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Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland happened when the Nazi Germany attacked on September 1st. Which was followed up by the Soviet Union invading Poland on September 17th. The Soviet Union had a secret agreement with Germany to divide and annex Polish territory. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was noted as one of the many major battles on the Eastern Front. This began when Nazi Germany and it's allies attacked and invaded because they wanted control over the Soviet city. This was one bloodiest and fiercest battles of WWII. -
Postwar Occupation and Division of Germany
Once WWII ended Germany was occupied by the allied powers. Alongside Berlin, which was separated into four sectors, Germany was separated into four occupation zones. This division led to Germany separating into two German states. -
D-Day Invasion
This was known as one of the largest amphibious invasions in military history. They delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy. There were thousands of ships alongside millions of soldiers. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
The United States dropped the first ever Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, in hopes Japan would surrender. This weapon caused and immense devastation, killing an estimated 140,000 people in a year. The effects of this bomb was widespread destruction, intense heat, and radiation exposure. -
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil war was a conflict between the Greek government, and supported by the United Kingdom and United States. It was a pivotal event in the early Cold War. It reflected the growing ideological and geopolitical divide between Western democracies and communist states. -
Enactment of Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was enacted to provide economic aid to Western European nations after WWII. It aimed at preventing the spread of communism by stabilizing Europe's economy. It was to help them recover from WWII as well. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
The Soviet Union blocked land access for allied forces. Soviet Union aimed to pressure Western Allies to regain their control over Berlin sectors. -
Chinese Communist Revolution
The revolution was characterized by a civil war between the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party, which led to the CCP's victory. The CCP led a social and political upheaval that resulted in the establishment of the People's republic of China. -
Korean War
After Japan's surrender, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel. This division intended initially as a temporary measure. However the division led to the creation of two separate states, North Korea and South Korea. North Korea invaded South Korea which spiked the Korean War. -
Vietnam War
The war started between conflicts of France and Vietnam. Communist forces defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu, which led to the end of French colonization. The Vietnam War became a key battleground for the Cold War. The U.S. supported South Vietnam to stop the spread of communism. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was led by Fidel Castro, and was to overthrow the Batista regime. It was to overthrow dictatorship and replace it with a socialist government. It started by an assault on the Moncada Barracks. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was an aborted U.S. backed invasion of Cuba. This invasion aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government. The invasion was a complete failure that strengthened Castro's regime and contributed to increased Cold War tensions. -
Building the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a physical manifestation from the events of the Cold War. It was built by the East German government to separate the East and West sides of Berlin. The wall's purpose was to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West and to bolster East Germany's image as a sovereign state -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This was also where the world teetered on the brink of a nuclear war. The Soviets plan was to secretly deploy missiles in Cuba so the U.S. would create a naval blockade. -
Rise of the Palestine Liberation Organization
The rise of the Palestine Liberation Organization was a development in the Palestinian nationalist movement, aimed at representing the aspirations of Palestinians scattered across the world. The rise of the organization was a process led by Palestinian nationalism and the desire for self determination. It evolved from a militant organization to one engaging in diplomatic efforts. -
Overthrow of the Allende government in Chile
The Chilean coup d'état overthrew the democratically elected President Salvador Allende and his Popular Unity coalition. The U.S. feared the example of a well-functioning socialist experiment in the region and exerted pressure upon Chile's elected socialist government. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Tiananmen Square Massacre happened in Beijing when the Chinese government violently suppressed and acted upon the pro-democracy protests. The People's Liberation Army stormed Tiananmen Square, causing many deaths and casualties. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall was the first step toward German reunification. The political changes in Eastern Europe and civil unrest in Germany put pressure on the East Germany government to loosen some of it's regulations on travel to West Germany. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
When the Soviet Union fell apart it was followed by a period of international political and economic struggles. The Soviet Union fell because it experienced a period of economic and political issues, along with growing tensions among the diverse republic. Not only that, but Gorbachev's reforms inadvertently weakened the central government's control and empowered separatist movements.