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The Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference formally divided Germany and the capital, Berlin, into four zones. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman promised to help any country facing a Communist takeover -
Formation of West Germany
The French, USA, and UK merged their sections fo Germany to make West Germany -
Berlin Blockade
Russia responds by cutting off all road and rail links to that sector so people in Western Berlin starved -
NATO Formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation formed with member states Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States -
Korean War
The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. -
Death of Stalin
Joseph Stalin died at the age of 74. He was succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev. -
End of the Korean War
The Korean war ended. North Korea remained affiliated with Russia while South Korea was affiliated with the USA. -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was formed with member states East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. -
Suez Crisis
Following military bombardment by Israeli forces, a joint British and French force invaded Egypt to regain control of the Suez Canal which had been nationalized by the Egyptian leader Nasser. The attack was heavily criticized by World leaders, especially America because Russia had offered support to Egypt. The British and French were forced to withdraw and a UN peacekeeping force was sent to establish order. -
The Beginning of the Space Race
USSR Sputnik II carried Laika the dog, the first living creature to go into space. -
The Berlin Wall
Berlin wall built and borders sealed between East and West Germany. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A US spy plane reported sighting the construction of a Soviet nuclear missile base in Cuba. President Kennedy set up a naval blockade and demanded the removal of the missiles. War was averted when the Russians agreed on 28th October to remove the weapons. The United States agreed not to invade Cuba. -
JFK Assassination
JF Kennedy was assassinated while on a visit to Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder but there has always been speculation that he was not a lone killer and that there may have been a communist or CIA complicity. -
Vietnam War
150,000 US troops sent to Vietnam.