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Start of Cold War
The cold war started in 1947, the year the Truman Doctrine was announced. “It must be the policy of the United States,” he declared before Congress in 1947, “to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation…by outside pressures.” (History on the Net). -
Truman's Loyalty Order
President Harry S. Truman signed United States Executive Order 9835, sometimes known as the "Loyalty Order". The order established the first general loyalty program in the United States, designed to root out communist influence in the U.S. federal government (History on the Net). -
Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan is announced setting a precedent for helping countries combat poverty, disease and malnutrition. The overall idea of this plan was to prevent the spread of communism to these countries (History on the Net). -
Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
The Communist Coup in Czechoslovakia. On February 25, 1948 Czechoslovakia, until then the last democracy in Eastern Europe, became a Communist country, triggering more than 40 long years of totalitarian rule (History on the Net). -
Treaty of Brussels
The Treaty of Brussels was signed on 17 March 1948 between Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, as an expansion to the preceding year's defence pledge, the Dunkirk Treaty signed between Britain and France (History on the Net). -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade (1 April 1948 – 12 May 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control (History on the Net) -
NATO Ratified
The United States and 11 other nations establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mutual defense pact aimed at containing possible Soviet aggression against Western Europe. NATO stood as the main U.S.-led military alliance against the Soviet Union throughout the duration of the Cold War (History on the Net). -
Korean War
The Korean war began when North Korea invaded South Korea. America aided South Korea in the war effort and eventually kept North Korea from taking over (History on the Net). -
Death of Stalin
Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR, died at the age of 74 (History on the Net). -
Korean War ends
The Korean war ends. North Korea remained affiliated with Russia while South Korea was affiliated with the USA. This was a great victory in terms of preventing the spread of communism (History on the Net). -
Geneva Accords
This set of documents ended the French war with Vietminan and divided Vietnam into North and South states. Communists controlled the north while America controlled the south.The communist leader of North Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh while the US friendly south was led by Ngo Dinh Diem (History on the Net). -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was formed with member states East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. This was the Soviet response to the Marshall plan and the treaty of Brussels (History on the Net). -
Hungarian Revolution
Hungary revolts against communist rule and pushes the soviets out of Hungary. Then, a few months later, the Soviets return and recapture Hungary. Hungary attempted to call for the aid of other countries but nobody was willing to help (History on the Net). -
Suez Crisis
Following military bombardment by Israeli forces, France and Britain invade Egypt attempting to regain control of the Suez Canal. This move was highly criticized by world leaders and France and Britain were soon forced to retreat. A peacekeeping force from the UN was sent to Egypt to keep order (History on the Net). -
Berlin Wall built
Berlin Wall built by soviets separating the west (democratic) and the East (Communist) sides of Berlin.
Q: What was it like living in Berlin with the wall up?
Dave Fox: "It was frightening for sure. I once heard gunshots and the screams of a person who was shot dead attempting to cross over into the West. I will always remember that" -
Berlin Wall Falls
Q: What was the day the Wall fell like?
Dave Fox: "I remember that day specifically. By that time i had moved out of Berlin and back to America so I wasn't actually there. However, i remember seeing the pictures of joy...It signified the beginning of the end for the Soviets." -
End of Soviet Union- End of Cold War
The end of the Soviet Union signaled the end of the Cold War.
Q: What do you remember about the day the Soviet Union ended?
Dave Fox: "I remember hearing about it on the News while i was out eating. Everyone in the restaurant let out a sigh of relief followed by a cheer."
I chose to interview my father, Dave Fox, because he lived in Berlin, the center of the cold war, during the Cold War.
