the Communist Party seized full control of the government. It marked the end of democracy in Czechoslovakia and tightened Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.

Apr 3, 1948

Marshall Plan enacted

The Marshall Plan was enacted in April 1948, beginning the distribution of U.S. economic aid to help rebuild Western European economies after World War II. It boosted recovery, strengthened alliances, and curtailed the appeal of communism in the region.

Jun 24, 1948

Berlin Blockade begins

The Berlin Blockade began in June 1948, when the Soviet Union cut off all land and rail access to West Berlin in an attempt to force the Allies out. In response, the Western powers launched the Berlin Airlift to supply the city by air.

Apr 4, 1949

NATO formed

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in April 1949 as a military alliance between Western nations to defend against Soviet aggression. It marked a major step in the formal division between East and West during the Cold War.

Aug 29, 1949

Soviet Union tests atomic bomb

The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb in August 1949, ending the U.S. monopoly on nuclear weapons. This development intensified the arms race and heightened Cold War tensions between the superpowers.

Oct 1, 1949

People's Republic of China established

The People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949, after the Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, won the civil war. This marked a major shift in the Cold War, as the world's most populous country joined the communist bloc.