Cold War Timeline by TRIP DEVERA

Berlin Airlift

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 13:33:19 UTC

The Berlin Airlift was an event during the Cold War when the US and the UK airlifted supplies to West Berlin during the Soviet blockade of the city during 1948 to 1949.

Containment method - Economic aid

Korean War

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 13:46:11 UTC

From 1950-1953 North and South Korea were at war. The war started because the division of Korea after World War II, the Cold War context, and the perceived weakness of South Korea's defenses.

Containment method- Forging alliances and military aid

US detonates its first Hydrogen bomb

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 13:49:36 UTC

The US detonated its first hydrogen bomb, on November 1, 1952, at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific, they did this to establish a strategic advantage in the Cold War nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.

Containment method- Building up defenses

Bay of Pigs

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 13:54:57 UTC

The bay of pigs invasion was set to overthrow a Cuban leader however, in April 1961 the invasion was a complete failure, resulting in the capture of most of the invading force and a strengthening of Castro's position in Cuba.

Containment method- Clandestine Operations

Cuban Missile Crisis

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 13:58:31 UTC

The Cuban missile crisis was a 13 day standoff in 1962 between the US and Soviet Union. This was the closest the world has been to a Nuclear war. However they settled to an agreement.

Containment method- Negotiations

US sends troops to Vietnam

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 14:03:30 UTC

The US sent troops to Vietnam to stop communism from spreading throughout southeast Asia. US sent over 3.4 million troops to Vietnam over the spam of 1964-1973

Containment method- Proxy Wars, Military aid, Forging alliances.

Pinochet’s coup in Chile

370110_4 — 2025-05-07 14:08:26 UTC

in 1973 the military overthrew the government that sparked the beginning of the 17 year dictatorship in Chile. General Augusto Pinochet led the military junta that ruled Chile for those years.

Containment method- Clandestine Operations.

Nixon’s detente policy/SALT I

370110_4 — 2025-05-09 13:04:11 UTC

Nixon and his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger, saw détente as a way to reduce the risk of nuclear war by improving communication and cooperation between the two superpowers.

Containment method- Negotiations

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

370110_4 — 2025-05-09 13:07:28 UTC

1979 the Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan and immediately gained complete military and political control of Kabul and large portions of the country. This began a brutal, decade-long civil war and maintained a friendly and socialist government on its border. It was an event of the Cold War

Containment method- Proxy Wars.

Reagan’s defense buildup

370110_4 — 2025-05-09 13:10:57 UTC

This buildup aimed to revitalize and modernize the American military, projecting strength and deterring Soviet expansionism. Reagan's plan to make the military stronger helped America’s soldiers, how the country acted with others, and changed important things during the Cold War.

Containment method- Building up defenses.