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The United Nations is Created
Delegates from 50 countries, including Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and Canada, met in San Francisco to create the United Nations. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe is announced on May 8 as Germany surrenders to the Allied Forces. Canadians contribute to the victory by liberating Holland, allowing the Allies to continue towards Berlin. -
V-J Day
On Victory over Japan Day, Japan surrenders after two atomic bombs. Peace is declared and Canadian soldiers can now return home. -
NATO is created
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is created to establish a military presence and prevent Soviet expansion. Canada is one of the joining countries. -
Communists take control of China
The Communists, led by Mao Zedong, took over the government of China. Canada would eventually recognize the communist government, while the United States does not. Because the United States doesn't recognize the new Chinese government, they pushed the United Nations into giving the former Chinese government in Taiwan a seat on the United Nations Security Council. -
Korean War begins
North Korea attacks South Korea with assistance from the Soviet Union.- refer to Korean War timespan for more details.
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The Korean War
In 1950, 100,000 North Korean troops, supported by the Soviet Union (communist), invade South Korea (democratic). In response the UN enters Korea to defend South Korea. Over 26,500 Canadians serve in Korea. The war ends in an armistice, with the two sides divided. The Korean War was significant for Canadians because they proved that they supported the United Nations. -
Korean War ends
North and South Korea sign an armistice, ending the war, but leaving the country divided.- refer to Korean War timespan for more details.
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The Warsaw Pact is created.
In response to NATO, the Soviet Union and its satellite states develop a defensive alliance called the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact makes the Cold War more dangerous to Canadians who are, geographically, in the middle of the countries at war. -
Vietnam War begins
When French forces in Vietnam fall, the country immediately descends into war between the Communist North and the partially-Democratic South. Soon the war would expand to include the Communist countries which supported the North (the Soviets) and Democratic countries which supported the South (USA). Canada sent a limited party in an effort to keep the peace under the Paris Peace Accords. -
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Vietnam War
During the twenty year war, the Communist North Vietnam and the Democratic South Vietnam continually fought for their theology. But because the Americans, who supported the South, could not advance in Vietnam, the war quickly became unpopular with the American people. The American government then resorted to conscription, but many people would escape to Canada to evoid the "draft". In 1973, a cease-fire was reached after the Americans continually bombed North Vietnam in a full air strike. -
Pearson Defuses the Suez Crisis
Egypt seized the Suez Canal from France and Britain, who used the canal as a vital trade route. As a result, Britain and France joined Israel to attack Egypt, while the Soviet Union sided with Egypt. Lester Pearson, Canada's Minister of External Affairs, went to the United Nations with a plan to keep the combatants apart. The hostilities stopped when UN peacekeepers were brought in to defuse the situation. Lester Pearson would win a Nobel Prize in 1957 for his peacekeeping efforts. -
Berlin Wall is Built
During the middle of the night, communist-controlled East Berlin officials created a wall which stretched across the city. This separted the West Berliners from the rest of the city as well as Western Europe, isolating them from necessary supplies. Canada, as well as other the other countries that had been supplying the West Berliners, did not agree with the creation of the wall. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
In October, 1962, the Soviet Union brings nuclear weapons into communist Cuba. In response, the Unites States set up a naval blockade around Cuba, to keep Soviet ships out of Cuba. The Soviet Union sends a letter to American President Kennedy saying that the Soviets promise to remove their nuclear weapon from Cuba, if the Americans promised not to invade Cuba. This crisis was scary for Canadians because Soviet ships would sail past Canada with their nuclear weapons on their way to Cuba. -
President John F. Kennedy is Assasinated
While President Kennedy was driving down a street in Dallas, Texas, waving to the crowd, he was shot in the head by Lee Harvey Oswald. It is said that Canadians everywhere could remember where they wre when the American President was shot. -
Vietnam War ends
In 1975, the last of the Americans left Vietnam. As the Americans left the North quickly invaded the South and all of Vietnam was under the control of the communists from the North. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
In 1979, the Soviets put 350 missiles in Eastern Europe in preparation to in vade Afghanistan. Within months the Soviets fully invaded Afghanistan, and installed a new leader, Babrak Karmal. The Soviets would remain in Afghanistan for nine years. -
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Soviet War in Afghanistan
In 1979, the Soviets invade Afghanistan in hopes of capturing the Persian Gulf. By 1980, the Soviets had 2,000 tanks in Afghanistan. Over the next nine years, the war would continue, causing large refugee problem for neighbouring countries such as Pakistan. -
Soviets Withdraw from Afghanistan
By 1988, the Soviets agreed to withdraw from Afghanistan due to their problem at home. This is great news for the democratic countries because the Soviets would no longer threaten to take control of the Persian Gulf.- Canadians would re-enter again Afghanistan in 2001 as a part of the NATO mission.
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Berlin Wall falls
The fall of the Berlin Wall is seen as the symbol for the end of the Cold War and the forst step in German reunification. The Communist East Berlin gave permission to open the wall on Nov. 9, 1989, and soon the crowds would rush to the top of the wall to celebrate and hack at pieces of the 28km long wall.
