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Bizonia
The Bizonia, a combined economic zone in Germany, was established on January 1, 1947, when the American and British occupation zones merged. This merger was a significant step in the growing division of Germany and Europe during the Cold War. -
Period: to
Cold War 1947-1966
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The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine, announced by President Harry Truman in 1947, established a U.S. policy of providing political, military, and economic aid to democratic nations facing communist influence or threat. It aimed to prevent the spread of communism, becoming a cornerstone of the Cold War policy of containment. -
Cominform
Cominform, short for the Cominform, Information Bureau of Communist and Workers' Parties, was an international organization founded in 1947 by the Soviet Union to coordinate communist movements and resist anti-communist forces -
Czechoslovak Coup
In late February 1948, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ), with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia through a coup d'état. It marked the beginning of four decades of the party's rule in the country. -
The Marshall Plan
officially named the European Recovery Act, was signed into law by President Harry Truman on April 3, 1948. It involved a program of American aid to Western European nations to help them rebuild after World War II. The Marshall Plan aimed to prevent the spread of communism by addressing the economic instability in Europe. Aid was distributed to 16 European nations. -
Tito-Stalin Split
The Tito–Stalin split or the Soviet–Yugoslav split was the culmination of a conflict between the political leaderships of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, under Josip Broz Tito and Joseph Stalin, respectively, in the years following World War II -
Berlin Blockade has been lifted
The Berlin Blockade was lifted on May 12, 1949. Soviet forces had imposed the blockade on June 24, 1948, effectively cutting off all land and river access to West Berlin, a U.S., British, and French-occupied territory within Soviet-controlled East Germany. The Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, a massive effort to supply the city by air. The blockade was lifted due to economic issues in East Berlin. -
West Germany
West Germany was created in 1949 when the United States, Great Britain, and France consolidated those zones, or portions, of Germany that they had occupied at the end of World War II. -
Soviet Atomic Bomb Test
The Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb, code-named RDS-1 or "Joe-1", on August 29, 1949, in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan. This made the Soviet Union the second country to develop and successfully test a nuclear device, following the United States. The test marked the beginning of the nuclear arms race during the Cold War. -
The Rise of McCarthyism
After three largely undistinguished years in the Senate McCarthy rose suddenly to national fame in February 1950 when he asserted in a speech that he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department. -
NSC-68
NSC-68, a 1950 National Security Council policy document, was a blueprint for the United States' strategy during the Cold War. It outlined a strategy of military buildup and "containment" of the Soviet Union -
The Summer Olympics
The Soviet Union (USSR) made its debut at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and finished second in the medal standings, with 22 gold medals and a total of 71 medals. This was a significant event as the USSR, a communist nation, was making its first appearance in the Olympics, and the Games were seen as part of the Cold War rivalry between the US and the USSR. -
The Korean War Begins
After five years of simmering tensions on the Korean peninsula, the Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the Northern Korean People's Army invaded South Korea in a coordinated general attack at several strategic points along the 38th parallel, -
MacArthur is relieved of duties
President Harry S. Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command in the Korean War. Truman made this decision due to MacArthur's public disagreement with U.S. policy and his concerns that his actions could escalate the conflict. Matthew Ridgway was appointed as his replacemen -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), also known as the Treaty of Paris, was signed on April 18, 1951, by Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. This treaty established the ECSC, which brought these six countries together to create a common market for coal and steel production. -
ANZUS Treaty
The ANZUS Treaty, formally known as the Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty, is a mutual defense pact signed in 1951 to protect the security of the Pacific. While the treaty has not been formally abrogated, the United States and New Zealand no longer maintain a security relationship. However, the treaty remains in force between Australia and the United States. -
The Red Scare
The Red Scare, a period of intense fear of communist influence in the US, intensified in 1952. This fear fueled political debates and influenced public policy, particularly regarding national security and loyalty. -
The H-Bomb
The United States detonated its first hydrogen bomb, codenamed Ivy Mike, on November 1, 1952, on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This test marked a major advancement in nuclear weapons technology and further escalated the arms race between the US and the Soviet Union. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
The death of Joseph Stalin in March 1953 led to a power struggle within the Soviet leadership, with Nikita Khrushchev eventually emerging as the dominant figure and First Secretary of the Party. This shift marked the beginning of the Khrushchev Thaw, a period of relative liberalization and de-Stalinization. -
Spies caught in the U.S
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were a married couple who were convicted of espionage and executed by the United States government in 1953. They were the first American civilians to be executed for espionage during peacetime. The case ignited intense debate and controversy, with many arguing that they were framed due to the Cold War climate and their Jewish and Communist affiliations. -
The Korean War Armistance
The Korean Armistice Agreement, signed on July 27, 1953, at Panmunjom, formally ended the Korean War. It established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), enforced a ceasefire, and finalized the repatriation of prisoners of war. While the agreement ended the fighting, it did not result in a formal peace treaty, meaning the Korean War technically remains ongoing. -
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, fought in 1954, was a decisive victory for the Viet Minh (communist-led Vietnamese forces) against the French Union army, marking the end of French colonial rule in Indochina. This battle, which lasted from March 13 to May 7, 1954, was a major turning point in the First Indochina War and the eventual Vietnam War. -
The Geneva Accords
The 1954 Geneva Accords, signed by the French and Vietnamese, led to the division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, with the Viet Minh controlling the North and the government of South Vietnam controlling the South. -
Formation of SEATO
In September of 1954, the United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or SEATO. The purpose of the organization was to prevent communism from gaining ground in the region. -
The Baghdad Pact
The Baghdad Pact, a Cold War-era military alliance, was a key example of US efforts to contain Soviet expansion in the Middle East. Initially formed in 1955, it was renamed the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in 1959 and ultimately dissolved in 1979. Its main purpose was to prevent Soviet incursions into the region and foster peace, similar to other Cold War alliances like NATO and SEATO -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact, officially the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance, was formed on May 14, 1955, as a direct response to West Germany's integration into NATO. It was a military alliance led by the Soviet Union, designed to counterbalance NATO and reinforce Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. The original members included the Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Albania. -
Geneva Summit
In July 1955, leaders from the United States, France, Britain, and the Soviet Union met in Geneva to discuss issues like disarmament, German unification, and increased economic ties. While no agreements were reached, the summit was considered a step toward easing Cold War tensions -
The Secret Speech
Khrushchev delivered his "Secret Speech" on February 25, 1956, at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The speech, also known as "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences," was delivered in a closed session after the public part of the congress had concluded. -
The Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a spontaneous uprising against Soviet rule in Hungary, sparked by protests and culminating in violent clashes with Soviet forces. It began with student protests and quickly escalated into a broader revolt against the Gerő-Hegedüs government and the Soviet Union. The uprising was ultimately crushed by Soviet troops in November 1956, resulting in thousands of deaths and the exile of nearly a quarter-million Hungarians. -
The Suez Crisis
The Israelis struck first on October 29, 1956. Two days later, British and French military forces joined them. Originally, forces from the three countries were set to strike at once, but the British and French troops were delayed. Behind schedule but ultimately successful, the British and French troops landed at Port Said and Port Fuad and took control of the area around the Suez Canal. -
The Eisenhower Doctrine
President Eisenhower, in response to growing Soviet influence in the Middle East, proposed the Eisenhower Doctrine, which aimed to contain communism in the region by offering economic and military assistance to countries threatened by external aggression. This doctrine authorized the commitment of U.S. forces to protect the territorial integrity and political independence of these nations. -
The Sputnik
The launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, by the Soviet Union shocked the United States and initiated the Space Race. This event highlighted the Soviet Union's technological advancements, particularly in missile technology, and sparked fears in the U.S. that they were falling behind in the Cold War competition