Geopolitical Events of the Cold War

By Maria_G

  • Potsdam Conference

    Allies organize divison and reconstruction of Europe and new boundaries of Poland are agreed on.

  • First Atomic Bomb

    US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima

  • USSR joins the war in the Pacific

    USSR invades Manhuria in accordance to Yalta Conference agreement.

  • Second Atomic Bomb

    US drops a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

  • Japan Surrenders

    Japan surrenders unconditionally.

  • Austria

    The Republic of Austria is reconstituted, with its 1937 borders, but divided into four zones of control

  • Greece

    The Greek Civil War reignites between communists and the conservative Greek government.

  • Iran

    British soldiers withdraw from their zone of occupation in southern Iran. Soviet soldiers remain in their northern sector.

  • Iran

    Soviet forces evacuate Iran after a crisis.

  • Phillipines

    The Philippines gain independence from the United States, and begins fighting communist Huk rebels (Hukbalahap Rebellion).

  • Bulgaria

    In a referendum, Bulgaria votes for the establishment of a People's Republic, deposing King Simeon II. Western countries dismiss the vote as fundamentally flawed.

  • Indochina

    French landings in Indochina begin the First Indochina War. They are resisted by the Viet Minh communists who want national independence.

  • Bizone

    The American and British zones of control in Germany are united to form the Bizone

  • US give aid to Greece and Turkey

    President Harry Truman announces the Truman Doctrine starting with the giving of aid to Greece and Turkey in order to prevent them from falling into the Soviet sphere

  • Korea

    The United Nations passes a resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Korea, free elections in each of the two administrations, and the creation of a UN commission dedicated to the unification of the peninsula.

  • Romania

    In Romania the monarchy is abolished and the Popular Republic of Romania is instituted instead. The Communist Party will rule the country until December 1989.

  • Czechoslovakia

    The Communist Party takes control in Czechoslovakia

  • Malaya

    A communist insurgency in Malaya begins against British and Commonwealth forces.

  • Berlin Blockade

    Joseph Stalin orders the blockade of all land routes from West Germany to Berlin, in an attempt to starve out the French, British, and American forces from the city. In response, the three Western powers launch the Berlin Airlift to supply the citizens of Berlin by air.

  • Yugoslavia

    The Soviet Union expels Yugoslavia from the Communist Information Bureau (COMINFORM) for the latter's position on the Greek civil war.

  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea

    The Soviet Union declares the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, with Kim Il-sung as Prime Minister.

  • NATO

    The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is founded by the Western nations in order to resist Communist expansion.

  • End of Berlin Blockade

    The Soviet blockade of Berlin ends with the re-opening of access routes to Berlin. The airlift continues until September, in case the Soviets re-establish the blockade.

  • Federal Republic of Germany

    In Germany, the Bizone merges with the French zone of control to form the Federal Republic of Germany, with Bonn as its capital.

  • People's Republic of China

    Mao Zedong declares the foundation of the People's Republic of China - adding a quarter of the world's population to the communist camp

  • German Democratic Republic

    The Soviets declare their zone of Germany to be the German Democratic Republic, with its capital at East Berlin.

  • End of Greek Civil War

    Nikos Zachariadis, leader of the Communist Party of Greece, declares an end to the armed uprising. The declaration brings to a close the Greek Civil War, and the first successful containment of communism.

  • Indonesia

    Sovereignty is handed over to United States of Indonesia from the Netherlands through the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference with Sukarno as the first president

  • Mutual Defense Pact

    The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China sign a pact of mutual defense.

  • Invasion of South Korea

    North Korea invades South Korea, beginning the Korean War.

  • Seoul falls

    Seoul, the capital of South Korea, falls to North Korean forces.

  • UN joins the Korean War

    United Nations forces engage North Korean forces for the first time, in Osan. They fail to halt the North Korean advance, and fall southwards

  • UN advances in Korea

    United Nations forces land at Inchon. Defeating the North Korean forces, they press inland and re-capture Seoul.

  • 38th Parallel

    United Nations forces cross the 38th parallel, into North Korea.

  • Pyongyang falls

    Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, falls to United Nations forces.

  • China intervenes

    October 22: China intervenes in Korea with 300,000 soldiers, catching the United Nations by surprise.

  • UN forces are pushed back

    United Nations forces approach the Yalu River. In response, China intervenes in Korea again, but with a 500,000 strong army. This offensive forces the United Nations back towards South Korea.

  • 38th Parallel

    United Nations forces recapture Seoul during Operation Ripper. By the end of March, they have reached the 38th Parallel, and formed a defensive line across the Korean peninsula

  • Japan

    Japan signs the Treaty of San Francisco and the Treaty of Taipei, formally ending its period of occupation and isolation, and becoming a sovereign state.

  • US places nuclear bombers

    Strategic Air Command begins Reflex Alert deployments of Convair B-36 and B-47 Stratojet long-range nuclear bombers to overseas bases like purpose-built Nouasseur Air Base in French Morocco, placing them within unrefueled striking range of Moscow.

  • France Withdraws

    May 7: The Viet Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu. France withdraws from Indochina, leaving four independent states: Cambodia, Laos, and what became North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The Geneva Accords calls for free elections to unite Vietnam, but none of the major Western powers wish this to occur in the likely case that the Viet Minh (nationalist Communists) would win.

  • End of Korean War

    July 27: An armistice agreement ends fighting in the Korean War

  • Taiwan Strait Crisis

    August 11: The Taiwan Strait Crisis begins with the Chinese Communist shelling of Taiwanese islands. The US backs Taiwan, and the crisis resolves itself as both sides decline to take action.
    September 8: Foundation of the South East Asian Treaty

  • Soviet aid to Syria

    Soviet aid to Syria begins. The Syrians will remain allies of the Soviets until the end of the Cold War.

  • Poland

    in Poznań, Poland, anti-communist protests lead to violence.

  • Hungary

    Hungarian Revolution of 1956: Hungarians revolt against the Soviet dominated government. They are crushed by the Soviet military, which reinstates a Communist government.

  • Suez Crisis

    France, Israel, and the United Kingdom attack Egypt with the goal of removing Nasser from power. International diplomatic pressures force the attackers to withdraw.

  • South Vietnam

    Communist insurgency begins in South Vietnam, sponsored by North Vietnam.

  • Sinai

    Israeli forces withdraw from the Sinai, which they had occupied the previous year.

  • Sputnik

    Sputnik satellite launched by the Soviet Union

  • Iraq

    A coup in Iraq, the 14 July Revolution, removes the pro-British monarch. Iraq begins to receive support from the Soviets. Iraq will maintain close ties with the Soviets throughout the Cold War.

  • Quemoy

    Second Taiwan Strait Crisis begins when China begins to bomb Quemoy.

  • Cuban Revolution

    Fidel Castro becomes the leader of Cuba although refrains from declaring the country Communist. Cuban-inspired guerrilla movements spring up across Latin America.

  • Khrushchev

    Khrushchev visits U.S. for 13 days, and is denied access to Disneyland. Instead, he visits SeaWorld (then known as Marineland of the Pacific)

  • Sino-Soviet Split

    The Chinese leadership, angered at being treated as the "junior partner" to the Soviet Union, declares its version of Communism superior and begin to compete with the Soviets for influence, thus adding a third dimension to the Cold War.

  • Malaya

    Communist insurgents in Malaya are defeated.

  • Bay of Pigs invasion

    A CIA-backed invasion of Cuba by counter-revolutionaries ends in failure.

  • IRBM

    Jupiter IRBM deployment to Turkey begins, joining the Jupiters deployed to Italy as well as the Thor IRBMs deployed to the UK as nuclear missiles placed within striking distance of Moscow.

  • Berlin Wall

    The Berlin Wall is built by the Soviets following the breakdown in talks to decide the future of Germany.

  • Himalayan War

    Chinese forces attack India, making claims on numerous border areas.

  • Cuban Missle Crisis

    The Soviets have secretly been installing military bases, including nuclear weapons, on Cuba, some 90 miles from the US mainland. Kennedy orders a "quarantine" (a naval blockade) of the island that intensifies the crisis and brings the US and the USSR to the brink of nuclear war. In the end, both sides reach a compromise. The Soviets back down and agree to withdraw their nuclear missiles from Cuba, in exchange for a secret agreement by Kennedy pledging to withdr

  • End of the Himalayan War

    China occupies a small strip of Indian land.

  • US bomb N. Vietnam

    US military build up to defend South Vietnam. North Vietnam has also committed its forces in the war. US begins sustained bombing of North Vietnam.

  • Dominican Republic

    US forces invade the Dominican Republic to prevent a communist takeover like the one that occurred in Cuba.

  • Battle of la Drang

    Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between US Troops and regular Vietnamese forces.

  • Egypt

    Egypt blocks the Straits of Tiran, then expels UN peacekeepers and moves its army into the Sinai Peninsula in preparation for possible attack on Israel.

  • Six-Day War

    In response to Egypt's aggression, Israel invades the Sinai Peninsula, beginning the Six-Day War.

  • Cambodia

    The U.S begins bombing Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia.

  • Vietnamization

    "Vietnamization" begins with U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam and the burden of combat being placed on the South Vietnamese.

  • Libya

    Muammar al-Gaddafi overthrows the Libyan monarchy and expels British and American personnel. Libya aligns itself with the Soviet Union.

  • Cambodia

    Lon Nol takes power in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese Communists attack the new regime, which wants to end North Vietnamese presence in Cambodia.

  • laos

    South Vietnamese forces enter Laos to briefly cut the Ho Chi Minh trail.

  • Bandgladesh

    Bangladesh and Indian joint forces defeat Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh is officially recognized by the eastern bloc.

  • Paris Peace

    The Paris Peace Accords end American involvement in the Vietnam War. Congress cuts off funds for the continued bombing of Indochina.

  • Chilean coup d'état

    The democratically-elected Marxist president of Chile, Salvador Allende, is deposed and commits suicides during a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, supported by the US.

  • Khmer Rouge

    The communist Khmer Rouge take power in Cambodia; genocide ensues, later referred to as "The Killing Fields".

  • N. Vietnam wins

    April 30: North Vietnam wins the war in South Vietnam. The South Vietnam regime falls with the surrender of Saigon and the two countries are united under a Communist government.

  • Mayagüez incident

    The Khmer Rouge seize an American naval ship, prompting American intervention to recapture the ship and its crew. In the end, the crew is released from captivity.

  • Portugal

    Portugal withdraws from Angola and Mozambique, where Marxist governments are installed, the former with backing from Cuban troops. The Civil war engulfs both nations and involves Angolans, Mozambicans, South Africans, and Cubans, with the superpowers supporting their respective ideologies.

  • Argentina

    Coup d'état in Argentina. A Civil war against Argentine-based guerrilla warfare starts.

  • Iranian Revolution

    The Iranian Revolution ousts the pro-Western Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and installs a theocracy under Ayatollah Khomeini. CENTO dissolves as a result.

  • Sino-Vietnamese War

    China launches a punitive attack on North Vietnam to punish it for invading Cambodia.

  • Nicaragua

    Marxist-led Sandinista revolutionaries overthrow the U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. The Contra insurgency begins shortly thereafter.