Timeline: Cold War

1945

[O] Iron curtain descends across Europe

In 1945 an "iron curtain" descended across Europe, diving the capitalism West and communism East. No communication or item exchange was allowed between the divided Europe.

1948

[O] Berlin Airlift

To drive US away from Europe, Soviet Union landlocked West Germany to stop US from delivering aids to them. However, US found a way around by using planes and going by air.

1948

Czechoslovakia becomes the last European country to become communist

1949

Creation of East and West Germany

1950

China aids North Korea and force UN troops to retreat

1950

[O] North Korea invades South Korea

In 1945 Korea was divided into a communist North and capitalist South. There was great tension, and a war finally started in 1950. China and Soviet Union supported North Korea, while United Nations supported South Korea.

1953

[O] Korean War ends with cease fire

In 1953 the war between North and South Korea ended with a cease fire. The country still remain divided as a communist North and a capitalist South.

1953

Stalin dies

1954

Soviets crush a revolt in Hungary

1954

France lose the Battle of Bien Bien Phu and pull out of Indochina

1955

Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier

1955

[O] Tet Offensive occurs

Tet Offensive was an important part of the Vietnam War. It happened during the Vietnam New Year, which is how it got its name. It was a raid by the US to Vietnam and continued for a month.

1957

[O] Sputnik I was launched

Sputnik I was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by Soviet Union. At that time, US always considered itself the country with the most advanced technology, so they panicked when Soviet Union became the first one to launch a satellite. Many countries thought Sputnik I was a weapon and it almost turned into a hot war.

1960

American spy plane shot down by Soviet Union

1961

[O] Construction of Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was built by East Germany in 1961. It was used to physically divide West and East Germany. It was built without warning, so a lot of people were suddenly stuck on one side of the country.

1963

Cuban Missile Crisis and US increase military in South Vietnam

1964

Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurs and US Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1965

President Lyndon B. Johnson first send troops to Vietnam

1972

Détente begins

1973

US and North Vietnam agree to cease fire

1975

Vietnam becomes full communist

1979

Soviet-Afghan War starts

1980

Josip Broz Tito dies

1984

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of Soviet Union

1988

Soviet Union withdraw troops from Afghanistan

1988

[O] Romanian uprising and Nicholae Ceausescu and his wife killed

Nicholae Ceausescu was a communist leader in Romania. He was a dictator that killed thousands of Romanians and disrupted the country's economy. After Soviet Union quitted Europe, people started rioting for Nicholae to step down. Soon afterwards he and his wife were captured and convicted. The army executed them, and sarcastically, immediately afterwards the new government abolished death penalty in Romania.

1989

[O] Fall of Berlin Wall

After Soviet Union broke apart due to multiple independence movements, they quitted Eastern Europe politics. Civil unrest in Germany finally made the government allow dismantling the Berlin Wall. This was a great step to Germany reunification.

1990

[O] Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declare independence, and Germany reunites

In 1990 Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declared their independence from Soviet Union. It was finally recognized in 1994. On the other hand, after Berlin Wall fell, East and West Germany reunited.