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The allies agree in Potsdam to the fundamental conditions of the occupation of Germany. American nuclear bombs destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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From June 1948 to May 1949, US and British planes airlift 1.5 million tons of supplies to the residents of West Berlin.
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There was a blockade of Berlin.
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Communist Mao Zedong takes control of China and establishes the People's Republic of China.
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The Korean War; after North Korea attacks South Korea, UN troops led by the United States invade the country. China and the Soviet Union back North Korea. The cease-fire leaves the two countries with the pre-war status quo. ( 1950-1953 )
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The Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955, and West Germany was admitted into NATO that same year.
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June 29, 1956 USSR sent tanks into Poznan, Poland, to suppress demonstrations by workers.
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Invasion of Hungary 1956- Warsaw Pact troops invaded to quell pro-democracy movements in governments. Totalitarian tactic to suppress opposition.
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The Soviets began secretly installing missiles in Cuba that could be used to launch nuclear attacks on U.S cities.
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U.S troops invades and overthrows regime in Grenada.
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Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union initiating a campaign of openness called "glasnost" and restructuring called "perestroika".
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October, 1987 President Reagan and Gorbachev agree to remove all medium and short-range nuclear missiles.
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November 1989, Berlin Wall is demolished an East Germany allows unrestricted migration to West Germany.
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December 1989, communist governments fall in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Rumania.
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Lithuanian becomes independent.
