-
The Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was held to decide what was to be done with post-war Germany. The results were that the Allies would divide Germany into four occupation zones. As for the companies occupied by Nazi Germany, free elections were held. Finally, the United Nations replaced the failed League of Nations. -
Joseph Stalin's Election Speech
Upon his election, Joseph Stalin made a famous speech in which he stated that capitalism and imperialism make future wars inevitable - that they are completely incompatible with communism. Naturally, this was taken as a threat by countries such as the U.S. -
Iron Curtain Speech
Formally called his "Sinews of Peace" address, Winston Churchill's speech is more famously known as this for what he calls the divide between the west and the communist-dominated east. This speech is widely regarded as the official start of the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan Announced
Officially called the European Recovery Program, this was America's initiative to aid Europe, in which the US provided economic aid to countries post-WWII in order to prevent the spread of Communism - part of a process dubbed "containment." -
Czechoslovakia Communist Takeover
After President Edvard Benes accepted the resignation of non-communist members, the party took full control of Czechoslovakia, furthering the spread of Communism. -
Beginning of Berlin Blockade
This date marks the beginning of the Berlin Blockade, in which Joseph Stalin ordered the blockade of all land routes from West Germany to Berlin, which would starve out the French, British, and American forces from the city. -
Period: to
Berlin Airlift
Since all land routes were blocked to Berlin, the French, British, and American forces used this method to supply the citizens of Berlin by air, and therefore keep themselves firmly planted with in the city. This method proved to be quite effective. -
NATO Ratified
On this day, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembroug, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Its purpose was to resist Communist expansion and keep it contained. -
End of the Berlin Blockade
After unsuccessful attempts to starve out the French, British, and Americans, the Berlin Blockade ended on this day. The main result for its failure was the use of the Berlin Airlift. -
Russia Tests Its First Atomic Bomb
Known as Joe 1 to the rest of the world, Russia successfully tested its first atomic bomb on this date. This set it as the world's second nuclear power. -
People's Republic of China Established
On this day, Communist Mao Zedong took control of China, establishing the People's Republic of China. This added a quarter of the world's population to the communist camp. -
Korean War Begins
On this day, the Korean War began as a result of the political divide between by an agreement of the Allies at the end of World War II. Joseph Stalin ended up supporting North Korea, who invaded South Korea. -
A-Bombs Developed by Britain
During the course of this year, A-Bombs were developed by Britain, putting it up as the third nuclear power in the world. On October 2nd, the UK tested its first atomic bomb in Operation Hurricane, which was a success. -
Korean War Ends
With the indecisive results of the war, the Korean Demilitarized Zone was created to run between North and South Korea. Neither side was without their injuries after this war, as both had their fair share of casualties. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
The Warsaw Pact was founded in Eastern Europe to act as the Communist Party counter to NATO. It was comprised of East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. -
Suez Crisis
President of Egpt Gamal Abdel Nasser was becoming a warning flag for the West, as he had announced his decision of nationalizing the Suez Canal and forged new ties with the Soviet Union and recognized the People's Republic of China. Thus, with unfortunate timing, less than a day after Israel invaded, Britain and France started to bomb Cairo. While Israel, Britain, and France were successful, the US, USSR, and UN forced them to withdraw. -
Sputnik Satellite Launched
The trigger of the Space RAce, Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched into orbit by the USSR. While its political impacts were largely negative, the research that it ushered in has been crucial to our understanding of both our world and beyond. -
Period: to
Sino-Soviet Split
As the world's two largest Communist powers, China and the USSR were very much aware of each other. However, as time went on, relations between the two continued to worsen until China, sick of being treated as the USSR's inferior, declared its version of Communism superior. From then on, China competed with the USSR for dominance, only complicating the Cold War further. -
Period: to
Berlin Wall
This timespan marks the time from which the Berlin Wall started construction to the start of its downfall. The Wall was created to separate East and West Berlin - and soon came to symbolize the "Iron Curtain" between the two. -
Beginning of Checkpoint Charlie Standoff
After the construction of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War with the division between East and West - Soviets on one side, Americans on the other. Tanks from both sides even faced each other during the Berlin Crisis. -
Tsar Bomba Tested
On this day, Tsar Bomba, THE MOST powerful thermonuclear weapon EVER DETONATED, was tested. It was quite successful, seeing as its explosive yield was about 50 megatons. -
Limited Test Ban Treaty
Also known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty or Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the LTBT prevented the detonation of nuclear weapons except underground, effectively stopping the use of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space, and underwater. While also wanting to stop the excessive release of nuclear fallout into the atmosphere, the LTBT was also created to slow down the arm's race. The LTBT was signed by the USSR, the UK, and the UN. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Opened
Essentially, the NPT established five nuclear states and had them strive for disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear technology to better the world (and not destroy it). -
Period: to
Sino-Soviet Border Conflict
Thanks to relations between the USSR and China worsening, tensions and conflicts occurred along the border between China and the USSR. The end result was simply a return to the status quo. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Now in Action
Remember the NPT from two years ago? That's now in action. It was ratified by the UN and everything. -
Four-Power Agreement on Berlin
On this day, the Four-Power Agreement on Berlin was signed by the UN, the USSR, France, and the US. The agreement ushered in Détente, which reestablished ties between East and West Berlin, improving travel and communications between the two. -
SALT I Agreement
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, or SALT agreement, officially began Détant for the US and USSR on this day. SALT I halted the production of strategic ballistic missile launchers. It also allowed for the addition of new submarine-launched ballistic missiles - but only if the same number had been dismantled. -
SALT II Agreement
SALT II, between Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev, was the first nuclear arms treaty that actually had real reductions to 2,250 of ALL categories on both sides. Discussions continued to take place after this between the two countries. -
"Tear down this wall!"
US President Ronald Reagan famously issued this challenge during a visit to Berlin to Mikhail Gorbachev. Three years later, it was accepted. -
Germany Reunified
Once Berlin was reunited into a single city, reunification of Germany was soon to follow. Thankfully, it was one of the few to have a peaceful unification. -
End of the Cold War
After a phone call from Boris Yeltsin, first president of the Russian Federation, US President George H. W. Bush made a speech acknowledging the end of the Cold War.