Cold war

Cold War Timeline

By WilsJunk

  • Yalta

    Yalta
    The "Big Three" allied leaders—American president Franklin Roosevelt, Soviet leader Josef Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill—meet at the Yalta Conference to make arrangements for the postwar world order. Their contradictory agreements include a declaration to respect democracy throughout Europe, but also the recognition of a de facto Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. At Yalta the Allies also finalize plans to divide Germany into separate zones of occupation.

  • Roosevelt Dies

    Roosevelt Dies
    President Franklin D. Roosevelt suddenly suffers a cerebral hemorrhage and dies, leaving his vice president, Harry Truman, to assume the presidency. Truman has only been vice president for 82 days, and has had little communication with Roosevelt about the administration's policies. After taking his oath of office, Truman tells reporters, "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now."

  • United Nations Founded in San Francisco

    United Nations Founded in San Francisco
    The United Nations Charter is adopted in San Francisco, California, by representatives of 51 countries. This marks the founding of the UN.

  • First Atomic Bomb

    First Atomic Bomb
    American scientists successfully test the first atomic bomb in New Mexico.

  • Hiroshima

    Hiroshima
    The American bomber Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The instant devastation unleashed on Hiroshima shocks the world and ushers in the nuclear age.

  • Nagasaki

    Nagasaki
    The American plane Bockscar drops an atomic bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" on the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

  • Korea Divided at 38th Parallel

    Korea Divided at 38th Parallel
    At the end of World War II, Korea—occupied during the war by Japanese forces—is divided at the 38th Parallel, and two new states are established. North Korea is run by Communist Kim Il-Sung, while South Korea is run by anticommunist autocrat Syngman Rhee.

  • Marshall Plan

    Marshall Plan
    In a speech made at Harvard University, Secretary of State George Marshall proposes the Marshall Plan, a $13 billion foreign aid package designed to help Europe recover from the devastation of World War II.

  • Soviet Atomic Bomb

    Soviet Atomic Bomb
    The Soviet Union detonates its first atomic bomb, causing shock and fear in the United States.

  • NASA created

    NASA created
    The United States creates NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to lead the space race with the Soviet Union.