Modern European History Timeline: 1918-1991 by Bradley Bernarde

1918: End of World War I

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

The armistice signed on November 11, 1918, marked the end of World War I, a conflict that reshaped European borders, toppled empires, and set the stage for the 20th century's geopolitical landscape. This pivotal moment led to the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed heavy reparations on Germany and significantly altered the map of Europe, sowing the seeds for future conflicts.

1919: Paris Peace Conference

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

The Paris Peace Conference was a set of formal and informal diplomatic meetings in 1919 and 1920 after the end of World War I, in which the victorious Allies set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers. The following Treaties were agreed upon during the conference:

Versailles
Trianon
Saint-Germain
Neuilly
Sevres

1922: Formation of the Soviet Union

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

The establishment of the Soviet Union in December 1922 marked the unification of the Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Transcaucasian Soviet republics under a new communist government. This event was a seminal moment in European history, introducing a major new political entity that would play a crucial role in global affairs throughout the 20th century.

1945: End of World War II in Europe

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, celebrated the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces, marking the end of World War II in Europe. The war had devastating effects on the continent, leading to the loss of millions of lives, widespread destruction, and the ultimate emergence of the Cold War.

1945: The United Nations is Founded

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

Following the end of World War II, the United Nations was established on October 24, 1945, with the goal of preventing future conflicts and fostering international cooperation. The UN played a significant role in the post-war era, promoting human rights and assisting in peacekeeping efforts around the world.

1947-1991: The Cold War

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

The Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, dominated much of the late 20th century. This era saw the division of Europe into Eastern and Western blocs, the threat of nuclear warfare, and numerous proxy wars. The Cold War's influence on international relations and domestic policies in countries around the world was profound and far-reaching.

1957: The European Economic Community is Established

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

The signing of the Treaty of Rome on March 25, 1957, established the European Economic Community (EEC), the precursor to the European Union. The EEC aimed to foster economic cooperation and integration among its six founding members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. This marked a significant step towards economic and political unity in Europe.

1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, symbolized the rapid unraveling of communist control in Eastern Europe and the end of the Cold War. This event paved the way for German reunification and marked a turning point in European history, heralding a new era of freedom and democracy in the continent.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:38:55 UTC

In December 1991, the Soviet Union was officially dissolved, ending nearly 70 years of communist rule and marking the conclusion of the Cold War. This event led to the independence of 15 republics and significant geopolitical shifts, profoundly impacting the political landscape of Europe and the world.

1918: Wilson's Fourteen Points

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:42:29 UTC

The Fourteen Points was a statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I. The principles were outlined in a January 8, 1918 speech on war aims and peace terms to the United States Congress by President Woodrow Wilson.

1918: Russia Signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:45:47 UTC

The treaty marked Russia's final withdrawal from World War I and resulted in Russia losing major territorial holdings. In the treaty, Bolshevik Russia ceded the Baltic States to Germany; they were meant to become German vassal states under German princelings.

1917-1923: Russian Revolution

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:50:06 UTC

The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social change in the Russian Empire, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and adopt a socialist form of government following two successive revolutions and a bloody civil war.

1923-1925: Ruhr Crisis

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 19:58:08 UTC

The Occupation of the Ruhr took place from January 1923 to September 1925, when the French invaded the Ruhr region of Germany in order to collect goods to pay for reparations that Germany had failed to pay. The Germans were outraged at the invasion.

1924: Dawes Plan

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 20:00:40 UTC

The Dawes Plan temporarily resolved the issue of the reparations that Germany owed to the Allies of World War I. Enacted in 1924, it ended the crisis in European diplomacy that occurred after French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr in response to Germany's failure to meet its reparations obligations.

1925: Locarno Treaty

bjbernarde — 2024-04-25 20:02:59 UTC

Also known as the Locarno Pact, the treaty guaranteed Germany's western frontier, which the bordering states of France, Germany, and Belgium pledged to treat as inviolable. As signatories of the agreement, Britain and Italy committed themselves to help to repel any armed aggression across the frontier.

1929: Young Plan

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:28:08 UTC

The Young Plan was a 1929 attempt to settle issues surrounding the World War I reparations obligations that Germany owed under the terms of Treaty of Versailles.

Set a final 59 year limit on the reparation payments, ended international control over their delivery

Reactions
- Large opposition amongst the Germans, rightist particularly were upset with Stressmen
Results
- Eventually resulted in the assassination of Stressmen, the Rhine was to be demilitarized by the French

1928: Kellog-Briand Pact

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:30:15 UTC

The Kellogg-Briand Pact was an agreement to outlaw war signed on August 27, 1928. Sometimes called the Pact of Paris for the city in which it was signed, the pact was one of many international efforts to prevent another World War, but it had little effect in stopping the rising militarism of the 1930s or preventing World War II.

1924: Mussolini Begins Dictatorship

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:33:17 UTC

Assassins with ties to Mussolini killed socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti, prompting opposition deputies to boycott the Parliament. On January 3, 1925, Mussolini essentially took responsibility for that assassination in a speech to Parliament that is seen as the start of his Fascist dictatorship.

1922: March on Rome by Mussolini

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:35:56 UTC

An organized mass demonstration and a coup d'état in October 1922 which resulted in Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party (Partito Nazionale Fascista, PNF) ascending to power in the Kingdom of Italy. Shortly after Mussolini is named Prime Minister by the King of Italy.

1929: Stock Market Crash - Beginning of the Great Depression

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:39:02 UTC

The United States stock market crashed in an event known as Black Tuesday. This began a chain of events that led to the Great Depression, a 10-year economic slump that affected all industrialized countries in the world.

1929: Lateran Treaty

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:43:48 UTC

Upon ratification of the Lateran Treaty, the papacy recognized the state of Italy, with Rome as its capital. Italy in return recognized papal sovereignty over the Vatican City, a minute territory of 44 hectares (109 acres), and secured full independence for the pope. A number of additional measures were agreed upon. Article 1, for example, gave the city of Rome a special character as the “centre of the Catholic world and place of pilgrimage.” Article 20 stated that all bishops were to take an oath of loyalty to the state and had to be Italian subjects speaking the Italian language.

1923: Beer Hall Putsch

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 14:47:16 UTC

On November 8–9, 1923, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party led a coalition group in an attempt to overthrow the German government. The plotters hoped to march on Berlin to launch a national revolution. But the insurrection failed miserably. Units of the Munich police force clashed with Nazi stormtroopers as they marched into the city center. The police killed more than a dozen of Hitler’s supporters.

1933: The Enabling Act

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 18:53:38 UTC

The Enabling Act allowed the Reich government to issue laws without the consent of Germany's parliament, laying the foundation for the complete Nazification of German society.

1934: The Night of Long Knives

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 18:56:32 UTC

Night of the Long Knives, in German history, purge of Nazi leaders by Adolf Hitler on June 30, 1934. Fearing that the paramilitary SA had become too powerful, Hitler ordered his elite SS guards to murder the organization’s leaders, including Ernst Röhm. Also killed that night were hundreds of other perceived opponents of Hitler.

1935: Nuremberg Laws

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:00:25 UTC

The Nuremberg Laws were antisemitic and racist laws that were enacted in Nazi Germany on 15 September 1935, at a special meeting of the Reichstag convened during the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party.

1928: Beginning of the First Five Year Plan

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:03:39 UTC

The first five year plan was created in order to initiate rapid and large-scale industrialization across the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

1924: Stalin assumes control of the Soviet Union

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:08:44 UTC

1936: Remilitarization of the Rhineland

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:12:57 UTC

German troops re-occupied the Rhineland, a de-militarised zone according to the Treaty of Versailles. This action was directly against the terms which Germany had accepted after the First World War.

1935-1936: Italo-Ethiopian War

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:15:28 UTC

The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression which was fought between Italy and Ethiopia

1936-1939: Spanish Civil War

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:21:09 UTC

A military revolt against the Republican government of Spain, supported by conservative elements within the country. Seen as the dress Rehearsal of the Second World War.

1938: Austrian Anschluss

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:24:41 UTC

The annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on 13 March 1938. The idea of an Anschluss arose after the 1871 unification of Germany excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire.

1938: Munich Agreement

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:27:38 UTC

An agreement concluded at Munich on 30 September 1938, by Nazi Germany, Great Britain, the French Republic, and Fascist Italy. The agreement provided for the German annexation of part of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland, where more than three million people, mainly ethnic Germans, lived.

1939: Germany Invades Poland (Start of WWII)

bjbernarde — 2024-04-26 19:30:32 UTC

1939-1940: Phoney War (Sitzkrieg)

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 13:22:59 UTC

The Phoney War was an eight-month period at the start of World War II during which there was only one limited military land operation on the Western Front.

1939-1940: Winter War

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 13:24:36 UTC

The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940

1939: Nazi-Soviet Pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact)

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 13:33:48 UTC

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, officially the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union with a secret protocol that partitioned Central and Eastern Europe between them.

1940: Battle of France

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:38:34 UTC

Battle of France, (May 10–June 25, 1940), during World War II, the German invasion of the Low Countries and France. In just over six weeks, German armed forces overran Belgium and the Netherlands, drove the British Expeditionary Force from the Continent, captured Paris, and forced the surrender of the French government.

1940: Escape at Dunkirk

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:39:57 UTC

The evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers during the Second World War from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France,

1940: Battle of Britain

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:41:19 UTC

The Battle of Britain was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe. It was the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces.

1941: Operation Barbarosa

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:44:32 UTC

Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during the Second World War.

1941: Atlantic Charter Signed

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:55:22 UTC

The Atlantic Charter was a statement issued on 14 August 1941 that set out American and British goals for the world after the end of World War II. Eventually signed by the Soviets as well.

1942: Soviet Winter Offensive

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:56:47 UTC

Moved to unseat the Germans from their advanced positions in the Ukraine
Support of the Soviets continued to rise in Europe as the country miraculously survived the Nazis and were mounting a successful counteroffensive.

1942-1943: Battle of Stalingrad

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 14:58:22 UTC

The Battle of Stalingrad occurred on the Eastern Front of World War II, beginning when Nazi Germany and the Axis powers became locked in a protracted struggle with the Soviet Union for control over the city of Stalingrad in what is now southern Russia.

1942: Battle of El Alamein

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:01:48 UTC

Fought near the western frontier of Egypt between 23 October and 4 November 1942, El Alamein was the climax and turning point of the North African campaign in the Second World War. The Axis army of Italy and Germany suffered a decisive defeat by the British Eighth Army.

1943: Fall of Mussolini

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:03:21 UTC

On July 25, 1943, Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator of Italy, is voted out of power by his own Grand Council and arrested upon leaving a meeting with King Vittorio Emanuele, who tells Il Duce that the war is lost.

1943: Tehran Conference

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:05:09 UTC

Meeting between Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt
Agreement was reached that there would be a major allied invasion in France in May of 1944
Eisenhower would be the commander
Soviets would launch an equal offensive in the East

1943: Liberation of Rome and Italy by the Allies

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:07:21 UTC

Liberation of Rome marked the beginning of post-fascist politics
Pro democracy sentiment throughout Italy

1944: D-Day Invasion

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:10:00 UTC

Attack was launched on a 60 mile long arc of Normandy
- Close enough to provide cover from the RAF
Allied attack
- Allies suffered heavy casualties but overcame the Germans
German resistance and leadership
- Believed the landings were a feint and the main invasion was in Calais (narrowest area of the channel)
  - Held his armed forces in reserve waiting for the main attack until it was too late
General Leclerc
- Commander of the French armored division
- Freed France and De Gaulle became the universally recognized liberator

1944-1945: Battle of the Bulge

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:11:54 UTC

Last German attack that was supposed to break through the weakest point in the allied lines and disorganize their rear - capturing the base at Antwerp
Caught the allies off guard and a great “bulge” was created in the allied line

Results
- Allies defeated the Germans last effort but it disorganized their time table of invasion into the reich

1945: Yalta Conference

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:16:44 UTC

Meeting of Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill where the following was decided:

Agreement to the priority of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.
Occupation zones of Germany and Berlin established
- Stalin agreed that France would have a fourth occupation zone in Germany if it was formed from the American and the British zones.
Germany would undergo demilitarization and denazification.

1945: Battle of Berlin

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:18:18 UTC

Last battle of the war in Europe. Led to the end of the defeat of the Nazis and the suicide of Adolf Hitler.

1945: Potsdam Conference

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:24:13 UTC

A meeting of Truman, Stalin, and Churchill (later Clement Atlee) to discuss postwar peace/organization.

Agreements
- disarmament and demilitarization of Germany
- arrest and prosecute war criminals
- Poland divided based on the Curzon line
- German government remade into a democracy

1948: The Marshall Plan

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:26:27 UTC

US economic assistance to Europe
- Offered aid to all European countries (even communist ones)
  - Poles and Czechs would have accepted but were denied access by the USSR
USSR would permit no communist participation
- Rolled out COMECON to shape E. European economic recovery

1948-1949: Berlin Airlift

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:28:11 UTC

The Soviets cut off all roads and railways to Western Berlin
- attempt to force the city government into line
Western powers responded by airlifting supplies into W. Berlin

1949: Creation of NATO

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:35:25 UTC

Included the U.S and Canada as well as 10 European nations
Created for mutual protection
- military support would be provided to any country who was attacked
- each nation would provide a proportionate amount of military and monetary support

1950-1953: The Korean War

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:38:49 UTC

June 1950 Communist North Korea invaded America-endorsed S. Korea
UN supported US intervention and agreed to supply troop contingents.
Causes raw material prices to skyrocket, leads to inflation

1955: Creation of the Warsaw Pact

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:40:25 UTC

A collective defense treaty established by the Soviet Union and seven other Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe: Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania (Albania withdrew in 1968).

1953: The Death of Stalin

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:42:00 UTC

1956: Khrushchev's De-stalinization speech

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:43:48 UTC

In a speech to the communist party NK detailed the “crimes of the Stalin Era”

Distanced himself from Stalin to avoid association with his crimes/win favor with the West
Admitted there were ‘Several ways to reach socialism”
- Text leaked out and started an ideological “thaw”

1956: Hungarian Uprising

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:45:45 UTC

The uprising was an attempted countrywide revolution against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and the policies caused by the government's subordination to the Soviet Union.

1957: Sputnik is launched into Orbit

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:47:33 UTC

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program.

1961: Soviet Union launch first man into space

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:49:10 UTC

Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union was the first human in space. His vehicle, Vostok 1 circled Earth at a speed of 27,400 kilometers per hour with the flight lasting 108 minutes.

1962: Cuban Missile Crisis

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:52:06 UTC

A 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey were matched by Soviet deployments of nuclear missiles in Cuba.

1963: Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:57:08 UTC

An agreement reached by the UK, US, and USSR to ban all atmospheric, outer space, or underwater nuclear tests.

1972: Anti - ICBM treaty

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 15:59:35 UTC

Limit ICBM launch sites to two
- 100 ICBMs per site
- eventually reduced to one
Neither side was able to defend more than a fraction of its territory
- early warning radar systems to be placed at the periphery

1975: Helsinki Final Act

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 16:00:42 UTC

The Helsinki Final Act was an agreement signed by 35 nations that concluded the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, held in Helsinki, Finland. The multifaceted Act addressed a range of prominent global issues and in so doing had a far-reaching effect on the Cold War and U.S.-Soviet relations.

1985: Gorbachev assumes control of the Soviet Union

bjbernarde — 2024-04-29 20:17:37 UTC

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes soviet premier and begins to institute two large reforms.

Glasnost
- Wish to release the soviet media and culture from the grip of censorship, more truthful reporting, more publication of books and articles critical of the communist party, and an honest look at Soviet history.
Perestroika
- Wished to transfer power from the communist party to the federal government
- Gorbachev moved to give citizens a far greater say in government
- Article VI
  - Changed the communist party’s “leading position” in government in favor of a multi party system