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Yalta Conference
The USA, the USSR, Great Britain and France divide Germany into four occupation zones. The Allied nations agree that free elections are to be held in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany -
Founding of the UN
The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations and to stop wars between countries -
Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech
Winston Churchill warns of the descent of an Iron Curtain across Europe -
Truman Doctrin regarding Greece and Turkey
President 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 -
Truman Doctrine
Considered the beginning of containment and the Cold War. Policy enacted on March 12, 1947 by United States President Harry Truman to support Greece and Turkey to avoid their falling into the Communist Sphere. -
Announcement of the Marshall Plan
George Marshall outlines plans for a comprehensive program of economic assistance for the war-ravaged countries of Western Europe.. -
Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party takes control in Czechoslovakia, after President Edvard Beneš accepts the resignation of all non-communist ministers -
Communist takeover in Hungary
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Berlin Blocade
\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. -
NATO is founded
An alliance of countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty -
East and West Germany emerge as separate states
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Korean Conflict
A war between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Communist); was primarily the result of the division of Korea by the Allies following the conclusion of the second World War -
Stalin Dies
Joseph Stalin died. -
Warsaw Pact
Includes East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union and acts as the Communist military counterpart to NATO. -
Austria established as a neutral state
Austria is neutralized and allied occupation ends -
Geneva summit
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Prime Minister Anthony Eden of the UK, Premier Nikolai A. Bulganin of the Soviet Union, and Prime Minister Edgar Faure of France (known as the 'Big Four') attend the Geneva Summit -
Khrushchev's secret speech denouncing Stalin
Nikita Khrushchev delivers the speech "On the Personality Cult and its Consequences" at the closed session of the Twentieth Party Congress of the CPSU. The speech marks the beginning of the De-Stalinization -
Polish Crisis
Anti-communist protests lead to violence -
Suez Crisis
Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal -
Hungarian uprising
Hungarians revolt against the Soviet dominated government. They are crushed by the Soviet military, which reinstates a Communist government -
Sputnik Launched
France, Israel, and the UK attack Egypt with the goal of removing Nasser from power. International diplomatic pressures force the attackers to withdraw. -
Vietnam War (1959-1975)
A war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and America. America being on South Vietnam’s side because Northern Vietnam is communist. -
U-2 spyplane
reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. Cia pilot was shot down flying this plane. -
Failed Paris Summit
Failed negotions discussing the surender of Germany -
Berlin Wall
was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic, to separate East and West Germany. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
A thirteen day confrontation between the Cubans allied with the Soviets and the United States. This moment is considered to be the height of the Cold War, with mutual assured destruction being discussed -
Test Ban Treaty between Soviet Union and the US
Signed by the US, UK and USSR, prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons anywhere except underground -
Khrushchev falls from power
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Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia
period marked by reform in Czechoslovakia; reforms were aimed toward lessening the hold of the Soviet Union and establishing a democracy, and were ended by a Soviet invasion. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
agreement signals the beginning of détente between the U.S. and USSR -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989)
A nine year war fought by the Soviets, allied with the Afghan government, against the Mujahideen guerilla rebellion in Afghanistan. -
Berlin Wall opened
The Berlin Wall is breached when Politburo spokesman, Günter Schabowski, not fully informed of the technicalities or procedures of the newly-agreed lifting of travel restrictions, mistakenly announces at a news conference in East Berlin that the borders have been opened. -
Collapse of Soviet Union
the Soviet Union was dissolved into fifteen separate states following the resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev. -
Berlin airlift
was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War, to carry supplies to the people in West Berlin