Cold War Timeline By vcaiazzo Feb 4, 1945 Begining of Yalta Conference Period: Feb 4, 1945 to Dec 31, 1991 Cold War Mar 12, 1947 President Truman announces Truman Doctrine Apr 3, 1948 Truman signs Marshall Plan Jun 24, 1948 Berlin Blockade begins Apr 4, 1949 NATO is created May 12, 1949 Berlin Blockade ends Jun 8, 1949 Red Scare hits its peak Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik launched into orbit Apr 17, 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion Aug 17, 1961 Construction of Berlin Wall begins Jul 20, 1969 Apollo 11 lands on the moon Nov 9, 1989 Berlin Wall falls Dec 1, 1991 Soviet Empire ends Dec 31, 1991 All Soviet institutions cease operations