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Potsdam Confrerence
The Big Three leaders: Stalin, Churchill, and Truman met up to discuss the terns of the end of WWII and to split up Europe. Germany was divided up into 4 zones occupied by the Allied forces. This is important because it represents the world moving on after WWII and slowing rebuilding the damage done by war. The Potsdam Conference, 1945 - 1937–1945 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/potsdam-conf -
Communist Seize Power in Poland
Stalin promised a Communist/non-communist government, but arrested 16 non-communist leaders when they arrived in Moscow. Non-communist citizens were also arrested until Communist won the electon giving Stalin power over Poland This is important because it shows the Communist influence happening in the East and the power that the Soviet Union has. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/sovietexpansionineasterneuroperev2.shtml -
Berlin Airlift
The city of Berlin was split between the Allies and Soviet Union and the city of Berlin was located in the territory that the Soviet Union recieved from disbanning Germany. The Soviet Union blockedaded rail, road and water access from the Allies cutting them off from their areas of Berlin. So the Allied forces airlifted supplies and food/water into Berlin. This is important because it shows that hostility between the Allies and the Soviet Union. -
NATO created
North Altantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created because of the threat of the Soviet Union. It was to stop the treat of Communist exapansion over Europe. It was made up of multiple European Countries and the U.S. and basically became a giant army of Allied forces. This is important because it is a world defense against rouge nations that is still used today. History. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.nato.int/history/nato-history.html -
Soviet Union sets off first Atomic Bomb
It's code name was "First Lightning". They had set up buildings and other structures near the bomb to measure the effects of the bomb. They also placed animals near to see what the radiation would be like. The bomb ended up incinerating the animals and destorying the buildings. This is important because the Soviet Union is now on the same speed as the U.S. with weaponary. Soviets explode atomic bomb. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-e -
Korean War
It started when North Korea soldiers invaded South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel. So the U.S. sent troops to assist South Korea since they were pro-Western Republic. The Soviets backed North Korea and it seemed like the next World War would arrive. Then in July of 1953 the Korean War came to an end. This is important since it fulled the rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Korean War. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war -
Warsaw Pact created
The Warsaw Pact was created by the Soviet Union and it's European allies as a defense against NATO. The treaty slowly dissolved when counrties would leave the pact do to being non-communist or didn't believe in the cause any longer. This is important because it gave the Soviets a way ti fight back against NATO. The Warsaw Pact is formed. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-warsaw-pact-is-formed -
Soviets launch satellite
The Soviets launched the first man-made satellite into space. It was called Sputnik I and was approximately the size of a beach ball, but weighed 183.9 lbs. It took about 98 minutes to orbit the earth. This event started the Space Race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. This is important because it began the start of Space Race between the two countries. Sputnik. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/ -
Bay of Pigs
The plan for the Bay of Pigs was to cause an anti-Castro uprising on Cuba. A group of Cuban exiles attempted to destroy Castro's air force, but he got whiff of it and the plan was foiled. Then the exiles attacked the spot of Cuba called the Bay of Pigs and the fighting took a turn of worst. Castro's army was able to overtake the invaiders and they surrendered. This was important because it was a precursor to a communist battle in the pacific. -
Creation of Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was created to completely cut off West Berlin from East Berlin. It was created by East Berlin. It had guard towers and other defenses. It was said to "protect the people from becoming a socialist state" in East Germany. This is important since it showed the hostility between the divided country cause of the two nations. Berlin Wall. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a battle between the U.S. and the Soviets. The Soviets had put missiles on Cuba facing the U.S., so the U.S. put up a naval blockade surrounding Cuba. The U.S. was able to work out an agreement with the Soviet leader, that if the Soviets removed the missiles, then the U.S. would not invade Cuba and secretly remove the their own missiles from Turkey. This is important because both nations could distroy the other, but managed to not errupt in WW III. -
U.S. sends troops to South Vietnam
U.S. troops were sent in to help protect South Vietnam and their capital Saigon. They were there to provide support and supply network. Then they proceed to help fight against the North Vietnamese in this war. This event is important since it further the rivalry between the two nations. U.S. Army in Vietnam | Vietnam War Commemoration. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/education/us_army_in_vietnam/ -
South Vietnam falls to Communism
The North Vietnamese was able to make their way into Saigon and the South Vietnamese had collapsed under the force from the North. The U.S. was unable to help, which resulted in South Vietnam surrundering to Communism. This is important because it shows how much communism is growing throughout the Eastern Europe. South Vietnam surrenders. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnam-surrenders -
Berlin Wall is destroyed
East Germany told it;s citizens that they could now travel to West Germany. People then started celebrating in the streets making their way to the wall to be reunited with family and friends. They even took to bring hammers and chisels to start bring down the wall. Once it was down it allowed for Germany to become whole again. This is important because it shows the unity of Germany once more. -
Soviet Union is abolished
When Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Sovient Union, that was the end of the Soviet Union. Boris Yeltsin then became the President of present day Russia. The Soviet Union was disbanned into multiple countries. This is important because it shows the end of communism influence. The Collapse of the Soviet Union - 1989–1992 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/collapse-soviet-union
