Cold War Timeline (1945-1962)

Yalta Conference (February 4-11, 1945)

The “Big Three” gathered in Russia to discuss the USSR’s participation in the Pacific War and the fate of Eastern European nations. The US and UK agreed for the USSR to create non-hostile states in the region to prevent another invasion. The USSR was promised control of Manchuria if they helped invaded Japan while they pledged to hold free elections for the later elections of the Eastern European Nations. France was also agreed to be another permanent member of the UN.

 

VE Day (May 8, 1945)

Germany officially surrendered to the Soviets after the suicide of the Adolf Hitler.

 

Potsdam Conference (July, 1945)

Berlin was split into four zones of occupation between the “Big Three” and France. The death of President Roosevelt brought changes to policy with Truman, who disagreed with the solutions of the USSR. They opposed the Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe and tried to reduce the punishment on Germany to prevent a reoccurrence of extremist ideologies. Germany was to be demilitarized and a declaration to destroy Japan was created, although the USSR was left out of it. President Truman first mentioned to US development of atomic bombs to Stalin, who already knew about them.

 

The Dropping of Atomic Bombs (August 6/9, 1945)

The US dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to demonstrate the strength of their arsenal to the USSR. They also hoped for the atomic bombings to get Japan to surrender before the Soviet invasion to prevent the increase of their territory.

 

Soviet Invasion on Manchukuo (August 8, 1945)

The USSR invaded Japanese territory as planned, right before the second atomic bombing.

 

VJ Day (August 15, 1945)

Japan surrendered due to the participation of Soviets in August 14. The emperor officially made the speech the next day.

 

Soviet Spying Discovered (September 5, 1945)

It was revealed how the Soviets had spies in both US and Canada, with the primary target being information on the atomic bombs.

 

The Division of Korea (September 8, 1945)

The US occupied what is now South Korea while the Soviets occupied what is now North Korea.

 

Ratification of the UN Charter (October, 1945)

The US contributed to the creation of an improved League of Nations, this time with the inclusion of important states and a revised system.

Stalin’s Speech (February 9, 1946)

Joseph Stalin makes a considerably hostile speech in the national radio, stating how another war was inevitable due to how Communism and Capitalism are incompatible.

 

Ho Chi Minh elected president of North Vietnam (March 2, 1946)

 

Churchill’s Speech (March 5, 1946)

Winston Churchill, no longer prime minister of Britain, makes a speech in the US opposing Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe. This influences the perspective of the US and its allies.

 

Truman Doctrine (March 12, 1947)

This doctrine shaped much of the US policy during the Cold War, with the priority of “containing” Communism.

 

Communist Take-Over in Czechoslovakia (February 25, 1948)

Backed by the Soviets, the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia gained power and began a dictatorship lasting for decades. This was the last republic in Eastern Europe that was defeated by Soviet expansion.

 

Marshall Plan (April 3, 1948)

The US planned to help rebuild Europe after the war, and the Marshall Plan came into effect in 1948. The economic aiding lasted four years.

 

Berlin Blockade Begins (June 24, 1948)

The Soviets begin blocking Western ground transportation into Berlin. The US and its allies began the Berlin Airlift during the blockade’s duration to maintain the supply of resources for the Germans.

 

NATO Ratified (April 4, 1949)

This coalition was created as opposition to the Soviet Union, consisting of the US and many of its Western allies.

 

Berlin Blockade Ends (May 12, 1949)

The Soviets gave up their blocking efforts due to the success of the airlift operations.

 

Soviet’s First Atomic Bombs (August 26, 1949)

The USSR tested their first atomic bomb.

 

Creation of PROC (October 1, 1949)

Communist Mao Zedong took control of China and established the People’s Republic of China. Chiang Kai-shek moved to Taiwan in December to continue the Republic of China.

 

US Begins H-Bomb Development (January 30, 1950)

Truman approved the development of the hydrogen bomb in response to the Soviet’s growing arsenals of weapons of mass destruction. The NSC-68 document was also created, stating how competition against Communism was of highest priority.

 

Korean War Begins (June 24, 1950)

The USSR supported North Korea with equipment to attack South Korea. This would be one of the first major conflicts between the two superpowers throughout the Cold War.

 

Korean War Ends (July 27, 1953)

Both sides of the war stopped fighting when an armistice was signed.

 

Vietnam Split into North and South (July, 1954)

 

Creation of the Warsaw Pact (May, 1955)

The Soviets gathered all its communist allies to support against NATO. These become the two main sides of the Cold War led by each superpower.

 

The Initial Space Race (1957-1958)

The US and USSR began competing into sending crafts into space over these two years. The competition didn’t end there, as more developed spacecraft were later made.

 

Cuba Taken Over by Fidel Castro (January, 1959)

Fidel Castro took over Cuba from the puppet government set by the US.

 

Cuba Allies with USSR and its Policies (December 19, 1960)

 

Construction of Berlin Wall Begins (August 17, 1961)

 

US Involvement in Vietnam (1962)

The US got more involved in the Vietnamese conflict with more troops and air support for South Vietnam.

 

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

The world nearly got destroyed in a nuclear conflict. The USSR was sending nuclear missiles to Cuba in response to the US missiles in strategic locations like Turkey. The US discovered the transporting and set up a blockade. The tensions escalated quickly until an agreement of the removal of missiles for both sides.