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Potsdam Conference
the Allies discussed many issues concerning postwar Europe, but often had difficulty reaching an agreement. -
Berlin Blockade and airlift
the Russians–who wanted Berlin all for themselves–closed all highways, railroads and canals from western-occupied Germany into western-occupied Berlin. They believed that by doing this they would drive Britain, France and the U.S. out of the city for good. Instead of leaving west Berlin the U.S and its allies decided to supply the people that were blocked. -
Korean War
the Korean War began when some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army went across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. In july American troops had entered the war on South Korea’s side. -
Space Race
a Soviet R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile launched Sputnik (Russian for “traveler”), the world’s first artificial satellite and the first man-made object to be placed into the Earth’s orbit. Americans were suprised and not to happy about this. -
U-2 Reconnaissance Plane
An American U-2 spy plane was shot down while conducting espionage over the Soviet Union. The incident scheduled an important meeting between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev that was scheduled for later that month. -
Bay of Pigs
Cuban exile brigade began its invasion at an isolated spot on the island’s southern shore known as the Bay of Pigs. Almost immediately, the invasion was a disaster. . Unexpected coral reefs sank some of the exiles’ ships as they pulled into shore. Backup paratroopers landed in the wrong place. Castro’s troops had captured the invaders on the beach, and the exiles surrendered after less than a day of fighting; 114 were killed and over 1,100 were taken prisoner. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
President John Kennedy notified Americans about the missles that were present in Cuba. He explained his decision to enact a naval blockade around Cuba and made it clear the U.S. was prepared to use military force if necessary to neutralize this threat to national security. DIsaster was avoided when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba. -
Arms limitation talks
Soviet and U.S. negotiators met in Helsinki to begin the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). The meeting was the climax of years of discussions between the two nations concerning the means to curb the Cold War arms race. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
the Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan and quickly took complete military and political control of Kabul and large portions of the country. This invasion marked the only time the Soviet Union invaded a country outside the Eastern Bloc. -
reunited Germany
In 1989 mass demonstrations led to a collapse of the Berlin Wall. A year later, on October 3, 1990, East and West Germany were reunited, after being separate states for forty years.
