Timeline of the Cold War by RILYN MARTIN

"Yalta Conference drafts Post-War Plan" Feb 1945

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:11:28 UTC

The Yalta Conference was a crucial meeting held between the leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union, in order to discuss the future of Europe and the Pacific following the conclusion of WW2.

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki" August 1945

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:15:38 UTC

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the only uses of nuclear weapons in warfare, due to their devastation of both cities, of which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths as well as long-term health consequences for survivors. The events would ultimately end in Japan's surrender and the end of WW2.

"Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech in Fulton, MO" March 5th, 1946

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:17:22 UTC

On March 5th, 1946 Winston Churchill would warn of a division forming in Europe, caused by the Soviet Union's expanding influence. The speech highlighted the need for Western unity as well as American cooperation to counter the Soviet threat.

"Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War" March, 12th 1947

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:26:08 UTC

Communism is spreading, the United States begins a policy of "containment" meaning containing the spread of communism. Post WW2 Greece and Turkey began a civil war, one side fighting for communism, and one against. The goal of the Truman Doctrine is to give the non-communists military and economic aid, and successfully help them win their civil war, thus containing the spread of communism.

"Marshall Plan is announced to rebuild Europe" June 1947

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:35:44 UTC

Post WW2 Europe has been annihilated, and is the perfect breeding ground for communism due to the government owning everything and being in charge of redistribution of land and other assets. General Marshall develops the Marshall Plan, which plans to give billions of dollars to European countries in hope of rebuilding Europe. The only string is that they must use the money to buy American goods, thus keeping the European countries from becoming communist. Very much a containment policy, or a vaccine to the "disease" of communism.

"Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begin" June 1948

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:44:53 UTC

The Berlin blockade was the Soviet Union's attempt at cutting off land access to West Berlin, thus forcing the city to rely on Western aid through the Berlin airlift. The airlift was a massive operation that supplied West Berlin with food, clothes, and other supplies, and would prove extremely successful.

"NATO Alliance Formed" April, 4th 1949

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:50:39 UTC

In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would be formed in Washington D.C., thus making the United States, Canada, and ten other European countries allies against the Soviet Union. The primary focus of NATO was to deter the Soviet Union's aggressiveness toward Western Europe during the Cold War.

"Russia tests its first atomic bomb" August 20th, 1949

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 13:55:34 UTC

The Soviet Union exploded a nuclear weapon, becoming the second country to develop and successfully do so. The nuclear weapon was code-named, "First Lightning."

"Mao Zedong wins Chinese Civil War and creates the People's Republic of China" October 1st, 1949

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 14:18:29 UTC

Japan invades China during WW2, resulting in a ceasefire between the communist forces and non-communist forces of China in order to fight against the Chinese. Once the Japanese forces are defeated, fighting between the Chinese leaders resumes, resulting in Mao Zedong's victory and the fleeing of the non-communist forces to Taiwan. This is considered to be a massive loss in the Cold War by the United States as two huge communist powers now exist. The Red Scare persists.

"McCarthyism and the Red Scare takes hold in the United States" February 1950

rmartin262 — 2025-04-22 14:28:25 UTC

Senator McCarthy contributes to the second Red Scare through his trampling of democratic practices in the name of protecting them. Mass accusations occurred, and political oppression ran rampant. McCarthyism ruined democratic practices, and condoned many violations of human rights.

"Korean War" March 1st, 1950-1953

rmartin262 — 2025-04-23 14:26:02 UTC

The Korean War began on June 25th, 1950 when 75,000 soldiers from North Korea poured across the 38th parallel. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. By July, American troops had entered the war to aid South Korea.

"H-Bomb tested by USA on Bikini Atoll" March 1st, 1954

rmartin262 — 2025-04-23 14:33:29 UTC

The H-Bomb, meaning hydrogen bomb, is tested on Bikini Atoll. The hydrogen bomb is created due to the nuclear arms race between the United States and the rest of the world. The test was conducted in the sea, and utilized old WW2 ships to be tested on. The hydrogen bomb is a mixture of fusion and fission, creating an amazing reaction and far more destructive bomb.

"The Trans fermium Wars Begin" 1955

rmartin262 — 2025-04-23 14:47:55 UTC

The scientific race to discover new elements due to their potential to have unlimited elements. In UC Berkeley, scientists begin to create new elements, giving them extremely American names in order to battle against communists. Think of comic book elements such as Kryptonite.

"KGB established" March 1954

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 03:28:00 UTC

KGB stands for Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, which translates to “Committee for State Security.” The KGB was an intelligent agency for the Soviet Union, which also operated as a secret police force. The primary goal of the KGB was to quell dissent, by first identifying dissidents promoting anti-communist political and/or religious ideas and then silencing them.

"CIA helps over throw unfriendly governments in Iran and Guatemala" March 1954

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 03:48:04 UTC

In the year of 1950 Guatemala would elect a liberal moderate, named Jacobo Arbenz. Arbenz would ambitiously attempt to improve the lives of poor Guatemalans throw a policy focused on land reform, the practice of taking away rich and uncultivated land away from the wealthy, and gifting it to poor farmers. While this practice would prove successful, it also captured the attention of the United States who now considered Arbenz to be a communist. In response, the CIA would enact operation PB FORTUNE, a plan involving a coup and the assassination of dozens of people.

"Warsaw Pact Formed" May 1955

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 03:50:52 UTC

The Warsaw Pact was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republics of Central and Eastern Europe.

"Rebellion put down in Hungary" November 1956

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 03:55:31 UTC

In November 1956, the Soviet Union crushed the Hungarian Revolution, a popular uprising against the communist regime. Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest on November 4th, ending the rebellion after a period of street fighting. The invasion resulted in the deaths of thousands of Hungarians and the exodus of approximately 200,000 refugees.

"USSR launches first ICBM" August 1957

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 04:01:12 UTC

On August 21, 1957 the intercontinental ballistic rocket R-7 was successfully launched for the first time from Baikanur cosmodrome. The rocket successfully followed a specified itinerary and its head that imitated a nuclear warhead hit with precision on the specified target in the Kamchatka peninsula.

"Sputnik launched into orbit" October 4th, 1957

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 13:07:49 UTC

Sputnik was the first artificial Earth Satellite. It was launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union as a part of the Soviet Space Program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries became depleted.

"Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba" January 1959

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 13:17:56 UTC

Post Spanish-American war, Cuba experienced a string of dictatorial leaders acting as democratically elected ones. One man, Fidel Castro, organised a group of Cuban exiles in Mexico in order to overthrow one of these men, named Fulgencio Batista. On January 1, 1959, with rebel forces bearing down on Havana, Batista fled Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Castro would arrive on the 9th, and soon after would begin taking over the government.

"U2 spy plane shot down over the USSR" May 1960

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 13:36:17 UTC

The U2 spy plane was a top-secret state-of-the-art plane used by the US to investigate bomb test sites, and other locations. The plane was shot down by the USSR, with the pilot surviving and being arrested.

"Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion" April 1961

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 13:46:56 UTC

Fidel Castro is firmly established in communist Cuba, and following the Truman Doctrine, the CIA builds a secret military base in Guatemala. At the military base Cubans in exile are trained and then deployed in Cuba in order to attempt to overthrow Castro. The invasion fails miserably, and Castro's forces annihilate the trained Cuban military group. Eventually, the plot is discovered and makes the United States look bad.

"Construction of Berlin Wall begins" August 17th, 1961

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 13:53:18 UTC

The Berlin Wall completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin until government officials opened it in November 1989. The Wall was designed to prevent people from escaping to the West from East Berlin.

"Cuban Missile Crisis" October 1962

rmartin262 — 2025-04-25 14:08:37 UTC

The United States discovers that Cuba has begun building nuclear missiles 90 miles off of the coast of Florida. Military advisors to JFK instruct him to begin calling on the military so that an invasion can be launched. Before the invasion is launched, JFK instructs a blockade to be put in place around Cuba in order to search ships for nuclear weapon parts. The United States and Soviet Union begin engaging in "lowkey" meetings, which results in the United States vowing to not invade Cuba, and the Soviets vow to take nuclear weapons out of Cuba. This goes down as JFK being remembered for averting WW3.

"Nuclear test ban treaty ratified" July 1963

rmartin262 — 2025-05-02 13:43:09 UTC

Following twelve days of intense negotiation between experienced diplomat, Averell Harriman and the USSR, an agreement to limit the sites at which nuclear tests can take place. The treaty also pledged to work towards complete disarmament, an end to the armaments race, and an end to the contamination of the environment by radioactive substances.

"Gulf of Tonkin incident and resolution" August 1964

rmartin262 — 2025-05-02 13:55:46 UTC

Following the assassination of JFK, LBJ would take over and make his primary focus escalating tensions between the United States and communist Asia. On August 2nd, 1964 the USS Maddox was attacked while on an intelligence collection mission in the Gulf of Tonkin by three Vietnamese torpedo ships. Because of this incident, on August 7th, 1964 the Gulf of Tonkin resolution was put before congress and was passed. Because of this joint resolution, US military involvement in Vietnam drastically rose, and would eventually reach full-scale open war. At the end of 1970, the resolution would be repealed due to a lack of support for the Vietnam War, and would pave the way for the 1973 War Powers Act, and Act intended to limit the presidents power and make them unable to declare war without the support of congress.

"US marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight communism" April 1965

rmartin262 — 2025-05-02 14:01:39 UTC

In April 1965, the U.S. sent troops, including Marines, to the Dominican Republic to protect American citizens and property during a civil war. The official justification was to rescue endangered Americans, but the primary concern was to prevent a Cuban-style communist regime from taking power.

"US announcement to dispatch 200,000 US troops to Vietnam" July 1965

rmartin262 — 2025-05-02 14:15:45 UTC

President LBJ would increase the US troop count from 75,000 to 125,000 in order to fill out the necessary manpower needed to continue the fight against Vietnamese communists. In order to fill these needs, monthly draft calls increased from 17,000 to 35,000. This decision to send more troops was regarded as a major turning point, as it effectively guaranteed U.S. military leaders would continue to pursue the war.

"Bomb N. Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder" 1966

rmartin262 — 2025-05-05 17:22:59 UTC

In 1966, B-52 bombers, under Operation Rolling Thunder, began bombing the Mu Gia Pass in North Vietnam, a critical supply route. This marked the first time B-52s directly targeted North Vietnam, although they were primarily used in South Vietnam and surrounding areas for close air support and interdiction.

"Red Army crush Czechoslovakian revolt" August 1968

rmartin262 — 2025-05-05 17:26:32 UTC

In August 1968, Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces invaded Czechoslovakia to quell the Prague Spring, a period of liberal reforms and increased freedoms. The invasion, known as Operation Danube, was a military operation that resulted in the suppression of the reforms and the installation of a more conservative regime under Gustav Husak.

"Apollo 11 lands on the moon" July 20th, 1969

rmartin262 — 2025-05-05 17:37:12 UTC

The Soviet Union launched the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space on April 12, 1961. Within days of the Soviet achievement, President John F. Kennedy asked Vice President Lyndon Johnson to identify a “space program which promises dramatic results in which we could win.” A little over a month later, on May 25, 1961, Kennedy stood before a joint session of Congress and called for human exploration to the Moon. After four days traveling to the Moon, the Lunar Module Eagle, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. Neil Armstrong exited the spacecraft and became the first human to walk on the moon. As an estimated 650 million people watched, Armstrong proclaimed "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

"Publication of the Pentagon papers" 1971

rmartin262 — 2025-05-05 17:40:12 UTC

In June 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study on US involvement in the Vietnam War from 1945 to 1967. The papers revealed that the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations had misled the public about the extent and nature of US involvement in the war. This led to a legal battle between the government and the press, with the Supreme Court ultimately ruling in favor of the press, upholding their right to publish.

"President Nixon visits China" February 1972

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:22:32 UTC

In February 1972, US President Richard Nixon became the first US president to visit the People's Republic of China, marking a significant shift in US foreign policy after decades of isolation from the PRC. The visit, from February 21 to 28, aimed to improve relations and gain leverage in negotiations with the Soviet Union, following the Sino-Soviet split.

"Sino-Vietnamese War" February 1979

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:28:44 UTC

"Sino" is an old term for China. This was a war that communist China fought against communist Vietnam, not fitting the narrative of the Cold War. Pol Pot, leader of communist Cambodia, known as Khmer Rouge, orders the deaths of all those "tainted" by Capitalism and Western culture. Because of this, communist Vietnam invades in order to overthrow Pol Pot, and they succeed. In response, communist China invaded and the war resulted in a draw with both sides claiming victory.

"SALT 1 signed" July 1972

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:29:59 UTC

SALT I, signed on May 26, 1972, was a crucial agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting strategic arms. It consisted of two main components: the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which limited the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems, and the Interim Agreement, which set limits on the number of strategic offensive nuclear weapons

"Shah of Iran overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis begins" November 1979

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:39:25 UTC

"Shah" means king. The Shah of Iran is a friend of the United States, and is extremely conservative as well as dictator-like, with a secret police force he used to silence political enemies. In 1979, the Shah was overthrown by a group of college students, and fled to the United States. Iran then became a theocracy, while Jimmy Carter became president. The college students storm the embassy located in Iran and take Americans hostage for 444 days, in return they want the Shah back. This makes Jimmy Carter look weak as he is unable to negotiate their return, and ruins his presidency. Jimmy Carter sends a secret force in to extract the hostages, and fails because of the planes and helicopters crashing into each other. Ever since Iran and the United States have been on bad terms.

"US supported coup overthrows Chilean government" September 1973

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:40:43 UTC

The US, under the Nixon administration, had a policy of actively opposing leftist governments in Latin America during the Cold War. They viewed Allende's socialist government as a threat to their interests and the region's stability. The coup led to the overthrow of Allende and the establishment of a brutal military dictatorship under Pinochet. The Pinochet regime was responsible for widespread human rights violations, including the deaths, torture, and disappearances of thousands of individuals

"Egypt and Syria attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet aid" October 1973

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:42:13 UTC

On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israeli forces in the Sinai and the Golan Heights. Israel ultimately repelled the attack and regained lost ground, but only after the United States made the decision to supply the Israeli military.

"Reagan proposes SDI or "Star Wars"

rmartin262 — 2025-05-07 14:49:53 UTC

Reagan believes that the best offense is a good defense, and proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative. This is a radar system that can detect incoming planes carrying nuclear weapons and is capable of shooting them down. While the United States does have some capacity to do this, it isn't 100% effective, costs a ton of money, and is considered almost too sci-fi to be real.

"S. Vietnam falls to communist N. Vietnam" April 17th, 1975

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 12:59:48 UTC

The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces on April 30, 1975, ending the Vietnam War. This event marked the collapse of the South Vietnamese government and the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.

"US troops invade and overthrow regime in Grenada" October 1983

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 13:07:22 UTC

The Americans use repeated airstrikes as well as artillery in order to force Grenada into submission. The United States captured over 600 Cubans, and discovered both Soviet and Cuban military ammunition, as well as communication devices. All of this proved as evidence to president Reagan that the country of Grenada had become a communist military base, and thus had to be destroyed.

"Soviet and Cuban forces help to install communist government in Angola" February 1976

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 13:10:17 UTC

In February 1976, with the help of Soviet and Cuban forces, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Agostinho Neto, successfully installed a communist government in Angola, becoming the de facto Angolan government. This intervention was a major turning point in the Angolan Civil War, which had been ongoing since 1975.

"US and China officially establish diplomatic relations and trade and Panda Diplomacy" January 1979

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 13:12:01 UTC

On January 1, 1979, the United States and China officially established diplomatic relations, a move that also marked the start of a new era of trade between the two nations. This event was part of a larger process of normalization that had begun in 1972 with Richard Nixon's visit to China. The official establishment of diplomatic relations included the recognition of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and the establishment of embassies in Beijing and Washington

"Eastern Bloc boycotts LA Summer Olympics" July-August 1984

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 13:16:30 UTC

The Soviet puppet states as well as the Soviet Union itself boycotted the Olympics in response to the United States boycotting four years earlier.

"Soviet forces invade Afghanistan" December 1979

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 13:17:42 UTC

The Soviet–Afghan War was an armed conflict that took place in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan from December 1979 to February 1989. Marking the beginning of the 46-year-long Afghan conflict, it saw the Soviet Union and the Afghan military fight against the rebelling Afghan mujahideen, aided by Pakistan.

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

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 13:32:07 UTC

In an effort to reform the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev initiated two key policies: Perestroika (economic restructuring) and Glasnost (openness and transparency). These reforms, implemented in the mid-1980s, aimed to address the Soviet Union's economic stagnation and improve its political system

"US hockey defeats USSR at winter Olympics" February 22nd, 1980

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 16:18:55 UTC

On February 22, 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team famously defeated the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice" at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The US won the game 4-3, leading to a gold medal victory for the US team two days later.

"US boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow" June-August 1980

rmartin262 — 2025-05-09 16:19:57 UTC

The United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, held from June to August, due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. President Jimmy Carter announced the boycott in March 1980. The US decision was supported by the US Olympic Committee and ultimately led over 60 countries to join the boycott.

"Soviet Troops withdraw from Afghanistan" January 1989

rmartin262 — 2025-05-12 13:52:40 UTC

Ten years prior, the Soviet government had overthrown the Afghan ruler and put in place a communist leader. In response, the US secretly supplies the Afghans with weapons in order to overthrow their Soviet rulers. The invasion is often compared to the Vietnam War with the Soviets assuming the role of the United States. Eventually, the Soviets would fail and the Afghans would become a theocracy.

"Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania oust communist governments" 1989

rmartin262 — 2025-05-12 14:04:22 UTC

In 1989, Gorbachev's policies meant the usage of violent methods in order to put down the rebellions wasn't an option. Thus, reformers would come in and adopt democratic governments and tear down pieces of the Berlin Wall, also known as the "iron curtain."

"Tiananmen Square Massacre" June 1989

rmartin262 — 2025-05-12 14:09:54 UTC

In 1989 young college students in China began calling for freedom from their communist government. They want capitalist reforms, freedom of speech, and the right to participate more actively in government. In response, the Chinese roll in with tanks and crush the revolt violently. This protest produces the iconic image of the single Chinese man holding up the tank line while holding groceries. It is unknown what happened to him.

"Berlin Wall Falls" November 1989

rmartin262 — 2025-05-16 05:38:04 UTC

The Berlin Wall had divided East and West since 1961, and had symbolized the separating of the communist East from the democratic West. However in the 1980s communist governments began losing power, and people began protesting in order to gain more freedom. On November 9th, an East German official mistakenly announced that citizens could cross the border which resulted in crowds of citizens gathering at the wall. The guards, unsure of what to do, allowed the citizens to pass, resulting in the iconic photos of people from both sides celebrating and climbing on the wall.

"Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russia" May 1990

rmartin262 — 2025-05-16 05:50:54 UTC

Boris Yeltsin was elected as the first President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on June 12, 1991. This election was a key moment in the lead-up to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Yeltsin became the first popularly elected head of state in Russian history. He won with 57.30% of the vote, significantly ahead of his main opponent, Nikolai Ryzhkov

"Germany Reunited" October 3rd, 1990

rmartin262 — 2025-05-16 05:53:27 UTC

On October 3, 1990, East and West Germany officially reunited, ending the 45-year division that had been in place since World War II. This event, known as the Day of German Unity, marked the end of the Cold War in Europe and saw the German Democratic Republic officially join the Federal Republic of Germany

"USSR dissolved - 15 Republics gain independence" August 1991

rmartin262 — 2025-05-16 05:55:57 UTC

In August 1991, a failed coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev triggered the dissolution of the Soviet Union, leading to the independence of 15 republics. This event marked a pivotal moment in history, ending the Cold War era and reshaping the world order.

Thesis Over The Cold War

rmartin262 — 2025-05-16 13:09:51 UTC

The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union was defined by a relentless pursuit of global dominance through the nuclear arms race, the space race, and proxy conflicts, each of which demonstrated the superpowers' competing ideologies and desire for strategic superiority.