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Surrender of Nazi Germany
The Cold War is generally considered to have started after World War II, with the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, when the uneasy alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union began to crumble due to disagreements over the future of Europe -
Berlin Blockade
One of the earliest major "battles" of the Cold War was the Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948-1949), where the Soviet Union attempted to starve West Berlin by cutting off access to the city -
Formation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union -
Death of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin, second leader of the Soviet Union, died on 5 March 1953 at his Kuntsevo Dacha after suffering a stroke, at age 74 -
Warsaw Pact formed
The Soviet Union formed this alliance as a counterbalance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a collective security alliance concluded between the United States, Canada and Western European nations in 1949. -
Launch of Sputnik
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the earth's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I. The successful launch came as a shock to experts and citizens in the United States, who had hoped that the United States would accomplish this scientific advancement first. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista's regime by the 26th of July Movement and the establishment of a new Cuban government led by Fidel Castro in 1959. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed invasion of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles supported by the United States. The invasion took place on April 17, 1961, and was defeated within two days.