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Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
The Manhattan Project resulted in the creation of two nuclear bombs: Fat Man and Little Boy. The latter was dropped on Hiroshima, a city in Japan, as a way to stop WWII sooner. Both of these bombs were built using Canadian uranium from the mine in Great Bear Lake. -
Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki
Three days after Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima, a second atomic bomb (Fat Man) was dropped on Nagasaki. This bomb was also built with uranium from Great Bear Lake in Canada. It is widely regarded that the Atomic Bombings in Japan ultimately ended WWII, while simultaneously creating a great need in the Soviet Union to finish their own atomic bomb project. -
Gouzenko Affair
Igor Gouzenko, a cipher clerk who worked in the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa, defected with over 100 documents regarding Soviet spies in Canada. Gouzenko exposed Stalin's network of agents who were stealing nuclear secrets to the government, and later the public. This event is sometimes refered to as the start of the Cold War. -
Formation of the United Nations
Shortly after WWII, 51 nations came together in an attempt to finally create lasting world peace. These original members include Canada, France, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States of America among others. This new group was called the United Nations, and served as a replacement for the unsuccessful League of Nations. -
Formation of NATO
Fearing the power of the USSR, a large military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed. Its members included: Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, the United Kingdom, United States, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. -
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Korean War
The Korean War was North Korea's invasion of South Korea in an attempt to "Libarate the Fatherland". North Korea was aided by the Soviets, whereas South Korea was aided by America and Canada (among others). The end result of this conflict was bothe North and South Korea exisiting, with tweaks to their borders. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was the USSR's answer to NATO. Its members included: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, and Albania. -
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Vietnam War
A Communism containment war between North and South Vietnam. The North stood for Communism, the South didn't. Canada, along with America and others, aided Southern Vietnam in their struggle for many years, until America decided that the South was doomed and pulled out. Later, Vietnam was united under a Communist flag. -
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis was an invasion of Egypt by Israel, the United Kingdom, and France that lasted 1 week and 2 days. Canada refused to provide a military support in the invasion. The crisis was resolved by a large-scale UN Peacekeeping Force. -
Announcement of NORAD
Canada and America came together to form the North American Aerospace Defense Command. NORAD was founded to provide air space warnings and protection over North America. -
Cancellation of the Avro Arrow
A very sad day for the Canadian Air Force. A large order for brand new fighter jets that would keep Canada's Air Force internationally competitive was cancelled. The jets were called Avro Arrows. This is still a topic of conspiracy regarding the reasons for the cancellation. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis is probably the closest the world has ever come to Nuclear War. Canada and the USA were threatened by Soviet nuclear bombs in Cuba. America responded by blockading the island. After 13 extremely tense days, the missiles were returned to the USSR mainland. -
SALT Treaty
The USA and the USSR both signed a treaty that greatly reduced their nuclear arms. The treaty was formed at the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT). Canada and the rest of the world became safer. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
A proposed idea to protect Canada and the United States from Nuclear Missile through the use of global atmospheric surveillance. The idea was never fully put into motion. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
A celebrated day inwhich the Berlin Wall was finalliy taken down. The wall separated the Democratic and the Communist sides of Berlin. -
Official Fall of the Soviet Union
The day the treaty was signed that broke the USSR into smaller countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. This day marked a great loss for Communism and finally ended the Cold War.
