-
: USSR ‘recognises’ their communist puppet government in Poland as the provisional government; US and UK refuse to do so, preferring the exiles in London.
USSR ‘recognises’ their communist puppet government in Poland as the provisional government; US and UK refuse to do so, preferring the exiles in London. -
Period: to
Cold War
-
Period: to
Yalta
Yalta summit between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin; promises are given to support democratically elected governments. -
Period: to
Coup Romania
Communist dominated coup in Romania. -
Agreements signed between newly ‘liberated’ communist Eastern nations and USSR to work together.
Agreements signed between newly ‘liberated’ communist Eastern nations and USSR to work together. -
Germany surrenders
Germany surrenders; end of World War Two in Europe. -
Period: to
Potsdam Conference between US, UK and USSR.
Potsdam Conference between US, UK and USSR. -
US and UK recognise communist dominated Polish government after it allows some members of the Government-in-exile to join.
US and UK recognise communist dominated Polish government after it allows some members of the Government-in-exile to join. -
US drops the first atomic bomb, on Hiroshima.
US drops the first atomic bomb, on Hiroshima. -
George Kennan sends the Long Telegram advocating Containment.
George Kennan sends the Long Telegram advocating Containment. -
Churchill gives his Iron Curtain Speech.
Churchill gives his Iron Curtain Speech. -
Social Unity Party formed in Germany on Stalin’s orders.
Social Unity Party formed in Germany on Stalin’s orders. -
Anglo-American Bizone formed in Berlin
Anglo-American Bizone formed in Berlin, angers USSR. -
Truman Doctrine announced.
The Truman Doctrine was an international relations policy set forth by the U.S. President Harry Truman in a speech on March 12, 1947, which stated that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent them from falling into the Soviet sphere. -
Marshall Plan aid program Announced.
The Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was the American initiative to aid Europe, in which the United States gave economic support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to prevent the spread of Soviet Communism. -
Cominform Founded to organise international communism.
Cominform Founded to organise international communism. -
London Foreign Ministers’ Conference breaks up
London Foreign Ministers’ Conference breaks up without agreement. -
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
Comecon, Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, created to organise Eastern bloc economies. -
Communist Coup in Czechoslovakia.
Communist Coup in Czechoslovakia. -
Brussels Pact
Brussels Pact Signed between UK, France, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg to organise mutual defence. -
Six Power Conference
Six Power Conference recommends a West German Constituent Assembly. -
New currency introduced in Western Zones of Germany.
New currency introduced in Western Zones of Germany. -
Berlin Blockade Begins.
Berlin Blockade Begins. -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty signed: NATO formed. -
Berlin Blockade lifted.
Berlin Blockade lifted. -
Basic Law approved
‘Basic Law’ approved for Federal Republic of Germany (FRG): Bizone merges with French zone to form new state. -
People’s Congress approves German Democratic Republic Constitution in East Germany.
People’s Congress approves German Democratic Republic Constitution in East Germany. -
USSR detonates first atomic bomb.
USSR detonates first atomic bomb. -
Adenauer becomes first Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany
Adenauer becomes first Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany -
Period: to
Communist People’s Republic of China proclaimed
Communist People’s Republic of China proclaimed -
German Democratic Republic (GDR) formed in East Germany.
German Democratic Republic (GDR) formed in East Germany. -
NSC-68 finalised
NSC-68 finalised in US: advocates a more active, military, policy of containment and causes a large increase in defence spending. -
Korean War begins
Korean War begins -
Pleven Plan
Pleven Plan approved by France: rearmed West German soldiers to be part of a European Defence Community (EDC). -
The Schuman Plan
European Coal and Steel Community Treaty signed -
Stalin proposes a united, but neutral, Germany; rejected by the West.
Stalin proposes a united, but neutral, Germany; rejected by the West. -
European Defence Community (EDC) treaty signed by Western nations.
European Defence Community (EDC) treaty signed by Western nations. -
Stalin dies
Stalin dies -
Period: to
Unrest in the GDR, suppressed by Soviet troops.
Unrest in the GDR, suppressed by Soviet troops. -
Period: to
Korean War ends.
Korean War ends. -
France rejects the EDC.
France rejects the EDC. -
Khrushchev begins De-Stalinization by attacking Stalin in a speech at 20th Party Congress.
Khrushchev begins De-Stalinization by attacking Stalin in a speech at 20th Party Congress. -
FRG becomes a sovereign state; joins NATO
FRG becomes a sovereign state; joins NATO -
Eastern Communist nations sign the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance
Eastern Communist nations sign the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance -
State Treaty
State Treaty between forces occupying Austria: they withdraw and make it a neutral state. -
Period: to
Unrest in Poland
Unrest in Poland -
: GDR recognised as a sovereign state by USSR. FRG announces the Hallstein Doctrine in response.
: GDR recognised as a sovereign state by USSR. FRG announces the Hallstein Doctrine in response. -
Period: to
Hungarian Uprising crushed
Hungarian Uprising crushed -
Treaty of Rome signed
Treaty of Rome signed, creating the European Economic Community with the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. -
Start of Second Berlin crisis
Khrushchev calls for a peace treaty with the two German states to settle borders and for Western nations to leave Berlin -
The Berlin Ultimatum issued by Khrushchev
Russia gives West six months to solve Berlin situation and withdraw their troops or it will hand East Berlin over to East Germany. -
Period: to
Communist government under Fidel Castro set up in Cuba
Communist government under Fidel Castro set up in Cuba -
USSR shoots down US U-2 spy plane over Russian territory.
USSR shoots down US U-2 spy plane over Russian territory. -
Period: to
Paris Summit closes
Paris Summit closes after Russia pulls out over U-2 affair. -
Communist insurgents in Malaya are defeated.
Communist insurgents in Malaya are defeated. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower closes the U.S. embassy in Havana and severs diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Dwight D. Eisenhower closes the U.S. embassy in Havana and severs diplomatic relations with Cuba. -
John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States.
John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States. -
"We will put a man on the moon"
John F. Kennedy announces the US intention to put a man on the moon - kickstarting the Apollo program -
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall built as east-west borders closed in Berlin and GDR. -
The Soviet Union detonates the Tsar Bomba,
The Soviet Union detonates the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful thermonuclear weapon ever tested, with an explosive yield of some 50 megatons. -
Period: to
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis brings world to brink of nuclear war. -
Test Ban treaty between UK, USSR and US
Test Ban treaty between UK, USSR and US limits nuclear testing. France and China reject it and develop their own weapons. -
Khrushchev removed from power
Khrushchev removed from power. -
US begins bombing of Vietnam
US begins bombing of Vietnam; by 1966 400,000 US troops are in the country. -
South African Border War begins
South African Border War begins -
Non-Proliferation Treaty s
Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by UK, USSR and US: agree not to assist non-signatories in gaining nuclear weapons. -
Period: to
Crushing of Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia.
Crushing of Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia. -
Period: to
Brezhnev Doctrine Outlined.
Brezhnev Doctrine. the doctrine expounded by Leonid Brezhnev in November 1968 affirming the right of the Soviet Union to intervene in the affairs of Communist countries to strengthen Communism. -
Brandt becomes Chancellor of FRG,
Brandt becomes Chancellor of FRG, continues policy of Ostpolitik developed from his position as Foreign Minister. -
Period: to
Start of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between US and USSR.
Start of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between US and USSR. -
USSR-FRG Moscow Treaty
USSR-FRG Moscow Treaty: both recognise each others territories and agree to only peaceful methods of border change. -
Warsaw Treaty
Warsaw Treaty between FRG and Poland: both recognize each others territories, agree to only peaceful methods of border change and increased trade. -
Four Power Treaty on Berlin
Four Power Treaty on Berlin between US, UK, France and USSR over access from West Berlin to FRG and relation of West Berlin to FRG. -
SALT I treaty signed
SALT I treaty signed (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks). -
Basic Treaty between FRG and GDR
Basic Treaty between FRG and GDR: FRG gives up Hallstein Doctrine, recognises GDR as sovereign state, both to have seats at UN. -
Prague Treaty between FRG and Czechoslovakia.
Prague Treaty between FRG and Czechoslovakia, which the two States recognized each other diplomatically and declared the 1938 Munich Agreements to be null and void - by acknowledging the inviolability of their common borders and abandoning all territorial claims. -
Period: to
SALT II negotiations begin.
SALT II was a series of talks between United States and Soviet negotiators from 1972 to 1979 which sought to curtail the manufacture of strategic nuclear weapons. It was a continuation of the SALT I talks and was led by representatives from both countries. SALT II was the first nuclear arms treaty which assumed real reductions in strategic forces to 2,250 of all categories of delivery vehicles on both sides. -
Helsinki Agreement
Helsinki Agreement signed between US, Canada and 33 European States including Russia: states the ‘inviolability’ of frontiers, gives principles for state peaceful interaction, co-operation in economics and science as well as humanitarian issues. -
Period: to
Soviet SS-20 medium range missiles stationed in Eastern Europe.
Soviet SS-20 medium range missiles stationed in Eastern Europe. -
Death of Mao Zedong.
Death of Mao Zedong. -
The Ogaden War ends with a cease-fire.
The Ogaden War ends with a cease-fire. -
President of Afghanistan Sardar Mohammed Daoud's government is overthrown when he is murdered in a coup led by pro-communist rebels.
President of Afghanistan Sardar Mohammed Daoud's government is overthrown when he is murdered in a coup led by pro-communist rebels. -
A Communist regime is installed in Afghanistan.
A Communist regime is installed in Afghanistan. -
Vietnam deposes the Khmer Rouge and installs a pro-Vietnam, pro-Soviet government.
Vietnam deposes the Khmer Rouge and installs a pro-Vietnam, pro-Soviet government. -
The Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ousts the pro-Western Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and installs a theocracy under Ayatollah Khomeini. CENTO dissolves as a result. -
Sino-Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War, China launches a punitive attack on North Vietnam to punish it for invading Cambodia. -
War breaks out in El Salvador between Marxist-led insurgents and the U.S.-backed government.
War breaks out in El Salvador between Marxist-led insurgents and the U.S.-backed government. -
Coup d'état in Argentina
Coup d'état in Argentina. A Civil war against Argentine-based guerrilla warfare starts. -
Period: to
SALT II treaty signed; never ratified by the US Senate.
SALT II treaty signed; never ratified by the US Senate. -
U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, sign the SALT II agreement, outlining limitations and guidelines for nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, sign the SALT II agreement, outlining limitations and guidelines for nuclear weapons. -
Marxist-led Sandinista revolutionaries overthrow the U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. The Contra insurgency begins shortly thereafter.
Marxist-led Sandinista revolutionaries overthrow the U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. The Contra insurgency begins shortly thereafter. -
Islamist Iranian students take over the American embassy
Islamist Iranian students take over the American embassy in support of the Iranian Revolution. The Iran hostage crisis lasts until January 20, 1981. -
he Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
he Soviet Union invades Afghanistan to oust Hafizullah Amin, resulting in the end of Détente. -
Ronald Reagan inaugurated 40th President
Ronald Reagan inaugurated 40th President of the United States. Reagan is elected on a platform opposed to the concessions of détente. -
The United States and its allies boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in moscow
The United States and its allies boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in moscow -
Gdańsk Agreement
In Poland the Gdańsk Agreement is signed after a wave of strikes which began at the Lenin Shipyards in Gdańsk. The agreement allows greater civil rights, such as the establishment of a trade union independent of communist party control. -
Martial law in Poland
Martial law in Poland to crush Solidarity movement. -
Iran hostage crisis ends
Iran hostage crisis ends -
Gulf of Sidra Incident
Gulf of Sidra Incident: Libyan planes attack U.S. jets in the Gulf of Sidra, which Libya has illegally annexed. Two Libyan jets are shot down; no American losses are suffered. -
A Soviet submarine, the U137, runs aground not far from the Swedish naval base at Karlskrona
A Soviet submarine, the U137, runs aground not far from the Swedish naval base at Karlskrona -
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) begins to support anti-Sandinista Contras.
The Central Intelligence Agency begins to support anti-Sandinista Contras. -
Caribbean Basin Initiative
President Ronald Reagan announces the Caribbean Basin Initiative to prevent the overthrow of governments in the region by the forces of communism. -
President Ronald Reagan signs P.L. 97-157
President Ronald Reagan signs P.L. 97-157 denouncing the government of the Soviet Union should cease its abuses of the basic human rights of its citizens -
Falklands War
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, starting the Falklands War. -
Spain joins NATO
Spain joins NATO -
Israel invades Lebanon
Israel invades Lebanon to end raids and clashes with Syrian troops based there. -
Falkland Islands liberated by British task force. End of the Falklands War.
Falkland Islands liberated by British task force. End of the Falklands War. -
Yuri Andropov becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Union.
Yuri Andropov becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Union. -
"evil empire"
In speech to the National Association of Evangelicals, Reagan labels the Soviet Union an "evil empire". -
STAR WARS!!
Ronald Reagan proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative -
Able Archer 83
Soviet anti-aircraft misinterpret a test of NATO's nuclear warfare procedures as a fake cover for an actual NATO attack; in response, Soviet nuclear forces are put on high alert. -
Civilian Korean Air Lines Flight 007, with 269 passengers, including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald, is shot down by Soviet interceptor aircraft.
Civilian Korean Air Lines Flight 007, with 269 passengers, including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald, is shot down by Soviet interceptor aircraft. -
U.S. forces invade the Caribbean island of Grenada
U.S. forces invade the Caribbean island of Grenada in an attempt to overthrow the Marxist military government, expel Cuban troops, and abort the construction of a Soviet-funded airstrip. -
Konstantin Chernenko is named General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party.
Konstantin Chernenko is named General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party. -
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union.
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union. -
Soviets boycott olmpics
Various allies of the Soviet Union boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics (July 28 - August 12) in Los Angeles. -
Indira Gandhi assassinated.
Indira Gandhi assassinated. -
Soviet Union begins what it has announced is a 5-month unilateral moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons
Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet Union begins what it has announced is a 5-month unilateral moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons. The Reagan administration dismisses the dramatic move as nothing more than propaganda and refuses to follow suit. Gorbachev declares several extensions, but the United States fails to reciprocate, and the moratorium comes to an end on February 5, 1987. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet for the first time at a summit in Geneva
Reagan and Gorbachev meet for the first time at a summit in Geneva, Switzerland, where they agree to two (later three) more summits. -
U.S. planes bomb Libya
U.S. planes bomb Libya in Operation El Dorado Canyon. -
Chernobyl
Chernobyl disaster: A Soviet nuclear power plant in the Ukraine explodes, resulting in the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. -
Period: to
Reykjavik Summit
Reykjavik Summit: A breakthrough in nuclear arms control. -
Ronald Reagan signs into law an act of Congress approving $100 million of military and "humanitarian" aid for the Contras.
Ronald Reagan signs into law an act of Congress approving $100 million of military and "humanitarian" aid for the Contras. -
Iran-Contra affair
The Reagan administration publicly announces that it has been selling arms to Iran in exchange for hostages and illegally transferring the profits to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. -
'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
During a visit to Berlin, Germany, U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously challenges Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev in a speech: -
The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
Angola begins and further intensifies the South African Border War. -
Iran-Contra final hearing
After nearly a year of hearings into the Iran-Contra scandal, the Joint Congressional Investigating Committee issues its final report. It concludes that the scandal, involving a complicated plan whereby some of the funds from secret weapons sales to Iran were used to finance the Contra war against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua, was one in which the administration of Ronald Reagan exhibited "secrecy, deception, and disdain for the law." -
START I Treaty
he Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Some later claim this was the official end of the Cold War. Gorbachev agrees to START I treaty. -
The Soviets begin withdrawing from Afghanistan.
The Soviets begin withdrawing from Afghanistan. -
Period: to
NF Treaty ratified
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Moscow. INF Treaty ratified. When asked if he still believes that the Soviet Union is still an evil empire, Reagan replies he was talking about "another time, another era." -
Soviet Union will no longer militarily interfere with Eastern Europe
Gorbachev announces in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly that the Soviet Union will no longer militarily interfere with Eastern Europe. -
South Africa withdraws from South West Africa
South Africa withdraws from South West Africa -
Gulf of Sidra incident
Gulf of Sidra incident between America and Libya, similar to the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident. -
George H. W. Bush is inaugurated as 41st President of the United States.
George H. W. Bush is inaugurated as 41st President of the United States. -
Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan.
Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Beijing protests are crushed by the communist Chinese government, resulting in an unknown number of deaths. -
Semi-free elections in Poland
Semi-free elections in Poland show complete lack of backing for the Communist Party; Solidarity trade union wins all available seats in the Parliament and 99% in the Senate. -
Revolutions in Eastern Europe
Soviet reforms and their state of bankruptcy have allowed Eastern Europe to rise up against the Communist governments there. The Berlin Wall is breached when Politburo spokesman, Günter Schabowski, not fully informed of the technicalities or procedures of the newly agreed lifting of travel restrictions, mistakenly announces at a news conference in East Berlin that the borders have been opened. -
Malta Summit
At the end of the Malta Summit, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George H. W. Bush declare that a long-lasting era of peace has begun. Many observers regard this summit as the official beginning of the end of the Cold War. -
Democracy is restored in Chile.
Democracy is restored in Chile. -
Václav Havel becomes President of the now free Czechoslovakia.
Václav Havel becomes President of the now free Czechoslovakia. -
McDonalds in Moscow!!!!!
The first McDonald's in Moscow, Russia opens. -
Lithuania becomes independent.
Lithuania becomes independent. -
Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning Gulf War.
Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning Gulf War. -
Boris Yeltsin elected as president of Russia
Boris Yeltsin elected as president of Russia -
Germany is reunified.
Germany is reunified. -
Period: to
Romanian Revolution
Rioters overthrow the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu, executing him and his wife, Elena. Romania was the only Eastern Bloc country to violently overthrow its Communist regime or to execute its leaders. -
Gulf War ends.
Gulf War ends. -
Period: to
Warsaw Pact is formally dissolved
Warsaw Pact is formally dissolved -
Soviet coup attempt of 1991
The August coup occurs in response to a new union treaty to be signed on August 20. -
End of cold war
US President George H. W. Bush, after receiving a phone call from Boris Yeltsin, delivers a Christmas Day speech acknowledging the end of the Cold War. -
Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the USSR. The hammer and sickle is lowered for the last time over the Kremlin.
Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the USSR. The hammer and sickle is lowered for the last time over the Kremlin. -
The Council of Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR recognizes the dissolution of the Soviet Union and decides to dissolve itself.
The Council of Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR recognizes the dissolution of the Soviet Union and decides to dissolve itself. -
All Soviet institutions cease operations.
All Soviet institutions cease operations.