-
Truman Doctrine announced
The Truman Doctrine was formally announced by President Harry S. Truman on March 12, 1947 in a speech to a joint session of Congress. In this speech, Truman outlined a new US foreign policy of providing aid to nations threatened by communism, initially focusing on Greece and Turkey -
Marshall Plan Proposed
The Marshall Plan, officially the European Recovery Program, was a post-World War II initiative by the United States to provide economic aid to Western Europe. It aimed to rebuild war-torn economies, prevent the spread of communism, and foster political and economic stability. -
Cominform Established
Cominform was officially established on 5 October 1947 with the intended purpose of coordinating actions between European communist parties under the direction of the Soviet Union. -
Czechoslovak coup
The 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état was a period in February 1948 when the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, seized control of the government, effectively ending multi-party democracy in the country. The coup resulted in a Communist-dominated government being formed, marking the beginning of four decades of communist rule. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
The Berlin Blockade, initiated on June 24, 1948, saw the Soviet Union cut off all land and water access to West Berlin, a move designed to force the Western powers to relinquish control of the city. This action aimed to pressure the United States, Great Britain, and France, who controlled West Berlin, to unify the city under Soviet control. The blockade lasted until May 12, 1949, when it was lifted. -
Berlin Airlift Begins
The Berlin Airlift, also known as "Operation Vittles" and "Operation Plainfare," began on June 26, 1948, after the Soviet Union blocked land and rail access to West Berlin. This massive resupply operation was initiated by the Western Allies (United States and the United Kingdom) to counter the Soviet blockade and prevent West Berlin from being starved out. -
NATO Formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 as a military alliance to counter the perceived threat of Soviet expansion after World War II. The alliance was based on the principle of collective defense, meaning that an attack on one member nation would be considered an attack on all. -
Soviet Union Tests Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union first tested an atomic bomb, codenamed "Joe-1" by the United States, on August 29, 1949, at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. The device was a replica of the US "Fat Man" bomb, with an estimated yield of 22 kilotons, according to Atomic Archive. The explosion was described as a bright light, a white fireball, and a powerful blast wave, according to PBS. -
People's Rebublic of China Established
The People's Republic of China (PRC) was established on October 1, 1949, when Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), proclaimed its founding in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. -
U.S. NSC-68 adopted
NSC-68, officially titled "United States Objectives and Programs for National Security," was a top-secret National Security Council report adopted in April 1950. It outlined the U.S. strategy to contain the spread of Communism, primarily targeting the Soviet Union, and became a cornerstone of Cold War policy. -
Start of Korean War
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. This invasion, driven by a desire to unify the peninsula under a communist regime, resulted in a large-scale conflict. The United Nations condemned the attack and sent forces, including American troops, to defend South Korea. -
China enters Korean War
China entered the Korean War on November 25-26, 1950, launching a counteroffensive against UN forces, including the US and South Korea. This intervention significantly altered the course of the conflict, pushing UN forces back south of the 38th parallel and leading to the recapture of Seoul by communist forces. -
General MacArthur dismissed
General Douglas MacArthur was relieved of his duties by President Harry S. Truman on April 11, 1951, due to his public disagreements with the president's strategy for the Korean War and his insubordination. Truman cited MacArthur's inability to "give wholehearted support" to the president's policies as the reason for his dismissal. -
Treaty of San Francisco signed
The Treaty of San Francisco, officially named the Treaty of Peace with Japan, was signed on September 8, 1951. It marked the end of the state of war between Japan and the Allied Powers following World War II. The treaty established Japan's sovereignty, restored its status as an independent nation, and addressed reparations and security arrangements. -
Mutual Security Act passed
The Mutual Security Act of 1951 was passed on October 10, 1951. It authorized military, economic, and technical assistance to friendly countries, aiming to strengthen their defenses and promote global security. The act also established the Mutual Security Administration to oversee foreign aid programs. -
Stalin proposes German reunification
In March 1952, Joseph Stalin, then the Soviet leader, proposed German reunification and neutralization in a document known as the "Stalin Note". The note, delivered to the Western Allies, suggested a unified and neutral Germany, with no conditions on economic policies and guarantees for basic human rights, including freedom of speech and political activity. -
Greece and Turkey join NATO
Greece and Turkey officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on February 18, 1952. This marked the first enlargement of NATO after its founding in 1949. The decision to include them was made at the Ottawa Conference in September 1951, following discussions about their potential contributions to the alliance's security, particularly on the southern flank against the Soviet Union. -
U.S. tests first hydrogen bomb
The U.S. first tested a hydrogen bomb on November 1, 1952, at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, as part of Operation Ivy. This test, codenamed Mike, was a fully-fledged test of a multi-megaton hydrogen bomb, using the Teller-Ulam design. -
Death of Stalin
Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953, at the age of 74, after suffering a stroke at his Kuntsevo Dacha. He was given a state funeral in Moscow on March 9th, with four days of national mourning declared. His body was initially placed in Lenin's Mausoleum and later moved to the Kremlin Wall Necropolis in 1961 -
End of Korean War
The Korean War officially ended on July 27, 1953, with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. This agreement established a demilitarized zone and suspended hostilities, but it didn't lead to a formal peace treaty. While the fighting ceased, the Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war. -
Eisenhower's “Atoms for Peace” speech
Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" speech was delivered to the United Nations General Assembly on December 8, 1953. The speech advocated for the peaceful uses of atomic energy, urging nations to collaborate in developing non-military applications like agriculture, medicine, and power generation. It also proposed the creation of an International Atomic Energy Agency under the UN to facilitate this collaboration. -
Geneva Conference
The Geneva Conference took place from April 26 to July 21, 1954. It was a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at addressing issues arising from the Korean War and the First Indochina War. -
CIA-backed coup in Guatemala
The CIA-backed coup in Guatemala, Operation PBSuccess, took place on June 27, 1954. It resulted in the overthrow of democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán. This operation was a covert action aimed at removing Arbenz, who was perceived as a threat due to his land reform policies and perceived communist ties. -
U.S. signs SEATO pact
The United States signed the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, also known as the Manila Pact and the SEATO pact, on September 8, 1954, in Manila, Philippines. This treaty established the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), a defensive alliance aimed at protecting Southeast Asia and the western Pacific from external aggression and internal subversion. -
Warsaw Pact formed
The Warsaw Pact, officially the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, was formed on May 14, 1955. It was a military alliance primarily formed by the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern European countries under Soviet influence. The Pact was created as a response to the remilitarization of West Germany and its entry into NATO, and served as a counterbalance to the Western alliance. -
Austria gains independence
Austria officially regained its independence on May 15, 1955, with the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in Vienna. This treaty ended the four-power Allied occupation and declared Austria a free, independent, and neutral state. -
Geneva Summit
The Geneva Summit, specifically the one in 1955, was a crucial meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. It took place on November 19-20, 1955, in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit focused on the Cold War arms race and the possibility of reducing nuclear weapons. -
Khrushchev’s “Secret Speech”
Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" was a pivotal moment in Soviet history, delivered to a closed session of the 20th Party Congress on February 25, 1956. The speech, officially titled "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences," exposed the atrocities and excesses of Stalin's rule, including the political purges and the cult of personality that surrounded him. -
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, a significant international event in 1956, began on July 26, 1956, when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company. This action, which transferred control of the canal from a mostly British and French company to the Egyptian government, sparked a series of events involving Israel, the United Kingdom, and France. -
Hungarian Uprising
The Hungarian Uprising, which began on October 23, 1956, was crushed on November 4, 1956, when Soviet tanks entered Budapest. The uprising, which was a countrywide revolution against the communist government and its policies imposed by the Soviet Union, was ultimately suppressed by Soviet forces. -
Eisenhower Doctrine announced
The Eisenhower Doctrine, also known as the Middle East Doctrine, was announced by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 5, 1957. It was a policy that pledged U.S. support to Middle Eastern nations threatened by armed aggression, particularly those controlled by "international communism". This meant that any Middle Eastern country could request American economic assistance or, in the case of armed aggression, military aid from the United States. -
Sputnik launched
Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. It was a metal sphere, about the size of a basketball (58 cm or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighing 83.6 kg (183.9 pounds). -
Gaither Report released
The Gaither Report, formally titled "Deterrence and Survival in the Nuclear Age," was released to President Eisenhower on November 7, 1957. It was a report from the Security Resources Panel of the Science Advisory Committee, often referred to as the Gaither Report, and was a study of the perceived threat of nuclear war from the Soviet Union. -
U.S. deploys IRBMs in Europe
In 1958, the United States began deploying Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) to Europe as part of a larger effort to strengthen the NATO alliance and deter potential Soviet aggression. While the exact date varies by location, the initial deployments to the United Kingdom, Italy, and Turkey began in 1958. The deployment was a key part of President Eisenhower's "New Look" defense policy, which emphasized strategic nuclear capabilities over traditional ground forces. -
Second Berlin Crisis begins
The Second Berlin Crisis began in November 1958 and lasted until the construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961. It was triggered by a Soviet ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of Western forces from Berlin. The crisis was a direct result of the division of Germany and Berlin, where the Western powers maintained a presence in their sectors despite the Soviet's desire for reunification. -
NASA established
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was officially established on July 29, 1958, with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act. It officially began operations on October 1, 1958, inheriting the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and its facilities. -
Cuban Revolution succeeds
The Cuban Revolution successfully overthrew Fulgencio Batista's regime on January 1, 1959. This event marked the beginning of a new era in Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, and his forces, who had successfully ousted Batista -
Geneva talks on Berlin
The Geneva talks on Berlin, specifically the Conference of Foreign Ministers, took place in two phases: May 11 - June 20, 1959, and July 13 - August 5, 1959. These talks were a significant attempt to address the Berlin Crisis, which had been triggered by Nikita Khrushchev's ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of Western forces from Berlin. -
Khrushchev visits the U.S
Nikita Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, visited the United States from September 15th to 27th, 1959. This marked the first state visit of a Soviet or Russian leader to the US. Khrushchev also became the first Soviet leader to travel to the Western Hemisphere. The visit generated significant media attention and was part of a broader effort to improve relations between the two nations. -
U-2 incident
The U-2 incident was a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union that began with the shooting down of a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance plane over the Soviet Union in 1960 -
Congo Crisis begins
The Congo Crisis, also known as the Congolese Crisis, began almost immediately after the Democratic Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960, and lasted until November 25, 1965. The crisis was triggered by a combination of factors, including a military mutiny in July 1960, the secession of the Katanga province, and the influence of Cold War politics. -
Paris Summit collapses
The Paris Summit collapsed on May 16, 1960, primarily due to the U-2 incident just days earlier. The U-2 incident involved a U.S. spy plane being shot down over Soviet territory, leading to the capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers. This event, coupled with the Soviet Union's demand for an apology from President Eisenhower and an end to U-2 flights, ultimately led to the collapse of the summit. -
Yuri Gagarin orbits Earth
Yuri Gagarin's historic orbital flight occurred on April 12, 1961. He became the first human to orbit Earth, completing one full orbit aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. The mission lasted 108 minutes. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion fails
The Bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed U.S.-backed operation to overthrow Fidel Castro's government in Cuba, took place from April 17 to 20, 1961. The invasion force, comprised of Cuban exiles, landed on the southern coast of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, but was swiftly defeated by Castro's armed forces. -
Berlin Wall built
The Berlin Wall was built on August 13, 1961, and stood until November 9, 1989. It was a fortified concrete barrier that physically divided East and West Berlin, becoming a symbol of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain. The wall was constructed to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West and to prevent the West from influencing the East. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis, a pivotal moment in Cold War history, took place in October 1962. It involved a standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. The crisis lasted for about two weeks, from October 16 to October 28, during which the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war. -
U.S. blockade of Cuba
The U.S. blockade of Cuba occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. It was implemented in response to the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles being installed in Cuba by the United States, which threatened a nuclear attack on American soil. The blockade, also known as a naval quarantine, aimed to prevent the Soviets from bringing in more military supplies and demanded the removal of the existing missiles. -
Direct "Hotline" established
The "direct hotline" between the US and the Soviet Union, also known as the "hotline" or "red phone," was established on June 20, 1962. This agreement, officially titled the "Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Regarding the Establishment of a Direct Communications Link," aimed to improve communication and reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war. -
JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech
JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech was delivered on June 26, 1963, in West Berlin. It was a powerful declaration of solidarity with the people of West Berlin during the height of the Cold War. In the speech, Kennedy famously stated, "Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was 'civis romanus sum.' Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is 'Ich bin ein Berliner!'". -
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed
The Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), also known as the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), was signed on August 5, 1963, in Moscow. It banned nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and under water, but allowed underground tests. The treaty aimed to reduce the risk of radioactive fallout and promote disarmament. -
Diem assassinated in South Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem, the president of South Vietnam, was assassinated on November 2, 1963, following a coup d'état by South Vietnamese military forces. Diem and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, were captured and killed after being overthrown on the previous day. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident refers to a series of events in August 1964 that involved alleged attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin by North Vietnamese forces. The incident is often cited as a catalyst for increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Khrushchev removed from power
Nikita Khrushchev was removed from his post as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Premier) on October 14, 1964. The removal was a result of a political coup led by a group within the leadership, including Leonid Brezhnev and Alexei Kosygin, who were dissatisfied with Khrushchev's policies and perceived failures, particularly in economics and foreign policy. -
China tests its first atomic bomb
China successfully tested its first atomic bomb on October 16, 1964, at the Lop Nur test site in the Xinjiang province. This event marked China's entry into the nuclear weapons club, becoming the fifth nation to develop and test a nuclear device -
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation intensifies
The Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation, also known as Borneo Confrontation or Konfrontasi, was an armed conflict that occurred between 1963 and 1966. It stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of the Federation of Malaysia. -
U.S. begins major troop deployments to Vietnam
The United States began major troop deployments to Vietnam in March 1965, specifically on March 8th, with the arrival of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Da Nang. This marked a significant escalation in U.S. involvement, transitioning from an advisory role to direct combat. The deployment was also accompanied by the launch of Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam. -
Soviet Luna 9 prepares for Moon landing
The Soviet Luna 9 spacecraft prepared for a Moon landing on February 3, 1965. It was designed to be the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and transmit panoramic photographs back to Earth. The mission was a significant achievement in the space race and provided crucial data about the Moon's surface -
France withdraws from NATO’s integrated command
Washington remained firmly opposed to de Gaulle's concept of tripartism, viewing it as a threat to NATO's cohesion and unity. To demonstrate France's resolve, de Gaulle began gradually withdrawing French forces from NATO's integrated military command. -
U.S. bombing of North Vietnam intensifies
The US bombing of North Vietnam intensified with the start of Operation Rolling Thunder on March 2, 1966. This sustained aerial campaign aimed to interdict the flow of supplies to South Vietnam, boost morale in South Vietnam, and force North Vietnam's leaders to negotiate. The operation involved US Air Force and Navy aircraft attacking targets across North Vietnam. -
Cultural Revolution begins in China
The Cultural Revolution in China officially began on May 16, 1966, with the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee issuing a circular outlining Mao Zedong's ideas. It lasted until 1976 and involved a period of political and socioeconomic upheaval aimed at purging capitalist and bourgeois elements.