Labenberg_Timeline by Taylor Labenberg

German Invasion, September 1, 1939

ar2963 — 2025-10-17 15:37:27 UTC

Hitler launched an attack on Poland using tanks, aircrafts, and troops.

World War 2 Begins, September 3, 1939

ar2963 — 2025-10-17 15:39:41 UTC

Britain and France had pledged to protect Poland and declared war on Germany.

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, August 23, 1939

ar2963 — 2025-10-17 15:42:11 UTC

a non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, secretly dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

Soviet Union Invades Eastern Poland September 17, 1939

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 18:03:04 UTC

The Soviet Union invaded Poland as part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact arranged with the Nazis.

Germany Invades Denmark and Norway, April 9, 1940

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 18:17:32 UTC

Germany launched Operation Weserubung, invading Denmark and Norway to secure access to vital iron ore shipments from Sweden.

June 10, 1940, Norway Surrenders to Germany

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 18:20:54 UTC

Denmark surrendered within a few hours of the takeover because they were militarily unprepared, but Norway held off until June 1940.

May 10, 1940, Germany Invades France, Belgium, and the Netherlands

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 18:35:00 UTC

Germany began its large Western offensive, commonly known as the Fall Gelb. The Netherlands and Belgium are quickly overrun by German forces.

June 22, 1940, France Surrenders to Germany

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 18:49:33 UTC

Paris fell on June 14, 1940, which led to France's surrender on June 22. This left Britian alone against Nazi Germany in Western Europe.

1940-1941 Axis Expansion

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 19:04:19 UTC

After conquering most of Western Europe, Germany, Italy, and Japan (Axis Powers) quickly expand their control.

June 22, 1941, Germany Invades the Soviet Union

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 19:12:13 UTC

Under Operation Barbarossa, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. This broke the Nazi-Soviet pact.

December 7, 1941, Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 19:13:23 UTC

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, which brings the United States into World War 2.

1942-1945, Europe, Pacific, and North Africa

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 19:52:26 UTC

The war now spans across multiple continents.

June 6, 1944, D-Day Invasion of Normandy

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 19:56:32 UTC

This was known as Operation Overload and was the largest invasion in history. Allied forces landed on five beaches in Normandy, France, and began liberating Western Europe.

Stalingrad Battle (1942-1943) and Kursk (1942)

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 20:58:15 UTC

The Soviet Union is beginning to push back against German forces.

November 8, 1942, Operation Torch

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 21:03:00 UTC

Operation Torch liberated North Africa from German forces in 1943 after Britain and the US defeated German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in 1942.

1942, Japanese Expansion Halted

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 21:04:21 UTC

US and allied forces halted Japan's expansion at Midway and began a long campaign to reclaim all the territories.

May 7-8 1945 Germany Surrenders

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 21:06:27 UTC

This followed after Hitler's suicide and the collapse of Berlin to Soviet Troops. This is also known as V-E Day.

Hiroshima Bombing, August 6, and Nagasaki Bombing, August 9 1945

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 21:07:59 UTC

Japan refused to surrender, which resulted in the United States dropping two atomic bombs.

August 15, 1945 Japan Surrenders

ar2963 — 2025-10-18 21:15:12 UTC

This formall ended World War 2, also known as V-J Day.

Febuary 4-11, 1945, Yalta Conference

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 15:42:25 UTC

Held in Yalta, Crimea between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. The allies plan post-war, discussing Germany being divided into four zones, free elections promised to Eastern Europe, and the USSR agrees to join the war against Japan and join the UN.

July 17- August 2, 1945, Potsdam Conference

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 15:59:51 UTC

This was held in Potsdamn, Germany after the German surrender. Truman, Stalin, and Attlee finalize plans for Germany's occupation and demand Japan's surrender.

March 12, 1947, Truman Doctrine

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 16:06:06 UTC

U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced a foreign policy committing the United States to opposing the spread of communism and supporting nations resisting totalitarian influence. Initially aimed at Greece and Turkey, this policy became known as the Truman Doctrine and marked the first major step in America’s Cold War strategy of containment.

June 24, 1948- May 12, 1949, Berlin Blockade and Airlift

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 16:17:17 UTC

Stalin orders a blockade of all land and rail routes into West Berlin, aiming to force the Allies out of the city. In response to this the US and Britain airlift aid to sustain over 2 million people living in Berlin. When the blockade ends in May it is seen as a major Western Victory.

April 4, 1949, NATO is Formed

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 16:24:46 UTC

The U.S., Canada, and 10 Western European nations form NATO, a mutual defense alliance. This alliance meant that an attack on one was an attack on all members. This marks the formal division between Eastern and Western Europe.

June 5, 1947, Marshall Plan

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 16:26:28 UTC

The US offers over 13 billion dollars to rebuild Western European economies that were devasted by the war. The goal was to prevent the spread of communism by stablizing democratic nations.

August 29, 1949, Soviet Union Tests First Atomic Bomb

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 16:32:59 UTC

The USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, ending the US monopoly on nuclear weapons. This enters the world into a new era of nuclear tension between the world powers.

October 1, 1949, China becomes Communist

ar2963 — 2025-10-20 16:36:46 UTC

After years of civil war, Mao Zedong’s Communist Party defeats Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists. Mao declares the founding of the PRC.

June 25, 1950, Korean War Begins

ar2963 — 2025-10-21 23:13:28 UTC

North Korea invades South Korea on this date. The North was supported by the Soviet Union and then also by China later on in the war.

September 15, 1950, UN launches the Inchon Landing

ar2963 — 2025-10-21 23:15:22 UTC

This pushes North Korean Troops back.

July 27, 1953, Korean Armistice Agreement signed at Panmunjom

ar2963 — 2025-10-21 23:17:44 UTC

This establishes the Demilitarized Zone by creating a ceasefire between North and South Korea. It is not a peace treaty though and the conflict continued after it was signed.

March, 5, 1953, Stalin Passes Away

ar2963 — 2025-10-21 23:21:40 UTC

Stalin’s death marks the end of an era in Soviet leadership. A power struggle then ensues among top officials, culminating in Nikita Khrushchev's emergence as the new Soviet leader by 1955–1956.

May 14, 1955, Creation of the Warsaw Pact

ar2963 — 2025-10-22 20:18:49 UTC

In response to West Germany's joining of NATO, the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact among communist countries. Members include the USSR, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania.

October 23, 1956, Hungarian Uprising Begins

ar2963 — 2025-10-22 20:21:44 UTC

Pro-democracy protests erupt in Budapest, Hungary, demanding free elections and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. The reformists are lead by Imre Nagy, who forms a government and promises democratic reforms.

November 4, 1956, Soviet Union Invades Hungary

ar2963 — 2025-10-22 20:25:48 UTC

The Soviet Union invades Hungary with tanks and troops, crushing the uprising. Thousands of people are killed and Nagy is executed, this demonstrates the Soviet Union's determination to maintain control.

October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 is Launched

ar2963 — 2025-10-22 20:32:53 UTC

The Soviet Union successfully launches the first artificial satellite. This is what triggers the space race. This leads to the US creating NASA on July 29, 1958.

August 13, 1961, The Berlin Wall is Built

ar2963 — 2025-10-23 18:14:18 UTC

East Germany constructs the Berlin Wall to provent East Germans from fleeing to the democratic West Berlin. The wall becomes one of the largest symbols of the Cold War.

October 16-28, 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis

ar2963 — 2025-10-23 18:21:06 UTC

The US discovers that the Soviet Union has placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from Flordia. President Kennedy demands for their removal, which leads to a 13 day standoff that brings the world to the brink of a nuclear war.

November 1, 1955, Vietnam War Begins

ar2963 — 2025-10-23 18:34:55 UTC

The Vietnam War led to division in NATO, with European countries not knowing whether or not to support the US. There are also large anti-war movements across the UK, France, and West Germany.

August 20-21, 1968, Invasion of Czechoslovakia

ar2963 — 2025-10-23 18:38:49 UTC

The Warsaw Pact troops, led by the USSR, invaded Czechoslovakia and crushed any reforms. This is known as the Prague Spring and became a powerful symbol of resistance to Soviet domination.

July 20, 1969, US lands on the Moon

ar2963 — 2025-10-23 18:40:16 UTC

As part of the Space Race, the United States achieved a major Cold War victory when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon.

May 26, 1972, Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

ar2963 — 2025-10-24 11:41:55 UTC

U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT I Treaty in Moscow, marking a major achievement of détente. We are now in a period of eased tension between the two powers. In Europe, SALT I is seen as a hopeful step toward reducing the risk of nuclear war on the continent. This did not end the arms race, but it did open the door for more peaceful negotiations.

October 6-25, 1973, Yom Kippur War

ar2963 — 2025-10-24 11:46:09 UTC

On October 6, Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur to regain territory lost in the 1967 Six-Day War. The US supported Israel while the Soviet Union provided arms and support to Egypt and Syria. This turned the conflict into a Cold War proxy battle. The conflict also caused the 1973 Oil Crisis, as Arab nations imposed an oil embargo on Western countries, leading to severe economic and energy problems in Europe and the U.S.

August 1, 1975, Helsinki Accords

ar2963 — 2025-10-24 11:48:51 UTC

Thirty-five nations meet in Finland to sign the Helsinki Accords.

The accords mark a high point in détente and establish three key agreements:

Security: Recognition of postwar borders in Europe, which includes Germany's division.
Economic Cooperation: Promotion of trade and scientific collaboration.
Human Rights: Commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

December 24, 1977, Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan

ar2963 — 2025-10-24 11:56:53 UTC

The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan to support its struggling communist government against Islamist insurgents. The U.S., seeing this as Soviet expansionism, supports the Afghan resistance fighters. This shatters the spirit of détente.

September 22, 1980, The Iran and Iraq War begins

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 14:55:44 UTC

The war began when Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran shortly after the Iranian Revolution. Western nations, including France and Britain, quietly supported Iraq to counter Iran’s revolutionary Islamic regime. The war disrupted oil supplies, destabilizing global energy markets and raising tensions in Europe over Middle Eastern security.

March 23, 1983, the US creates Strategic Defence Initative

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 14:58:07 UTC

The goal of SID was to create a space-based missile defense system capable of intercepting Soviet nuclear missiles before they reached U.S. soil. During this time, the USSR had a large number of ballistic missiles that the US could not effectively counter.

March 11, 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev Comes to Power

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:01:39 UTC

His willingness to engage diplomatically with the U.S. (especially through arms reduction talks) helped thaw Cold War tensions. He unintentially weakened communist control in Eastern Europe.

April 26, 1986, Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:06:43 UTC

A reactor explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant released massive radioactive contamination across Europe. This exposed deep flaws in the Soviet Union and was a turning point in its decline.

December 8, 1987, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:12:41 UTC

The US and Russia agreed to eliminate all nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. It marked a turning point in U.S. and Soviet relations.

August 20, 1988, Iran and Iraq war ends

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:14:05 UTC

Ended in a stalemate with over 1 million casualties and economic devastation for both sides. The war disrupted oil supplies, destabilizing global energy markets and raising tensions in Europe over Middle Eastern security.

August 19, 1989, Hungary

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:34:16 UTC

Hungary opens its border with Austria, allowing East Germans to escape to the West. This breach in the Iron Curtain triggers mass protests in East Germany.

October 23, 1989, Republic of Hungary

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:34:55 UTC

This ends communist rule in Hungary

November 9, 1989, The fall of the Berlin Wall

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:35:37 UTC

After weeks of demonstrations and confusion among East German border guards, Berliners began tearing down the Wall. It becomes the defining symbol of the Cold War’s end.

December 1989, Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:42:19 UTC

Peaceful protests led to the fall of the communist regime and the election of Vaclav Havel as president.

December 25, 1989, Romania

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:43:48 UTC

A violent revolution ends with the execution of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena. Romania is considered to be liberated on this day.

March 18, 1990, East Germany First Free Election

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:54:16 UTC

elects a government committed to reunification with West Germany.

July 1, 1990, Monetary Union

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:54:46 UTC

The West German Deutsche Mark becomes the official currency of East Germany, integrating their economies.

October 3, 1990, German Reunification Day

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:55:13 UTC

East and West Germany formally reunite after 45 years of division.

November 19–21, 1990, Paris Charter of Europe

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:55:58 UTC

Signed by 34 nations, including the U.S. and USSR, affirming the end of the Cold War and a new era of democracy and cooperation in Europe.

June 4, 1989, Poland

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 15:58:30 UTC

Holds its first artially free election. The solidarity party wins, signaling the beginning of communist control in Eastern Europe.

March 17, 1991, Referandum

ar2963 — 2025-10-26 16:14:59 UTC

A majority of Soviet citizens vote to preserve the USSR, but republics like Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Georgia move toward independence.

November 11, 1918, World War One Ends

ar2963 — 2025-10-28 19:00:01 UTC

An armistice between Germany and the Allies came into effect. Fighting ceased at 11 in the morning.

June 28, 1919, Treaty of Versailles

ar2963 — 2025-10-28 20:05:27 UTC

This imposed harsh terms on Germany. The country lost 13% of its territory and all overseas colonies. The military was restricted, and they had to accept full blame for the war.

January 1933, Adolf Hitler comes to power

ar2963 — 2025-10-28 20:07:13 UTC

Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany. He quickly abolished political opposition and illegally rebuilt the military.

1936-1939, Spanish Civil War

ar2963 — 2025-10-28 20:23:18 UTC

Germany and Italy backed Franco’s Nationalist forces, while Western democracies remained officially neutral.

April 30, 1975, Vietnam War ends

ar2963 — 2025-10-29 00:21:25 UTC

North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. This event marked the collapse of the South Vietnamese government and the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

1991–1995 , Croatian War of Independence

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:00:57 UTC

Croatia’s declaration of independence led to war with ethnic Serb rebels backed by Yugoslavia. This conflicted ended with the Dayton Accords.

June 27 – July 7, 1991, Ten-Day War (Slovenia)

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:07:16 UTC

After Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia, brief fighting broke out between the Slovenian Territorial Defense and the Yugoslav People’s Army.

1992–1995, Bosnian War

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:09:00 UTC

Ethnic Albanian insurgents fought Serbian forces for independence. NATO intervened in 1999 without UN approval, launching airstrikes on Yugoslavia.

1999-2009, Second Chechen War

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:10:15 UTC

Russia launched a campaign to regain control of Chechnya after Islamist militants attacked Dagestan and bombed Moscow.

2001–2014, European Involvement in Afghanistan

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:10:55 UTC

After 9/11, NATO invoked Article 5 and joined the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan to remove the Taliban.

August 7–12, 2008, Russian Georgian War

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:12:44 UTC

Georgia attempted to regain control of breakaway South Ossetia, and Russia intervened militarily. The brief war resulted in Russian recognition of South Ossetia.

2011, NATO Intervention in Libya

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:14:00 UTC

European NATO members led airstrikes to enforce a UN-backed no-fly zone against Gaddafi’s regime during the Libyan Civil War.

February 24, 2022-Present, Russian Ukrainian War

ar2963 — 2025-10-30 02:15:05 UTC

Russia launched a full invasion of Ukraine. Major battles include Kyiv, Mariupol, Bakhmut, and Kharkiv. Massive Western support for Ukraine.