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The Yalta conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting which included the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Premier Joseph Stalin. The purpose of the meeting was for all three leaders to discuss the final defeat of Germany, and plan the agenda for the post-war Europe. -
Japan surrender
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Late on August 8, 1945, in accordance with the Yalta agreements the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Then soon on August 9, 1945 America dropped a second bomb this time on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. This then led to Emperor Hirohito (the Japanese emperor at the time) to order the Supreme council to accept the terms for ending the war. The surrender ceremony was held on September 2. -
The Marshall plan
In June 1947, the Marshall Plan took place which was Americas way for aiding Europe in which the United States gave $17 billion in economic support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II and the Cold War. The plan was in operation for four years starting in April 1948. -
Berlin blockade
On the 24th of June the Berlin blockade began. The Soviets divided land and water connections between the non-Soviet zones and Berlin. Germany was then divided into four zones, the three western zones were supervised by the Americans, British and French and the eastern zone was supervised by the Soviet Union. The purpose of the Berlin wall was to divide the communist and capitalist governments which led to the United States, Britain and France to introducing the new
Deutsche Mark currency. -
ASIO
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was formed on the 16th of March for the purpose of the protection of the country and its citizens from acts of foreign interference, politically motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and terrorism. The prime minister of Australia Ben Chifley established this organisation during the time of the Cold War so that if there were any sudden attacks on Australia they would have a force for defence and protection. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also called the (North) Atlantic Alliance is a military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949. NATO is founded by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This organisation was created in order to resist Communist expansion after the Cold War. -
Berlin blockade ends
During the 11 months of the blockade America, Britain and France came up with a way to supply the city with food and other vital supplies. It was by air that they did this which is know as the "airlift" and was first taken place on June 26, 1948. Realizing the blockade was failing, the Soviets sought to negotiate. On May 4, the Soviets met with the three Western allies and agreed to end the blockade, which then on May 12, 1949, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade against West Berlin. -
ANZUS
ANZUS joined the nations of Australia, New Zealand and the United States in a defence security pact for the Pacific region. Representatives of the governments of the three nations signed the agreement in Canberra on 1 September 1951. The decision was influenced by the security benefits to be gained by an alliance with the US. This meant that if during the Cold War one of the countries needed help with defence, the other countries would respond and help out. -
China's first atomic bomb explodes
In 1949 during the Cold War China was founded and the Soviet Union agreed to aid China technologically for the development of nuclear weapons. On October 16, 1964, China successfully exploded its first atomic bomb. The Chinese people had finally developed their own nuclear technology and as the War went on, so did the advancements of these weapons. -
Berlin Wall is demolished
On November 9, 1989, an East German official announced that East Germans would be allowed "permanent departure". Around 800,000 East Germans crossed over within the first day. As celebration for this exciting news there held a two-day long party within the streets of Berlin. People began taking hammers and chisels to the wall, tearing it down piece by piece which symbolised the ending of the Cold War. -
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End of Soviet Union
During August 1991 the Power of the Soviet Union weakened dramatically and on December 25, 1991 the Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, handing over the Soviet nuclear missile launching codes to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. That same evening at 7:32 P.M. the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time and replaced with the Russian Tricolour. The end of the Soviet Union also meant the end of the Cold War.
