Titan missile museum 1950 1953 timeline 74253a96

Cold War Timeline

  • American-Soviet cooperation ends at end of WW2

    American-Soviet cooperation ends at end of WW2

    The relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States was dumpy before WW2. The alliance marked good cooperation and it was a necessary step after the defeat of Nazi Germany.
    1-5
  • NATO set up

    NATO set up

    Created to provide security against the Soviet Union. It was the first military alliance in the Western Hemisphere made for peace. It was created after World War 2 when Europe was struggling to rebuild and needed security.
    1-5
  • Berlin Airlift

    Berlin Airlift

    The Berlin Airlift started when the USSR wanted to gain control of the entire city and block access to all roads for supplies to come in. The other countries didn't just back down after they inforced it and used planes to get their supplies into Berlin.
    2-5
  • U.S. develops H-Bombs

    U.S. develops H-Bombs

    The U.S. built the first hydrogen bomb in 1952. They tested it on November 11, 1952, on the island of Eluegeblab. It left a 100 miles wide mushroom cloud, the explosion was a little over 10 megatons.
    3-5
  • Korean War

    Korean War

    The Korean War was a push to make the Cold War a "Warm War". It was a civil conflict that became a proxy war, it was a clash between communism and democracy. Lots of lives were lost and 70% of the deaths were civilians.
    5-5
  • Creation of Warsaw Pact

    Creation of Warsaw Pact

    First known as the Treaty of Friendship and it was created right after West Germany joined the Alliance. It was a mutual defense organization. There were 8 countries that were connected in the pact.
    1-5
  • Sputnik is launched

    Sputnik is launched

    The Sputnik launch was the start of the "Space Ages". Sputnik is the Russian word for "fellow traveler". It circled Earth every hour and 36 minutes. It was launched to study the earth and the solar system.
    1-5
  • Berlin Wall is built

    Berlin Wall is built

    People say that the Berlin Wall sums up the Cold War. It was a fight between good and evil. It was a legit wall that went up in Berlin to spilt the city into East Berlin and West Berlin.
    3-5
  • Partial Test Ban Treaty signed

    Partial Test Ban Treaty signed

    This Treaty was signed to prohibit the testing of nuclear weapons in space, in the atmosphere, and in water. First signed by the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Later when it was open for signatures from other countries, 123 states also signed it.
    1-5
  • SALT Treaty signed

    SALT Treaty signed

    The United States and the Soviet Union signed to limit the number of nuclear missiles in their arsenals. This was the first time during the Cold War that the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to cut down their missiles. People thought the SALT Treaty was a crown achievement.
    2-5
  • Vietnam War

    Vietnam War

    The Vietnam War was a long and costly war. The war got worse because of the ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. More than 3 million were killed, more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians and 58 000 Americans.
    5-5
  • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

    Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

    The Soviets invaded Afghanistan after the upholding Soviet-Afghan Treaty of 1978. They sent a massive airlift into Kabul. They took control of Kabul before moving on to their next destination. About 2 million Afghans were killed. 15 000 Soviets were also killed and 35 000 wounded.
    5-5
  • Iron Curtain collapes

    Iron Curtain collapes

    The Iron Curtain wasn't a legit curtain but more just a line that separated East and West Europe. It was guarded and millions of people couldn't cross and were trapped on their side. This was the effort of the Soviet Union trying to separate itself from the other side.
    2-5
  • Germany is re-united

    Germany is re-united

    After 45 years Germany is reunited. Not even a year after the all of the Berlin Wall. It is known as "Unity Day". The separation of Germany had become a severe one and was known as the most enduring symbol of the Cold War.
    1-5
  • Warsaw Pact Dissolves

    Warsaw Pact Dissolves

    The Warsaw Pact ceased to exist for 36 years. It was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This was a sign the Soviet Union was losing control and the Cold War was ending.
    1-5