Cold War Timeline by BRIAN KARSHNER

Yalta Conference (February, 1945)

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-10 16:42:16 UTC

The Yalta Conference was between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. During the conference, the three drafted the Post-war plan, establishing the division of governance in Germany and the establishment of the United Nations. Stalin also agreed to join the war against Japan. However, the U.S. was so eager to end the war to limit Soviet influence in the Pacific that it resorted to nuclear bombs.

The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August, 1945)

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-10 17:14:31 UTC

Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan by the United States in an attempt to end the war quickly. This brought devastation to Japan and ended the war. The end of the war, however, set up the Cold War as Communism continued to grow, and a divide began to become apparent.

Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946)

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-10 17:17:25 UTC

There was an "iron curtain" separating countries in Europe. Called people to unite against Communism. The separation was between Communism and Capitalism. This showed the rivalry more and more between Commies and Liberty Lovers. The "iron curtain" metaphor described the situation very well, as there was a clear divide during the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War (March 12, 1947).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 16:29:16 UTC

Talked about how Communism was threatening Turkey and Greece. If America didn't aid in the defense of these countries, then Communism would come to America. Financially aided countries threatened by Communism. This was the first action taken to contain Communism.

Marshall Plan is announced to rebuild Europe

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:16:35 UTC

America formulated a plan to aid Europe financially after WW2 as a form of containment for Communism. The plan was announced in a speech by Harry S. Truman at Harvard on June 5, 1947. America gives a lot of money to Europe to jumpstart their economies to deter Communism.

Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begins (June 1948).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:19:30 UTC

First successful test of containment policy. Multiple nations occupied Germany post-war. The Soviet Union blocked railways, so the West had no access to Berlin. The Berlin Airlift was the US flying in food and other support because all other ways of access routes were blocked off.

NATO Alliance is formed (April 4, 1949).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:29:35 UTC

The goal of NATO was to protect Western Europe and the US from Communist countries during the Cold War. It was also made to help create financial and political stability in Europe.

Russia tests its first atomic bomb (August 20, 1949).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:36:08 UTC

After learning that America was secretly developing atomic bombs, Joseph Stalin ordered the creation and testing of atomic bombs to ensure that Russia could keep up if another war broke out. This was also done due to the rising tension between Communists and non-Communists.

Mao Zedong wins Chinese Civil War and creates the People's Republic of China (Oct. 1, 1949).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:42:36 UTC

The Chinese Civil War was a struggle for control over China between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek that led to the founding of the People's Republic of China after Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party to victory.

McCarthyism and the Red Scare takes hold in the U.S. (Feb. 1950).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:47:34 UTC

Senator McCarthy falsely accused hundreds of people of being Communists. The Red Scare was a rise in fear of Communism in the U.S., and made people very afraid of Communist takeover and Communist countries.

Korean War (1950-1953).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 17:50:41 UTC

Post WW2, America took the southern part of Korea, while the Soviet Union took the northern part of the country. This caused the South to be filled with Liberty, freedom, and happiness. The Northern part was filled with dictatorship, sadness, and poverty.

H-Bomb Tested by USA on Bikini Atoll (March 1, 1954).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-22 18:01:04 UTC

This test was in direct response to the Cold War Arms Race as an attempt to surpass Soviet weaponry. It was tested to keep a strategic advantage over the Soviet Union, which had been testing bombs in 1949. The H-Bomb was 1,000 times more powerful than any previous atomic bombs.

Establishment of the KGB (March, 1954)

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-23 18:34:45 UTC

The KGB was established as a way for the Soviet Union to gather intelligence on foreign countries. It placed spies in foreign countries to infiltrate their intelligence agencies. The KGB was also created to prevent foreign spies from entering their borders. It also engaged in sabotage and disinformation campaigns. The KGB is comparable to America's CIA.

CIA helps overthrow unfriendly governments in Iran and Guatemala (March, 1954).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-23 18:59:41 UTC

In 1954, the CIA helped overthrow Iran's government because the Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, wanted to nationalize Iran's oil industry, threatening America's economic interests. To cause unrest, the CIA spread propaganda, bribed military leaders, and encouraged protests. The CIA launched Operation PBSuccess against President Jacobo Arbenz, who introduced land reforms that threatened the interests of an American corporation that had a lot invested in Guatemala. They trained and armed rebel forces and used airstrikes and intimidation tactics to weaken Arbenz's government.

Creation of the Warsaw Pact (May 1955)

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-23 19:02:18 UTC

Just as NATO was created to contain Communism, the Warsaw Pact was created as a response to NATO. It contained the USSR and parts of Eastern Europe.

The Transfermium wars begin (1955).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-23 19:05:31 UTC

The Transfermium wars were a Cold War-era dispute between Soviet and American scientists over who discovered and had the rights to multiple new elements. The matter was settled in 1997 when elements 104 and 105 were labeled as dubnium and rutherfordium, respectively.

Rebellion put down in Hungary (1955).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 18:44:24 UTC

The Hungarian Revolution was an uprising against Soviet control and Communism in Hungary. When the Hungarian leader, Imre Nagy, attempted to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact, Soviet forces launched military intervention to stop the uprising. This led to a four-day-long battle that ended with the deaths of thousands and over 200,000 Hungarians were forced to leave the country.

USSR launches first ICBM (August, 1957).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 18:52:15 UTC

The USSR tested its first ICBM in August of 1957, which demonstrated its capabilities of delivering nuclear warheads across vast distances. The missile's success intensified the arms race and prompted advancements in American missile technology.

Sputnik launched into orbit (October 4, 1957).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 18:57:40 UTC

Sputnik was a spacecraft created by the USSR that saw the first man in space. This new technology triggered the space race between the Soviet Union and the US. Sputnik orbited Earth every 96 minutes and traveled at a speed of 18,000 mph.

Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba (January 1959).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:08:35 UTC

Castro came to power in Cuba through the Cuban Revolution, which was a response to the corrupt regime of Fulgencio Batista. Castro put multiple guerrilla groups into action, which forced Batista to flee in 1959. After Castro came into power, he reformed the government to align with socialist principles, which, in turn, aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union.

U2 spy plane shot down over the USSR (May 1960).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:16:07 UTC

The U-2 was an American spy plane that was shot down by the Soviets during the Cold War. It was collecting information for America that would be useful if war had started. When shot down, the US claimed that it was for weather research, but the Soviets revealed that they had captured the pilot, Francis Gary Powers, along with evidence of espionage. Powers was sentenced to ten years in a Soviet prison, but the US traded him for a Soviet spy that they had captured.

Failed Bay of Pigs invasion (April, 1961).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:23:37 UTC

The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed military operation by the US to overthrow Castro in Cuba. The CIA sent Cuban exiles to invade the Bay of Pigs in Cuba to spark an uprising, but the Cuban army quickly defeated them. In just three days, 1,100 exiles were captured, and the army was defeated. This pushed Cuba more towards the Soviet Union.

Construction of the Berlin Wall begins (August 17, 1961).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:26:31 UTC

The Berlin Wall was an attempt by the Soviets to stop their citizens from fleeing to West Berlin. Although it started as just barbed wire and concrete, it grew to become a heavily fortified wall with guard towers and trenches. It separated East and West Berlin for three decades, symbolizing the divide between capitalism and communism.

Cuban Missile Crisis (October, 1962).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:36:59 UTC

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day confrontation between the US and Cuba. It started when the US discovered missiles in Cuba just 90 miles from the US. Eventually, both sides came to a resolution when the US agreed to remove their missiles from Turkey and Italy if Cuba removed their missiles.

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ratified (July, 1963).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:43:12 UTC

The treaty banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater for all countries. Underground testing was allowed, however. This was a big step towards arms control, even if it didn't stop the stockpiling of nuclear weapons.

Gulf of Tonkin incident and resolution (August, 1964).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-24 19:54:20 UTC

The Gulf of Tonkin incident occurred when two US ships were reportedly attacked by Vietnamese torpedo boats in the, you guessed it, Gulf! Of! Tonkin! These attacks were said to be unprovoked, but upon further investigation, the second attack may not have actually happened. Lyndon B. Johnson came up with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and presented it to Congress. It asked for authorization to take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression. Congress agreed and gave Johnson great authority over the military. This led to heightened involvement in the Vietnam War.

US Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism (April, 1965).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-25 13:09:40 UTC

President Johnson sent 22,000 Marines to the Dominican Republic to, in his words, prevent a "Communist Dictatorship". After the assassination of the country's dictator in 1961, a civil war broke out, and the US claimed that its intervention was necessary to stop Communism from developing. Despite the skepticism and controversy of this claim, the US was successful, and a provisional government was established in 1966. (He really gave them the Johnson treatment hahahaha)

US announcement to dispatch 200,000 troops to Vietnam (July, 1965).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-25 13:14:26 UTC

Following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, Johnson ordered a major increase in troops to Vietnam. He believed that the advanced American military would be able to weaken Vietnam. As more troops were sent to their deaths, the war became more and more controversial, with anti-war protests and people speaking out publicly against the war. (This one is red because this was a terrible idea and cost the US a lot of money and the lives of many teenagers. It did lead to some awesome music and Forest Gump, so maybe it wasn't all bad. Another interesting thing is that the movie Aliens was heavily influenced by the war. In the movie, marines, armed with advanced weaponry and years of training, are easily overcome by the primitive aliens on another planet.)

B-52s Bomb North Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder (1966).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-25 14:22:03 UTC

Operation Rolling Thunder was an aerial bombardment operation that included high-altitude carpet bombing done by B-52s. It aimed to weaken Vietnam's infrastructure and trade routes. This was not effective and actually led to Vietnam improving its air defenses and rebuilding its damaged infrastructure.

Red Army crush Czechoslovakian revolt (August 1968).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-25 16:26:03 UTC

The Red Army was led by Warsaw Pact countries, including the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria, to halt liberal reforms that would allow greater freedom of speech, press, and travel in Czechoslovakia. Hundreds of thousands of troops from the Red Army easily stopped resistance groups and reasserted control.

Apollo 11 lands on the moon (July 20, 1969).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-25 16:40:23 UTC

This was the first instance of a man walking on the moon. Showcased American technology and arguably won the space race for America. Showed the Soviet Union that America had superior engineering power. The event was broadcast worldwide and boosted morale for many Americans, which was much needed since the war in Vietnam had lowered American spirits greatly.

Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-28 15:29:54 UTC

The Pentagon Papers were a classified government study that detailed US involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. The papers showed how the government had successfully misled the public about the war, and also about the likelihood of success. Daniel Ellsberg leaked the papers to the New York Times, which published excerpts in their newspaper. With the American public being made aware of how they were lied to by the government, anti-war protests broke out, and trust in the government faded.

President Nixon visits China (February, 1972).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-04-29 14:21:13 UTC

Nixon's visit to China aimed to open relations and hopefully counterbalance Soviet influence. Nixon met with Mao Zedong, and their discussions eventually led to the Shanghai Communique, which laid the groundwork for improved relations between China and the US. This shifted the dynamics of the Cold War and is often referred to as "the week that changed the world".

SALT I signed (July, 1972).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-02 14:14:51 UTC

The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks were negotiations between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They focused on stopping the arms race by signing agreements to limit each country's creation of ICBMs, and prevented the countries from creating full-scale missile defense systems. These agreements only temporarily slowed the arms race, leading to future negotiations in SALT II.

US-supported coup overthrows Chilean government (September, 1973).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-02 14:26:20 UTC

In 1970, Salvador Allende was elected president of Chile. He was a democratic socialist. After financial struggles, political opposition, and tension with the United States, a Chilean coup, led by General Augusto Pinochet, was organized to overthrow Allende. The Nixon Administration secretly supported the coup financially and politically. The coup fought until Allende died in 1973, and Pinochet ruled Chile until 1990.

Egypt and Syria attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet aid (October, 1973).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-06 14:11:04 UTC

Due to rising tensions during the Cold War, Egypt and Syria engaged in combat with Israel. One notable engagement was the Six-Day War. Egypt had a close relationship with the Soviet Union, which warned them about Israel amassing troops on the Syrian border. This led to Egypt taking preventative measures to stop them.

South Vietnam falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17, 1975).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-06 14:17:50 UTC

After the North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon in 1973, the South fell under Communist control, ending the Vietnam War. Vietnam was already struggling in the months leading up to the end of the war. The government was struggling economically, and American support was slowly dwindling.

Soviet and Cuban forces help to install Communist government in Angola (February 1976).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-06 16:35:45 UTC

Cuba forced troops into Angola as part of the Cuban Intervention. The Communist forces of Cuba were heavily aided by the Soviet Union, which provided military aid and advisors. The intervention sparked a civil war, which lasted until 1991, when both South African and Cuban forces withdrew.

The US and China officially establish diplomatic relations and trade & Panda Diplomacy (January 1979).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-06 16:40:31 UTC

After Nixon visited China in 1972, China and the US increased cooperation, which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979. One of the things that the cooperation led to was the Panda Diplomacy, which was China's practice of gifting pandas to foreign countries as a form of goodwill. China sent two pandas, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in DC.

Sino-Vietnamese War (February 1979).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-07 18:42:04 UTC

A war was briefly fought between Communist China and Communist Vietnam. When the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia, whose leader was Pol Pot, and overthrew the Khmer Rouge, China reacted by starting a war with the Vietnamese. The war ended in a draw, with neither side making any significant progress.

Shah of Iran overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis begins (November 1979).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-07 18:52:14 UTC

The Shah was the king of Iran in 1979. Iran held a lot of oil and was overthrown by Iran. The US then helped put the Shah back in power. The Iranian college students kidnapped Americans for 444 days and overthrew the Shah again, who was rescued by the United States. Jimmy Carter then sent special forces to Iran. The plane crashed and made Carter look bad.

Soviet forces invade Afghanistan (December 1979).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-07 18:53:55 UTC

In 1979, the Soviets sent troops to Afghanistan to support the Communist government against anti-Communist forces. The anti-Communist forces were the Mujahideen, who were backed by the US government. The Soviets withdrew in 1989 after almost a decade of conflict. They were unable to secure control.

Reagan proposes SDI or "Star Wars" (1983).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-07 19:00:35 UTC

Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative. He claimed that a nuclear defense umbrella made up of satellites would see nukes coming and then shoot them out of the sky. This cost thirty billion dollars and still didn't work perfectly.

US Hockey defeats USSR at winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY (February 22, 1980)

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-07 19:25:50 UTC

In the 1980 Olympics for hockey, the USSR had what most considered to be the best hockey team in the world at the time. The US, comparatively, had amateurs, made up mostly of college students. The US team beat the Soviets 4-3. The American team then secured its gold medal by beating Finland 4-2. This is commonly referred to as the "Miracle on Ice".

US Boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow (June-August 1980).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-07 19:32:16 UTC

The US decided to boycott the summer Olympics in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 65 Countries then joined the boycott, including Canada, Japan, China, and West Germany. This heavily affected the competition, with the USSR winning the majority of the medals.

US troops invade and overthrow regime in Grenada (October 1983).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-08 14:49:04 UTC

After turmoil and the execution of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, Ronald Reagan cited concerns for American citizens in Grenada, especially due to the growing influence of the Soviet Union and Cuba in the region. 7,600 American troops were sent to overthrow the People's Revolutionary Government. The operation successfully restored democracy and stability to Grenada.

Eastern Bloc boycotts the LA Summer Olympics (July-August, 1984).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-08 15:07:59 UTC

In 1984, the Soviet Union led the boycott of the Summer Olympics, which was followed by fifteen Eastern Bloc nations. This was seen as a retaliation for the 1980 Summer Olympics when the US refused to participate. Despite the boycott, over 140 nations participated in the Olympics, with the US dominating the medal tally, especially in events like gymnastics, powerlifting, and both Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. (Fun fact, only four years later in the 1988 Olympics, Aleksandr Karelin would represent the Soviet Union in Greco-Roman wrestling and win every match with a move he created called the reverse gut wrench. At the end of his career, Aleksandr had a record of 887 wins and 2 losses.)

Gorbachev begins "glasnost" and "perestroika" in efforts to reform the USSR (1985).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-08 15:18:40 UTC

Glasnost, meaning "openness," aimed to create government transparency, reduce censorship, increase freedom of speech, and expose corruption. Perestroika, meaning "restructuring," was an attempt to reform the economic and political structure of the USSR, allow greater autonomy for businesses, and introduce multi-candidate elections within the Communist Party. These were implemented to help the USSR, but they unintentionally accelerated the collapse of the USSR.

Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan (January 1989).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-08 15:28:47 UTC

Initially, Soviet forces were sent to Afghanistan to support the Communist government, but after almost a decade, they were forced to withdraw due to the economic and political toll it was having on the Soviet Union. Despite the withdrawal, the Afghan Civil War continued, and the Soviet-supported Najibullah government collapsed in 1992.

Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania oust Communist governments (1984).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-09 14:13:22 UTC

Poland began a trade union that pushed for democratic reforms, which led to the first non-Communist government in the Eastern Bloc. Both Hungary and Bulgaria implemented democratic reforms, which dismantled the Communist governments in their respective countries. Czechoslovakia and Romania saw mass protests and violence. In Czechoslovakia, the protests were enough to make the Communist leaders resign. The Romanian protests only grew more violent, which led to the overthrow and execution of the Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Tiananmen Square Massacre (June 1989).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-09 14:20:34 UTC

In 1989, many people in Beijing were holding anti-Communist protests, demanding freedom of speech, political reform, and an end to government corruption. After weeks of protest, tanks and troops were sent to Tiananmen Square to clear the area. This led to thousands of deaths of civilians. The topic is heavily censored in China. Although it reinforced authoritarian control, it shaped how the rest of the world saw China and its views on human rights.

Berlin Wall falls (November 1989).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-09 16:20:07 UTC

The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin from 1961 until 1989, when mass protests, political changes, and Hungary's opening of its borders put pressure on East Germany to ease restrictions. Due to an East German officer mistakenly announcing that citizens could cross the border, thousands rushed to the checkpoints, overwhelming the guards, who then opened the gates. Citizens then celebrated by tearing down parts of the wall.

Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russia (May 1990).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-12 18:26:25 UTC

Yeltsin was the first democratically elected president of Russia. His election played a pivotal role in the Cold War and signaled political and economic liberalization in Russia. Yeltsin openly challenged Gorbachev and the Communist Party, and accelerated Russia's separation from the Soviet Union.

Germany Reunited (October 3, 1990).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-15 13:44:44 UTC

East and West Germany had been divided by the Berlin Wall since 1961. Right after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there was no reason for Germany to be divided anymore due to the end of Communist rule in East Germany. In 1990, East and West Germany became unified by the Federal Republic of Germany. This was greatly supported by the United States, and October 3 is celebrated in Germany as German Unity Day.

USSR dissolved - 15 Republics gain independence, including Russia (August 1991).

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-15 13:54:36 UTC

Throughout the 80's, political and economic struggles greatly weakened the Soviet Union and lessened Soviet control. Gorbachev's failed attempt at revitalization through glasnost and perestroika increased demand for independence. The fall of the Berlin Wall cemented the fact that the USSR was crumbling. In 1991, leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belavezha Accords, declaring the USSR officially dissolved.

Cold War Thesis

bkarshner26_ — 2025-05-16 16:42:23 UTC

The Cold War was characterized not by any actual fighting, but by mistrust, rivalries, and hostility. Although the Soviet Union and the US never engaged in sustained combat, they did have an intense rivalry that they carried on through many examples of hostility and mistrust. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qeCx_85c5CSLp8LCFsT7iqTWnqWkQKqE/view?usp=sharing