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World's First Long Range Guided Ballistic Missile.
Yes, I know the title is long. The Nazi V-2 was developed during WWII to attack Allied cities. The attached article is interesting for a skim, but not a complete read. The attached article mentioned above I'm not completely sure about the date. It's within a year or two of that. -
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Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was a secret United States intelligence program in which more than 1,600 Nazi German scientists, engineers, and technicians were taken from former Nazi Germany to the U.S. for government employment after the end of World War II in Europe, between 1945 and 1959. ...Many of these personnel were former members, and some were former leaders of the Nazi Party. Source It's important for rocket design. -
First Nuclear Bomb Explosion
As part of the Manhattan Project, the Trinity test was the first nuclear bomb detonation. The test was conducted at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945. Further reading -
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Atomic Bombs in Warfare
The United State's bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki against the Japanese Empire in WWII killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, mostly civilians. They remain the only use of nuclear bombs in warfare as of yet. Source -
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Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. Copied from this -
United Kingdom Develops Nukes
The date provided is the first nuclear test. The United Kingdom still retains these weapons, and is recognized as a nuclear weapon-possessing state. -
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Space Race
The Space Race was a 20th-century competition between two Cold War rivals, the [USSR] and the [USA], to achieve superior spaceflight capability. It had its origins in the ballistic missile-based nuclear arms race between the two nations following [WWII]. The technological advantage demonstrated by spaceflight achievement was seen as necessary for national security, and became part of the symbolism and ideology of the time. Copied from this -
First ICBM (Russia)
The science was later used to launch Sputnik. -
Sputnik Launched
Sputnik (Спутник 1) was the first earth-orbiting satellite in all of history, but most of history didn't even know what computers were. Source
Fun fact: this is actually what the Russian vaccine is called -
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ABM Systems Development
Both the United States and Soviet Union begin developing Anti-Ballistic Missile systems, destroying the missiles before they could land. The Soviet Union's system works first, with the United States' system working a year later. Source and more context -
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Tom Lehrer Records We Will All Go Together When We Go
A 'survival hymn' to last decades. The date is the first recording. Official PDF of Lyrics
Genius.com
Recording of An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer -
Israel Develops Nukes (Allegedly)
Due to ambiguity, the date provided is provided because of their partnership with France. Israel maintains a policy of delibirate ambiguity when it comes to weapons of mass destruction, and has not publicly stated that they have nuclear weapons. It is no doubt that they have them, though. Source
Whistleblower -
France Develops Nukes
The date provided is the first nuclear test. France still retains these weapons, and is recognized as a nuclear weapon-possessing state. -
Most Powerful Nuke Ever
The Tsar Bomba, tested on the date displayed, was the most powerful nuke ever created. If you want to make it more than just a sentence -
Cuban Missile Crisis
President Kennedy announces to the nation that there are nuclear missile sites in Cuba and that he has ordered a naval blockade of the island. After a series of tense negotiations, the worst of the missile crisis ends when the [USSR] agrees to remove its missiles from Cuba. Privately, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy informs the [USSR] that the US will withdraw its own missiles from Turkey once the crisis ends. From this -
China Develops Nukes
The date provided is the first nuclear test. China still retains these weapons, and is recognized as a nuclear weapon-possessing state. -
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South Africa Develops Nukes
South Africa developed nuclear warheads in a program starting in 1967. Leadership changes and international treaties dismantled the program by 1989, and nothing major happened. Source -
Outer Space Treaty Signed
The Outer Space Treaty is signed by dozens of countries, most importantly the USA and USSR. Basically, space is cool, space is everyone's because sharing is caring, let's all be friends when it comes to space. But most importantly for this timeline, no nukes can be in space. It's actually kind of cool if you want to read it. I'd suggest skimming though. -
India Develops Nukes
The date provided is the first nuclear test. India still retains these weapons, and is recognized as a nuclear weapon-possessing state. -
Chernobyl Disaster
Maybe it's not the most related thing to put on the timeline, but it's important for nuclear history. If you haven't, watch this great miniseries, assuming you have a subscription to HBO Max -
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Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine Have Nukes
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Soviet Union Dissolves
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Pakistan Develops Nukes
The date provided is the first nuclear test. Pakistan still retains these weapons, and is recognized as a nuclear weapon-possessing state. -
North Korea Develops Nukes
The date provided is the first nuclear test. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea still retains these weapons, and is recognized as a nuclear weapon-possessing state.
