Cold War Key Dates (1945-1991)

Most Eastern European states are liberated by the Soviet Union

Yalta Conference

The leaders of the USSR, USA and the UK at Yalta

Roosevelt dies.

WWII ends in Europe.

Attlee becomes PM and the USA gains atomic weapons.

Potsdam conference

The leaders of the USSR, USA and UK at Potsdam

USA drops two atomic bombs on Japan.

Japan surrenders

Kennan's 'Long Telegram' is sent.

Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech.

Communists win in Polish elections.

Communists win in Bulgarian elections (75% popular vote).

Communists win in Romanian elections (80% of the votes).

The event that influenced Truman to implement financial aid to European nations rebuilding after the war (the Truman Doctrine).

British and US zones in Germany merge to form Bizonia.

Truman Doctrine announced.

The Moscow Conference

The Marshall Plan is announced by George Marshall.

A new currency is introduced to the Western zones of Germany.

The London Conference of Western powers

Communists gain control of Czechoslovakia.

The Deutsche Mark was introduced to the Western Zones of Germany and West Berlin. The West Germans are given permission to create a new constitution.

The London Conference decided that Germany should have its own Constituent Assembly.

Cominfrom created.

The Berlin Blockade

The Soviet Union gains the A-Bomb

NSC-68 is approved for recommendation

FRG joins the Council of Europe

Created the Zhdanov Doctrine as he viewed the world in two separate camps: communist and capitalist.

Replaced Wladyslaw Gomulka as Polish deputy prime minister in 1948

Assistant Secretary of State (1941-1949) and Secretary of State (1949-1953)

Czech president in 1946 but resigned in June 1948, leaving pro-Moscow communists in control.

Defensive Perimeter Strategy

Alger Hiss was convicted of perjury after passing on information to the USSR whilst working for the US State Department.

China forms a military alliance with the USSR

Stalin promises to provide North Korea with weapons indirectly.

NSC-68 is presented and implemented.

The Korean War starts when the North attacks the South.

The USA sends troops to aid South Korea through the UN.

Forces from China help North Korea in the war.

China officially enters into war against South Korea.

The USSR boycotted them and as a result, did not have a say in whether troops were sent to Korea or not.

Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) implements the Defensive Perimeter Strategy

People's Republic of China (1949)

Leader of North Korea

Leader of South Korea

Leader of Taiwan

Leader of the PRC

Economic advisor to SCAP

Scheme for Japan to get a surplus of 157 million yen ($4 million).

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

MacArthur is dismissed as SCAP by Truman.

The Rosenbergs were executed after being charged as communists.

Peace is first proposed between North and South Korea.

The San Francisco Peace Treaty

Eisenhower becomes President.

Stalin dies.

Khrushchev becomes the leader of the USSR.

A final peace agreement in Korea is reached.

1. A demilitarised zone of 2km on either side of the 38th Parallel.

2. All military forces should withdraw to their territory.

3. The repatriation of prisoners should begin.

NSC 182/2 is presented.

The effects of the Korean War.

An American Republican senator between the years 1947 and 1957.

Anti-communist sentiment and fears grew within America, leading to incredibly extreme reactions towards anyone perceived of being left wing.

The House of Un-American Activities Commission

Dulles announces the 'massive retaliation' strategy.

The Geneva Conference

The leaders of the USA and the USSR at the Geneva Conference.

SEATO established.

Secretary of State under Eisenhower

A nationalist, communist military force in Vietnam.

Leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

A huge military defeat for France in Indochina

Leader of the Republic of Vietnam.

Where Vietnam was divided at the Geneva Conference in 1954.

The North decides to use revolutionary action to unite Vietnam

West Germany joins NATO and the Warsaw Pact is set up, and Austrian State Treaty

Geneva Summit

Diem refuses to hold elections for reunification

Hallstein Doctrine

Khrushchev's secret speech

The Polish Rising

Collectivisation was underway in North Vietnam and agricultural production increased, however, 1 million refugees fled to South Vietnam

The Hungarian Rising, 4000 Hungarian citizens were killed and 20,000 went into self-imposed exile.

6000 people were killed in North Vietnam during a military revolt

The USSR developed the first ICBM

Sputnik is launched

The Gaither Report is commisioned

The Berlin Ultimatum

Batista is overthrown by Castro

Khrushchev visits Camp David

Anastas Mikoyan, a Soviet Politburo member, offers Cuba economic and military aide.

Power's U2 Spy Plane is shot down

The Paris Summit

Kennedy and Khrushchev meet in Vienna

Castro promises to spread revolution across Central and Southern America

John F. Kennedy is president

The Bay of Pigs fiasco, Kennedy's first major failure