-
Period: to
Britain supports anti-Communist forces in Greek Civil War
The British established reconstruction in southeastern Europe, but were forced to withdraw from Greece and Turkey as a result of economic issues. The possibility of Communist success in southeastern Europe lead to the creation of the Truman Doctrine. -
Period: to
Communists do well in Western Europe following WWII
Communists, socialists, and social democrats were popular after WWII in France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. Many resistance movements were headed by communists, and citizens were attracted to the idea of change from the old conservative order. However, this popularity waned as the Cold War occurred. -
Christian democrats elected in Italy; lesser economic miracle
This was the first time that Christian democrats had the popular vote, which was the start of a trend of moderate politics. Like socialists, Christian democrats valued social welfare, but still upheld support for the possession of private property. Christian democracy was popular particularly in Italy and Germany. Also, Italy experienced an economic miracle as the production of electronic machinery increased and the Marshall Plan went to work. Southern Italy remained backward, prosperous North. -
The Marshall Plan
An economic recovery program that allocated $13 billion US dollars to war-torn Europe. Communist countries were excluded from this program. It helped speed up the division of European countries into alliances of the Cold War. -
India and Pakistan get independence from Britain
Colonial India was divided into two countries: Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu). Gandhi did not support this. Over one million people died during the ensuing chaos in which individuals tried to cross over the newly created border. -
Period: to
Berlin blockade
In response to the beginning of a consolidated Western Germany, the Soviets created a blockade around West Berlin that stopped the entrance of transportation. As a result, the Berlin Air Lift was started. -
British National Health Service Act becomes law
Following WWII, Clement Atlee's Labour Party created a welfare state in Britain. The National Health Service Act established a social security system of "cradle-to-grave" care. Along with reforms related to socialized medicine, public transportation and heavy industry were nationalized. Britain experienced long-term economic decline due to trade union demands for higher wages, and an unwillingness to invest in modern machinery. -
Unification of western pieces of Germany
Western Germany was divided up into British, French, and American sections. On this date, it became one country. -
Konrad Adenauer elected chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany
At the end of May, 1949, the constitution was created for West Germany. Following this, Adenauer was elected. After a month, East Germany and East Berlin were formally created. -
France grants independence to countries in "Indochina"
Following the Vietminh's success over French forces, France granted independence to Laos and Cambodia, and Vietnam was divided temporarily while awaiting elections in 1956. Unfortunately, the elections did not happen, and this division led to the second Vietnam War. -
West German rearmament and economic miracle
Increasing fears of nuclear war led West Germany to rearm and join NATO. Additionally, it was during this year that the economy grew more successfully than its pre-war state, much due to finance minister Ludwig Erhard. He pursued a policy of economic liberalism, and wages doubled even though work hours decreased. -
Suez Crisis
In this year, Egyptian political leader Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company, formerly controlled by the British and French. In response, Britain and France, joined by Israel, attacked Egyptian forces. However, the joint power of Egypt, the Soviet Union, and the U.S. made it a victory for Egypt. -
Charles de Gaulle elected president of France
In response to the newly installed parliamentary systems in the Fourth Republic after WWII, de Gaulle, always the conservative, created the French Popular Movement. The Algerian crisis and failures in Indochina threatened political stability, so the leaders handed the presidency to de Gaulle. De Gaulle's goal was to make France a world power. He made France recede from NATO, granted Algerian independence to look good, and increased the nuclear arsenal. -
Construction of the Berlin wall
After a summit at Vienna in June 1961, conflict escalated between Khrushchev and Kennedy. Frustrated by the western hold over West Berlin, Khrushchev and Ulbricht to create a 100mi wall surrounding the city. It became a symbol of a divided Europe. -
Charles de Gaulle grants Algerian independence
Initially, France wanted to keep the colony because it was home to many French people. However, the anti-colony organization FLN protested this through guerilla warfare in Algeria. The issue got so divisive in France that de Gaulle finally granted independence to Algeria. -
Student revolts in France begin
At the University of Nanterre, student protests exploded in response to the Vietnam War, crowded classrooms, outdated teaching styles and curriculums, gender inequality, and the rise of mass consumerism. The spirit of revolution spread as workers joined students. However, radicalism distanced the middle and upper classes. -
Ostpolitik
Willy Brandt, the first Social Democratic chancellor of West Germany, met with Walter Ulbricht, leader of East Germany, to create a treaty that promoted "Ostpolitik" or good will between the east and the west. Brandt's political career was compromised when an East German spy was discovered in his cabinet. -
Margaret Thatcher elected British Prime Minister
Following economic issues under a Labour government, Thatcher was elected. Her goals were to lower taxes, stop inflation, curtail the power of unions and social welfare, and steadily oppose communism. This lead to poverty in the north of Britain, as well as a decline in the quality of British education. She also engaged Britain in the conquest of the Falkland islands, which was popular because it reminded people of the old imperialist era of Brit foreign politics. She resigned after a poll tax. -
Francois Mitterand freezes wages
To curtail French economic deficit, prime minister Francois Mitterand froze wages and prices. He pursued liberal policies to benefit the working class such as higher minimum wage, he gave more power to local governments, and nationalized industries. However, most of Mitterand's reforms were not long-lasting. -
German reunification
The Berlin wall was torn down after mass demonstrations. Shortly after, East Germany held its first free elections, in which the Christian Democrats had the popular vote. The economies of East and West Germany were united, and then the two countries were politically unified. Due to the rise in labor costs as the East and West German marks had a 1:1 ration, wages had to be raised, which created an economic deficit. Also, the records of the Stasi were released.