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In February 1946 Stalin stated publicly that he believed war between the East and West was bound to happen in the future.
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In early 1947 Soviet-backed Communists were threatening the governments of Greece and Turkey.
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In mid-1947, the U.S. government launched a massive program of economic aid. The Marshall Plan provided $13 billion for rebuilding Europe.
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In 1947, however, Western leaders began planning for the creation of an independent democratic German nation, to be formed from the three western zones of occupation.
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In June 1948, the Soviets blocked off all land, rail, and water routes into West Berlin. As a result, Berlin's 2 million residents were no longer able to imprt food, coal, and other vital supplies.
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In 1949 the West was deeply shaken by news of a successful Soviet test of an atomic bomb.
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Starting in the 1950's a number of nations refused to support either side. Instead, these so-called nonaligned nations sought to use their combined strength to promote the interests of poorer countries.
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In the fall of 1952 the United States tested the first fusion-powered hydrogen bomb with spectacular results, completely vaporizing the island on which the bomb was tested.
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THe Col War rivalry also played out in the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America. In 1956 Egypt angered the West by taking over the Suez Canal, which had been controlled primarily by Great Britian and France.
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The African country of Angola won independence from Portugal in 1975, but years of civil war followed.
