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Victory in Europe
Germany surrenders to Russian's Army and loses World War 2 (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). This event is a good place to start the timeline of the Cold War due to it being a starting point of the USSR and United States no longer having to be on the same side since they and other allied forces defeated Germany. The end of World War 2 starts the beginning of the Cold War. -
Potsdam Conference
This conference took place from July 17th-August 2nd 1945 in Potsdam, Germany (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). This conference consisted of the three allied forces, Great Britain, the U.S and Russia. This conferences purpose was to define the terms to the end of the war (The Potsdam Conference, n.d.). This conference is of importance to the Cold War because of how Germany occupied countries were split up among the allied forces. Areas split between the U.S and Russian's later created conflict. -
U.S Bombing of Hiroshima, Japan
The United States dropped the first ever atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan to end the conflict between Japan and the U.S (The Col War Timeline, 2014). This bomb dropping won the U.S. the war with Japan. This event is important to the Cold War because it notified the Soviets that the United States had atomic warfare and thus creating a threat to them. This started an arms race of who could make a better bomb, the U.S or Soviets (Cold War History, n.d.). -
Victory in Japan
The Japanese surrender after being bombed twice, bringing World War 2 to an end (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). This event is important to the Cold War because it marks the end of World War 2. -
Formation of West Germany
(June, 1948) The French, U.S and U.K decided to join forces to make West Germany. This joining of forces is important to the Cold War because the Berlin Blockage and eventually the building of the Berlin Wall occurred because of this event. -
Berlin Blockade
In response to the joining of forces to make West Germany as well as the introduction of the Deutsche Mark to help the German economy, the Soviets created a Berlin Blockade (Grantham, 2015). The goal of the blockade was to inhibit the travels to West Berlin so that the joined forces of West Germany would give up their portion of Berlin and incorporate the plans that the Soviets had for Germany . This blockade ended in defeat and the Soviets allowed traffic to Berlin in1949 (Grantham, 2015) -
Korean War
Korean War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953). Communist North Korea invades Republic South Korea. America entered the war to help South Korea. There was talk of this being the beginning of a third world war. America saw this war as a war against communism. The war ended in an agreed cease fire and talked negotiations. This event is important to the Cold War because it was the first war action taken during the Cold War (Korean War, n.d.). -
The Space Race
Russia and the U.S are in a Space Race. Russia launches the first human into space, Yuri Alekseyvich Gagarin on April 12, 1961. The Russians have been winning the race so far, with launching the satellite Sputnik into space on October 4, 1957 (Cold War History, n.d.). The U.S gets competitive and looks to have the first man on the moon to beat Russia in the Race (The Cold War Timeline, 2014).This event was important to the Cold War because it was another war between the Soviets and U.S. -
Building of the Berlin Wall
A wall between the West and East Berlin was built in order to keep West from entering the East. It also aimed to prevent the flood of refugees from East to West. Families were split apart. 171 individuals died trying to cross the border (Berlin Wall, n.d.). The border was made from multiple materials and parts, including concrete and fences. November 9, 1989, the East Berlin leader announced that individuals were allowed to cross the wall (Berlin Wall, n.d.). -
Cuban Missile Crisis
U.S. spots missiles located in Cuba by the Soviets. This was a threat to the U.S. and many feared that there would be a nuclear war (Urban Missile Crisis, n.d.). The U.S. was ready to create a naval blockade around Cuba, however, the Soviet leader at the time, Nikita Khrushchev, agreed to move the missiles to avoid the U.S from entering Cuba (Urban Missile Crisis, n.d.). -
Vietnam War
Vietnam War (July 1965-August 15th 1973). The Vietnam War consisted of the North communist side against the South, American supported side. U.S aided the South side with supplies and military (Vietnam War History, n.d.). The war was not supported by the America people. November 15, 1969, the largest protest occurred as 250,000 gathered together for troops be removed from Vietnam. The U.S involvement ended in 1983, however, the war continued till April 30, 1975 (Vietnam War History, n.d.). -
U.S. Wins Space Race
The United States wins the Space race against the Soviets when they send the first man to the moon, Neil Armstrong (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). This event is important to the Cold War because it ends one of the battles between the Soviets and American's and gave victory and hope to the U.S. during a tragic and fearful time of the Cold War. The Soviets and U.S. joined their space ventures which ultimately ended the Space Race in July 1975 (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
East Berlin announces that people are allowed to cross the Berlin Wall. 2 million people celebrated as they crossed the East and went to the West(Berlin Wall, n.d.). The wall was knocked down as individuals used tools to break it down and cross. A year after this announcement, the reunification of East and West Germany was made official(October 3, 1990)(Berlin Wall, n.d.). This event is important because it marks the beginning of the end of the Cold War and joining of East and West Germany. -
The Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution (November 17th-December 29th 1989). This gentle revolution of peaceful protests overthrew the communist government of Czechoslovakia (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). I believe that the overthrow of this government is important to the Cold War because it shows that countries at the time were trying to stand up to communism and win back their countries. Many small countries such as Czechoslovakia and Hungary were successful in this effort (The Cold War Timeline, 2014). -
German Reunification
East and West sides of Germany unite as one. The communist power over Germany starts to deplete and elections take place. The new chancellor elected, Helmut Kohl, decides to unify Germany. This event is important because it along with the fall of the soviet union a year later (December 26th, 1991), marks the end of the Cold War. -
Reference List
Atomic Diplomacy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/atomic Cold War History. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history The Cold War Timeline. (2014). Retrieved fromhttp://www.historyonthenet.com/chronology/timelinecoldwar.htm The Potsdam Conference, 1945. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/potsdam-conf -
Reference List 2
Berlin Blockade. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-blockade Cuban Missile Crisis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis Grantham, J. (2015). What led to the division of East and West Germany? Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-led-to-the-division-of-East-and-West-Germany Korean War. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war -
References List 3
Berlin Wall. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall East and West German reunite after 45 years. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-and-west-germany-reunite-after-45-years Vietnam War History. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history
