Cold war timeline

the Cold War in America and Europe

  • Bolshevik revolution

    monarchy abolished and communist regime started. USSR created
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    tehran conference

    agreements to open a second front in France, USSR will join war on Japan. Agreement to withdraw from Iran 6 months after the end of the war and guarantee it's economic reconstruction.
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    Bretton woods conference

    44 countries met in new hampshire to discuss post-war finances. to prevent war, economic stability must be preserved. the IMF (international monetary fund) and the IBRD (international bank for reconstruction and development- later the World Bank) were created to fund reconstruction and give loans/grants to war torn countries.
  • Percentages agreement

    created by Churchill and Stalin at the Moscow conference. set out how the spheres of influence in liberated Europe would be set up, EG: Greece Britain/US 90%, Romania USSR 90%, Hungary/Yugoslavia 50% each
  • Liberation of Hungary

    Ultra right wing Arrow cross party took over September 1944. After liberation, Stalin grouped communist and socialist parties together, and was unsure whether to integrate hungry into the soviet bloc.
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    Iran crisis

  • Lublin Government established

    Communist Committee for National Liberation recognised as provisional government, against the wishes of the allies, who supported the London government-in-exile.
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    yalta conference

    Slain wanted Germany to remain weak with extreme reparations. Roosevelt wanted to develop liberal democracy in Europe and create the UN. Germany/Berlin divided into 4 occupation zones. Ussr gained land from Poland according to the Curzon line, while Poland expanded west. Declaration on Liberated Europe signed, but Stalin would break it in Poland.
  • Roosevelt dies

  • hitler commits suicide

  • Secret meeting in Bern

    secret meeting between US,UK and German officials in Bern to discuss a German surrender. USSR excluded, seen by Stalin as untrustworthy/
  • VE Day

  • succesful test of the US atomic bomb

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    potsdam conference

    Stalin did not trust Truman or Attlee, and believed that the US wanted to dominate western Europe. Truman used nuclear diplomacy to ensure Stalin's cooperation. Decisions: demilitarisation, democratisation, denazification, decentralisation. Truman wanted more global trade, limit soviet expansion, ensure future US influence. Attlee wanted to focus on domestic policy, and ensure US support of Western Europe.
  • Attlee replaces churchill

    Labour party won a landslide victory, but stalin thoguth Attlee was weak. He wante to focus on britain and secure special relationship. UNwilling to fight with Stalin. Ernest Bevin, foreign minister, very anti-communist.
  • hiroshima bomb

  • russia declares war on Japan

  • bomb on Nagasaki

  • VJ Day

  • Bulgria becomes communist

    Monarchy abolished by public vote and communists took over, declaring people's republic under Dimitrov.
  • the long telegram

    George Kennan- US diplomat in Moscow. He believed thar communism was an uncompromising ideological threat, with no chance of US-USSR Cooperation. Advised Truman that US must be prepared to use force, as Soviet policy was aggressive and expansionist.
  • Iran crisis

    After the US/UK forces withdrew from Iran, the USSR refused on the grounds that the west wanted to undermine the southern soviet border. the US protested at the UNSC and accused the USSR of interfering, but the USSR eventually obtained oil concessions to match the US/UK.
  • Iron curtain speech

    Fulton, Missouri. Stalin saw this as proof that the US/UK were working together to carry out an ideological assault against the USSR. Many Americans thought it was too aggressive, although Churchill was not prime minister any more, and did not represent the UK.
  • Communists takeover Poland

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    Paris peace conference

  • novikov telegram

    Nikolai Novikov argued thart the US were economic impreilaists with a wish for Global dominance. Manily a response to the Long telegram.
  • Romania communist

    Communists staged a coup and took over the National Democratic Front in march 1945, King Michael I was forced to abdicate, and a communist republic under Groza was established.
  • Clayton's tour of Western Europe

    Us under secretary of state. Found that the weak european economics would in turn damage the US. US aid as needed to help recovery- led to Marshall Plan.
  • comecon

  • X acticle

    written by George Kennan, although he denied it. introduced idea of containing communism.
  • cominform

  • Bizonia created

    British and US zones merged. the British were struggling to support their zone, particularly due to the influx of immigrants form the east and the population of 22.5 million. they wanted to avoid French or soviet influence over the industrial Ruhr region, as Stalin was demanding joint control, and de Gaulle wanted an international control.
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    Paris conference

    called by UK and France to discuss the Marshall plan, soviet delegation attended initially but walked out after declaring it an attempt of economic imperialism by the US. Molotov accused the west of diving Europe into 2 camps. soviet spies in London has access to diplomatic reports, west never intended to give it to east, but it was a gesture. 16 countries in final plan.
  • Truman doctrine- active role in greek civil war

    way to support Greek royalist against communists as Britain was broke. aimed to protect democracy ("protect the free peoples pf the world"), stop expansion of the USSR and develop their own world power. demonisation of the USSR began to justify the doctrine and shift away from isolationism.
  • Marshall plan announced

    Speech at Harvard. $13.5 Bn given by 1952 to 16 countries (in form of money, goods and equipment, 20% loans, 80% grants). recipients had to use the ,money to import US goods and share economic information. prevented communist regimes gaining popularity and develop markets that the US could trade with. ended in 1951 due to cost of Korean war.
  • Cominform established

    reaction to the Marshall Plan and dollar imperialism. aimed to unite communist groups across Europe and coordinate their action under soviet leadership. inspired by the Zhdanov doctrine, where he said the US wanted to create an anti-Soviet empire.
  • Yugoslavia expelled from cominform

    Stalin and Tito fell out as he did not want to take orders from Moscow. Stalin stopped Tito from sending aid to Greek communists and forming a federation with the southern states.
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    London conference of western powers

  • coup in czecholsovakia

    communists under Gottwald seize power after Czechoslovakia tried to enter the Marshall plan. Benes was forced to capitulate.
  • Final package of Marshall plan- aid starts to rollout

    $13.5 bn to 16 countries
  • West German constitution created

    approved early 1949
  • Deutschmark created

    British, French, us and Benelux officials met in London to create a stable west German currency. French zone merged with bizonia to create trizonia. this divided Germany into economic blocs and was done without consulting the USSR or the ACC.
  • Berlin Blockade starts

    USSR blocked all road and rail links to western zones and Berlin in order to force the US out, in response to Bizonia and the new currency- USSR wanted a unified communist Germany instead.
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    Berlin Airlift

    2k tons of supplies a day were delivered, e.g. coal, food, chocolate for children. easter Sunday 1949, 13k tons of supplies delivered. made Stalin seem unpredictable and cruel.
  • USSR atomic bomb

  • Comecon established

    in response to Marshall plan to provide economic aid to satellite states: in reality it was used to coordinate economics of the eastern bloc. strived for economic state sufficiency within the bloc. countries were encouraged to specialized in one area of industry.
  • Nato created

    Us commitment to the defence of Europe was uncertain. US wanted Europe to contribute more and reduce dependency. NATO was created with 12 initial members as a primary political organisation, although article 5 stated that an attack against one was an attack against all. USSR perceived this as aggressive and an attempt to dominate Europe.
  • NSC-68

    triggered by the end of US nuclear monopoly and the loss of China. Policy review that advised Truman to build up political, economic and military power in the whole world, as a globalized cold war was now inevitable.
  • Berlin blockade end

  • creation of west Germany

    In elections in August, KPD won only 5.7% of the vote. Konrad Audenader (CDU) became chancellor of the FRG. an occupation state was set up, with western allies having final decisions on foreign policy and security. Stalin reluctantly created the GDR in reaction.
  • USSR develops atomic bomb

    ended the USA's atomic monopoly- so the USSR was able to be more forceful when dealing with Korea etc. Triggered the start of the arms race. the US felt they were losing the fight against communism and felt they had to be more aggressive, particularly in defence of democratic allies- eg South Korea. begun to develop the Hydrogen bomb to take back nuclear dominance.
  • Creation of German democratic republic

    created reluctantly as a reaction to the creation of the FRG, with a 'make believe' constitution that disguised a one party dictatorship under Wilhelm Piek.
  • ECSC created

    European Coal and Steel Community. European industrty grew by 35% between 1948-52. Western Europe began to form a single market. economic growth in the west, incomes up 20% by the 1970s.
  • ANZUS

    Aus, NZ, US. non-binding. NZ partially suspended in 1986 for forbidding nuclear carrying ships in its waters but partial military cooperation resumed in 2007. Aus was disappointed in US lack of support during Konfrontasi against Indonesia and Malaysia in the 60s. only used during the war on terror in 2001.
  • Rosenburg trial

    Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were tried and sentenced to death for spying for the USSR. judge refused to intervene else be accused himself of being communist. this shows the huge atmosphere of fear.
  • Rosenburg Trials

    Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were tried and sentenced to death for spying for the USSR. contributed to the huge atmosphere of fear.
  • Demarcation line between east/west Ger

    -10m wide ploughed strip
    -500m wide parallel protective strip
    -restricted zone 5Km wide
    -armed border guards
  • Brain drain of east-west Berlin Is 300K

  • Eisenhower becomes president

    Ran alongside Nixon on a platform of McCarthyism. Heavily criticised Truman and the democrats for being 'soft' on communism, promised a more aggressive stance. helped to negotiate armistice in Korea.
  • Death of Stalin

    replaced by power sharing for 3 years: Nikita Khrushchev, Georgi Malenkov, Vylachow molotov, Lavrenty Beria and Nilcolay Bulganin.
    sped up peace negotiations in Korea, as Stalin was pushing Kim to be demanding and not give in.
  • GDR Crisis

    East German economy reorganised by the USSR- (5 year plan from 1951) by 1952 they doubled iron, steel, chemical production, but ulbricbht raised production targets by 10%, arrested opposition leaders, threatened collectivisation of farms. E. Germs were fleeing to FRG. Ulbricht was told to be more moderate. 16 June- strikes and 100k riots calling for more freedoms. 17: USSR troops moved in, killing 125 people while suppressing riots
  • Iranian Coup

    PM Mohammad Mossadegh nationalised oil march 1951, CIA and MI5 began operation Ajax to undermine the govt through riots, libel, bribery. stirred up political tension by threatening religious leaders while posing as communists. 300 died in riots, Mossadegh overthrown, 3 years in prison. Shah assumed dictatorship, relying on US-UK aid and arms, signed over 40% of oil fields to US companies.
  • McCarthy discredited

    after investigating the film industry, democrats, there state department and universities, McCarthy was finally discredited after accusing prominent army generals of communism. in December, the senate voted him guilty of bringing them into disrepute.
  • Guatemalan Coup

    US feared spread of communism across S.America and invoked the Monroe doctrine. Jacobo Arbenez had led agrarian nationalist reforms, affecting US businesses eg United Fruit Company. Operation PBSUCCESS spread propaganda and supported rebel leader, Carlos Castillo Armas, who was installed as president after Arbenz's resignation in June 1954. political repression followed.
  • SEATO

    After Khrushchev visited China in May 1953 and agreed to provide defence technology, Dulles brokered SEATO in Sept 1954 to provide collective defence in SE Asia. Thai, Pak, Phi, NZ, Aus, UK, US, Fr- few common borders, important states left out. Legitimised US influence in Asia was largely ineffective: dissolved in June 1977
  • berlin conference

    Eisenhower had not intervened in the GDR crisis, tried to prolong the unrest to strengthen support for Adenauer (won sept 53 elections by a larger margin than previously). Discussed the reunification of Germany, but they found that it was ultimately futile. Beria was arrested and executed (had supported this proposal). Each side proposed mutually unacceptable plans.
  • Taiwan strait crises

    China annex minor islands 1954-55. Sino-American Mutual Defence Treaty signed on 2 Dec 1954. US place the 7th fleet in the Taiwan Strait in 1958.
  • CENTO

    Founded as METO (Baghdad Pact) by UK, Iraq, Türkiye, Persia (Iran) and Pak to counter Soviet expansion into vital oil nations. Iraq withdrew in March 59 after their anti-Sov monarchy was overthrown, after which the US became an associate member. Iran withdrew after the fall of the Shah in 1979, dissolved in march 79. Allowed for some economic development e.g. Turkey-Persia rail, Turkey-Pakistan phone line, but gave no mil support to Pak when requested against India in 65. No Arab members
  • West germany joins NATO

    Joined the Council of Europe in Nov 1949 (right to establish consulates abroad and have reps in the OEEC). May 1952: statute of occupation abolished, W German sovereignty recognised. Adenauer renounced nuclear weapons but lobbied for rearmament. 9 May: admitted to NATO. USSR immediately recognised the sovereignty of GDR.
  • Warsaw Pact

    7 satellite states (Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, GDR, Romania, Albania) USSR. Legitimised influence and military presence in E Eur, allowed the USSR to take control of their armies and defence programs.
  • Polish Uprising

    wladyslaw gomulka chosen as leader of communist party. workers demanded end to soviet domination of Poland in Poznan, bread, liberty and freedom for catholic church. 74 people killed.
    Reformers made radical demands in communist party and chose Gomulka as leader.
    Soviet troops into Poland and Khrushchev met Gomulka
    America did not intervene, showing flaws in rolling back communism.
    Gomulka promised Poland would remain in Warsaw pact in return for greater freedom of action in domestic affairs
  • Hungarian Uprising

    Thousands protested in Budapest. Students and workers demanded free speech, disbanding of secret police, removal of soviet troops. Imre Nagy was taken to parliament. Armed civilians blocked soviet tanks. Imre Nagy arranged a ceasefire and the soviet agreed to withdraw troops from Budapest.

    Nagy declared Hungarian neutrality and withdrawal from the Warsaw pact, soviets re-entered Budapest and crashed revolution
    Nagy Executed. 4,000 Killed. 200,000 fled. Janos Kadar new leader
  • Suez crisis

    Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal July. Britain France and Israel launched a military intervention. the invasion collapsed under us/ussr pressure. exposed decline of European imperial power, created a power vacuum. increased great power influence in the region.
  • EEC created

    European Economic Community: early EU. created a single European trading bloc / market.
  • Berlin Ultimatum

    6-month ultimatum from Khrushchev to the west:
    withdrawal of troops from W.Berlin
    Berlin declared 'free city'
    Aims of Khrushchev:
    negotiate settlement of German question, or ussr would sign a treaty with GDR, which would threaten western access to Berlin
    force west to recognise GDR as it would control West Berlin, making the Hallstein doctrine irrelevant.
  • Fidel Castro overthrows Batista'a regime

    Cuba becomes communist and begins to strengthen ties with the USSR
  • OPEC formed

    Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries: formed by Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. Primary purpose was to coordinate and unify oil policies to stabilise the oil market
  • US-owned oil companies refused to refine Cuban oil from the USSR

    Led to Castro nationalising oil companies.
    The us imposed economic sanctions and reduced their sugar import by 95%.
    In October 1960, Castro seized $1Bn worth of US assets on Cuba.
  • Bay of Pigs invasion

    1500 exiles landed on Cuba to inspire a military coup. there was little support within Cuba and Castro had seen it coming. the invasion was defeated. Castro's popularity increased, the US was humiliated
  • Berlin Wall built

    barbed wire fences placed overnight
    eventually: anti vehicle ditch, electric fence, tank traps, 2 walls
    4 crossing points
  • Operation mongoose

    covert ops to destabilise Castro's regime and overthrow it.
  • Operation Anadyr

    USSR provided Cuba with fighter planes, bombers, and 14,000 ground troops. future agreement to send nuclear weapons to Cuba- short and medium range (1100-2800 KM). the aim was to stop the long range nuclear imbalance- the US had missiles all over Europe, namely in Turkey.
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    Cuban Missile Crisis- 13 days

    14 Oct 1962- US U-2 planes took photos of nuclear missile sites in construction.
    22 - naval quarantine of Cuba- middle ground between doves and hawks in Excomm
    24 - Khrushchev described US blockade as an act of aggression.
    26 - Message from Khrushchev stating Ussr would remove missiles from Cuba if he did not invade Cuba
    27- Another message demanding removal of US Jupiter missiles from turkey
    Kennedy ignored 2nd message. Secretly said us would remove missile from turkey within 6 months.

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