Section 1

Attack on Vilnius (1991)

After the Lithuanian legislature declared independence on March 11, 1990, the USSR responded with military action on January 11-13, 1991, killing 14 civilians and injuring over a hundred more. The people were trying to keep Soviet troops from controlling the local TV tower and studio to hinder the independence movement. Gorbachev authorized no more military violence after the event.

Austrian Neutrality (1955)

The USSR agreed to end post-war occupation along with the Western Allies in the State Treaty of May 15, 1955. It formally reestablished the Austrian republic with pre-1938 sovereignty and borders. Anschluss and restoration of the Habsburgs was forbidden and on October 26th, the day after all occupation forces withdrew a constitutional law of perpetual neutrality was passed.

Balkan Pact AKA Pact of Ankara AKA Balkan Entente AKA Balkan Union (1953)

Agreement between Greece, Turkey, and Yugoslavia to coordinate military actions of a defensive nature. It was seen as a deterrent to Soviet aggression in the region.

Baltic Way

Peaceful demonstration on August 23, 1989, across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia where around two million people joined hands in a 600 km human chain expressing their unity in the struggle for independence from the USSR.

Ban the Bomb Movement

Anti-nuclear movement that began in the UK to protest the installation of missile bases. It was also opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants. It grew as a pressure movement advocating for overall disarmament, the ending of nuclear testing, and the responsible disposal of nuclear waste.

Bandung Conference AKA Asian-Africa Conference (1955)

Meeting in Indonesia held from April 18-24, 1955, between 29 countries invited by Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan to discuss means of asserting their influence over policy in Asia and Africa. It condemned colonialism "in all of its manifestations" which was a rebuke of both Western and Soviet actions. It set the stage for the Non-Aligned Movement

Basic Treaty (1972)

An agreement between West and East Germany that established recognition and economic trade between the two countries. It was an outgrowth of the Ostpolitik of Willy Brandt and cleared a path for both nations to gain admittance to the UN the following year.

Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

Unsuccessful US-backed invasion of Cuba by exiles opposed to the Castro regime that took place on April 17, 1961. The operation had been planned by the CIA during the Eisenhower administration and Director Allen Dulles convinced Kennedy to follow through. Kennedy feared the implications of the US supporting the effort and denied direct military and air support. The lack of support and the ill-founded belief that Cubans would rise up to support the invasion led to an internationally embarrassing failure.

Berlin Blockade (1948-49)

Soviet blockade of Western supplies into West Berlin starting on June 25, 1948 after the introduction of the deutsche mark in the newly unified Western Allied occupation zones of the capital. The next day, US and UK airships began supplying the city until the blockade was lifted without comment by the USSR on May 12, 1949. It was a crucial early face-off in the Cold War putting the importance of Berlin front and center.

Berlin Wall

Barrier built in August of 1961 that surrounded all of West Berlin to isolate it from East Germany. Millions of East Germans had left their country through West Berlin leading to severe labor shortages, especially amongst skilled and educated workers. The wall started as barbed wire and quickly grew into a series of walls and barriers manned by armed guards that killed anyone trying to cross illegally. The wall was opened on November 9, 1989 and was soon torn down symbolizing the fall of the authoritarian government in East Germany.

Bert the Turtle

Mascot for the Federal Civilian Defense Administration's education effort about "duck and cover," a nuclear attack drill communicated to the public. The campaign was aimed at schoolchildren in 1951 to teach them to imitate the cartoon turtle's response to danger. It was used across the country to instill confidence in the chances of survival if a nuclear attack occurred

Bikini Atoll

Land formation in the Ralik chain of the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific. It was used for nuclear testing by the US from 1946-58. It was the site of the first ever hydrogen bomb dropped by an airplane in 1956. The area is still too radioactive for inhabitants to return.

Bomber Gap

The purported lead by the USSR over the US in the number of strategic bombers capable of delivering nuclear bombs. This idea existed during the 1950s and early 60s in the US, but due to U-2 surveillance the government was aware that, in reality, the US had significant numerical superiority over the Soviets.

Bretton Woods Conference

Meeting in New Hampshire in July 1944 that created the structure for how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD-later the World Bank) would stabilize global currencies and trade. These agreements would eventually set the stage for the US dollar to be the global reserve currency and rebuild and supercharge economies that received an influx of loans.

Brezhnev Doctrine

Policy of the USSR under Leonid Brezhnev that was articulated in 1968 in response to the Prague Spring. It stated that Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces could intervene in a member country where continued socialist rule was threatened.

Brussels Defense Pact (1948)

Treaty signed in 1948 by the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg to cooperate in the military defense of their nations. It laid the foundation for the creation of NATO and increased overall European cooperation and integration.

Cambodian-Vietnamese War

Conflict that technically lasted from 1978-1989 after Vietnam invaded its neighbor to topple the Khmer Rouge/Democratic Kampuchea under Pol Pot. Vietnam then established a friendly government called the People's Republic of Kampuchea. International pressure from both China and the US led to Vietnam's withdrawal in 1989.

Cambodian Coup (1970)

Prince Norodom Sihanouk was deposed by a vote of the Cambodian National Assembly on March 18th. Prime Minister Lon Nol helped orchestrate the coup, became the country's leader, and with US support tried to ban North Vietnamese troops from his country. This would lead to the Cambodian Civil War and lead to the Khmer Rouge controlling the country by 1975.

Cambridge Spy Ring AKA Cambridge Five

UK spy ring that worked on behalf of the USSR from the 1930s to the 1950s. The members were all acquaintances at the exclusive British University of Cambridge and consisted of Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Kim Philby, John Cairncross, and Anthony Blunt. They procured and shared copious amounts of secret intel with their Soviet handlers, but were all eventually unmasked in embarrassing and destabilizing moments for British intelligence and their US partners.

Castle Bravo

A series of nuclear weapon tests by the US under the codename Operation Castle were started on March 1, 1954, with the Bravo detonation at Bikini Atoll. It was the most powerful nuclear detonation performed by the US. It had a 15 megaton yield despite it being predicted to be only 6 megatons. The unpredicted spread of the fallout affected the crew of the Lucky Dragon Number 5, a Japanese fishing vessel, and created widespread protests against atmospheric testing.

CENTO AKA Central Treaty Organization AKA Baghdad Pact

Agreement between Turkey, Iran, the UK, Iraq, and Pakistan signed in 1955 that was originally known as the Middle East Treaty organization. The group was to provide mutual defense against possible Soviet aggression in the region. The US became an associate member after Iraq withdrew in 1959. It lasted in some form until Iran withdrew after the Revolution of 1979.

Charter 77

Document created in Czechoslovakia in 1977 by Václav Havel and nearly 2,000 others that pushed for democratic reforms after a crackdown on dissent by the communist government. It called for the implementation of human rights guaranteed under the Helsinki Accords signed in 1975. Members of the group that produced it were jailed and persecuted.

Checkpoint Charlie Standoff AKA Berlin Crisis (1961)

A confrontation between US and USSR occupation forces in Berlin at the main crossing point between their respective sectors of control. Under their post-war agreement, US military personnel could pass into any zone, but two months after the creation of the Berlin Wall, East German and Soviet officials began trying to limit such travel. This led to a show of force by the US under General Clay where 10 US Army tanks faced off with 10 Soviet tanks on October 27th until the next day when the Soviet tanks retreated approximately 5 meters back. Their move was matched by the US forces and eventually both sides moved away from the checkpoint.

Chilean Coup (1973)

Military overthrow of president Salvador Allende and his democratically elected government that was backed by the Nixon administration due to Allende's socialist-leaning policies. The coup was led by the Chilean Army under Augusto Pinochet on September 11th and resulted in the death of Allende and the establishment of authoritarian rule under Pinochet.

Church Committee AKA the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (1975)

Congressional committee in 1975 headed by Senator Frank Church (D-ID) that investigated illegal activity by the FBI, CIA, and NSA including extrajudicial assassinations and coups. It led to the creation of congressional oversight of intelligence activities and a ban on assassinations.

Comecon AKA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance

Economic aid organization started in 1949 to promote development in the Eastern bloc countries. It eventually spread to include other communist countries such as Mongolia and Cuba. It was a response to the Marshall Plan and sought to create more efficient trade amongst the countries that limited redundant production of materials that would increase competition. It was able to further integrate the socialist nations, but their diverse economies and a lack of cooperation made gains minimal.

Cominform AKA Communist Information Bureau

International organization founded in 1947 that lasted until 1956. It was the heir to the pre-war Cominform and consisted of the communist organizations in Bulgaria, France, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, and the USSR. It was meant to spread communist ideology and propaganda abroad to help the movement spread worldwide. It was disbanded as part of the post-Stalin thaw.

Containment Policy

An approach to foreign policy by the US under the Truman administration inspired by George Kennan's 1947 articles on the USSR. The Truman Doctrine was the start of putting these ideas into practice by supplying the anti-communist efforts in Greece and Turkey in order to keep communism from spreading in the Mediterranean

Cuban Missile Crisis

Standoff between the USSR and the US over the placement of nuclear weapons in Cuba that lasted from October 22-November 20, 1962. It began with the discovery of missile sites being built by U-2 flights and became the most tense moment of the Cold War as varying strategies by each side could have easily led to a nuclear exchange. The US imposed a quarantine around Cuba to keep further weapons from landing and in secret negotiations between the Kennedy administration and representatives of Khrushchev, they agreed to eventually withdraw NATO's nuclear weapons in Turkey and publicly promise to not invade Cuba. Khrushchev eventually agreed to these terms to the dismay of Castro. It weakened his position politically in the Soviet Union and was part of the reason for his removal from power two years later.

Cuban Revolution

A movement that was begun by Fidel Castro against the rule of Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on Santiago on July 26, 1953. After his arrest and eventual exile to Mexico, Castro, his brother Raul, Che Guevara, and others invaded Cuba on December 2, 1956, and began a guerilla war. In 1958, the movement was buoyed by the end of US support for the Batista regime and gained wide-spread backing after Batista tried to rig the presidential election in favor of his ally. Castro's forces continued to make gains and by January 1, 1959, Batista was forced to flee. Castro arrived in the capital of Havana a week later and began removing, arresting, and executing Batista supporters. He sought to continue his revolutionary movement in other Latin American countries and his nationalization of US-owned companies and interests in Cuba led to an expansion of the US embargo. Castro consolidated his power from other members of the revolution and by 1960, claimed to have transformed the revolution into a Marxist movement

Cultural Revolution

Initiative under Mao Zedong from 1966 to 1976, to focus more of China's cultural energy on his vision of communism and the national spirit. He wanted people to recommit to a single-minded focus on the communist revolution which had the effect of inspiring widespread attacks by mobilized youth groups called the Red Guards on anyone seen as elitist, intellectual, or unorthodox

Czech Coup (1948) AKA February Coup

The overtaking of the Czechoslovakian government in favor of a single-rule communist government. Klement Gottwald was the prime minister of the coalition government created by elections in 1946, but the Communist Party was losing support by 1948. The police and defense apparatus had been filled with communists and they began silencing critics with arrests and harassment. Stalin ordered Gottwald to begin purging other government offices of non communists and on February 21st, many non communist ministers resigned in protest. Gottwald forced President Benes to replace them with communists and a new constitution was in place by May, creating a people's democratic state with Gottwald as president

Detente

An easing of tensions during the Cold War from the late-sixties to the late-seventies that was highlighted by Nixon's visit to China, the Helsinki Accords, and the SALT agreements. It fell out of favor in the US with those fearing Soviet human right abuses were being acquiesced to and the expansion of Soviet influence in Africa and other places was being overlooked. It ended with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Dien Bien Phu (1954)

Final major battle of the First Indochina War between Viet Minh and French colonial forces. The mountainous fortified location was supposed to supply the French with a base for last minute gains before peace negotiations, but resulted in a decisive defeat instead. The base was surrounded, cut-off, and overrun by May 7, 1954

Domino Theory

foreign policy political belief adopted by the US in the Cold War that asserted the "fall to communism" of one country in a region would lead to others following suit. President Truman pushed the theory to support Greece and Turkey in the Mediterranean and it was used as justification for involvement in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

Downwinders

People living in areas downwind of the Nevada Test Site such as residents in St. George, UT that suffered increased incidences of radiation-related illnesses. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990 allowed some government compensation to these victims, but was limited to $50,000 per person.

Dr. Strangelove AKA How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Film directed and co-written by Stanley Kubrick that was released in 1964. It was one of the first films to be included in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry for its farcical look at the dangerous possibilities associated with Cold War tensions and mistrust.

East Berlin Revolts (1953)

Mass protests against harsh government work and production quotas without wage increases. Discontent bubbled over in June just months after the death of Stalin when some citizens expected reform, but were met by even more draconian measures from the Ulbricht regime instead. Strikes turned into a popular movement against the government. Soviet troops in Berlin responded and quelled the resistance to save the GDR's government.

Eastern Bloc

Term for the socialist countries of Eastern Europe aligned with the USSR during the Cold War. The group was generally considered to include Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Yugoslavia was originally included before its split with Stalin in 1948. Albania was also aligned with the Soviets, but more independent than the others and withdrew from a direct alliance in 1961. The others stayed true to Moscow for the most part, but Romania often bucked directives and all other countries, save for Bulgaria, saw significant uprisings fueled by desires to move out of the Soviet orbit.

East German/Prague Refugee Crisis

Situation in the late summer to early fall of 1989 that saw thousands of East German citizens travel to Prague and pass inside the gates of the West German embassy to try and obtain visas to the West. Eventually negotiations led to the refugees being allowed to travel to West Germany, but were made to give up their East German citizenship.

Eisenhower Doctrine

Policy announced on January 5, 1957, that dedicated the US to provide military and economic assistance to countries in the Middle East trying to resist communist aggression. It was inspired by Soviet actions to increase their support in the region after the Suez Crisis.

Eurocommunism

Movement amongst European communist parties away from ties to the USSR beginning in the 1970s. The invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 helped inspire the move. They believed in socialist solutions for their countries, but did not want to be aligned with a world-wide movement, especially one associated with the totalitarian tendencies of the USSR.

Euromissile Crisis

A ramp up of tension in the Cold War after the thaw of détente that began in 1977 with the deployment of the advanced and mobile SS-20 missiles by the USSR in Eastern Europe. NATO responded with plans to install new Pershing II missiles in Western Europe. The deployment escalated tensions and started protests from Europeans, who felt it destabilized the arms race and put them more directly in target areas. The crisis ended in 1987, with the INF Treaty that banned ground-based intermediate missiles.

French Strikes of 1947

Series of post-war strikes that began at the Renault automobile factory in April against continuing production quotas and low pay that were sparked by a reduction in the bread ration. The French Communist Party joined the strike and the government responded by removing all FCP officials from their positions. The government pushed through a wage increase to get most workers to return, but the tumult convinced observers that the government and economy were under threat of falling to communism

GATT AKA General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

An agreement that reduced tariffs in order to facilitate trade in the post-WWII global economy based on a lack of discriminatory policies resulting in all countries benefiting from negotiated tariff rates. Twenty-three counties agreed to the terms in 1947, and starting on January 1, 1948, world trade began to boom. It would be replaced by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 with 125 nations and 90% of trade under its guidance.

Geneva Accords (1954)

Agreements issued at the Geneva Convention on July 21, 1954, concerning the future of the former French colony of Indochina. It called for a ceasefire and division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel. It also called for elections in Laos and Cambodia the following year and Vietnamese elections before July 1956 to unify the country under a single government. The agreements were non-binding and though followed in part, the situation quickly devolved into new conflicts. Diem of the South refused to sign the agreement and refused to allow the reunification elections it called for.

Geneva Summit (1985)

First meeting between superpower leaders President Reagan and Secretary Gorbachev in November 1985. No agreements were made, but the discussions about arms control built up a rapport between the two leaders that would allow for further agreements that helped facilitate the end of the Cold War.

Gerboise Bleue

Codename of the first French nuclear bomb test on February 13, 1960. The explosion had a 70 kiloton yield, about three times as powerful as the devices dropped on Japan. It was tested in the desert region of western Algeria (at the time a French colony). The achievement was part of France's effort to remain aloof from the constraints of NATO which it believed created an over-dependence on the US.

German reunification AKA Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany AKA Two Plus Four

Agreement

Agreement that reunified Germany in October 1990. The parties involved were East and West Germany along with the WWII Allies (France, the UK, US, and USSR). It ended the post-war occupation of Germany and finalized the border changes between Germany, Poland, and the USSR bringing a final conclusion to the interim situations created by WWII.

Glasnost

Soviet policy championed by Mikhail Gorbachev that focused on transparency and openness of government action. It included the wider dissemination of information and allowed for more political discourse

Great Leap Forward

Effort by the Chinese Communist Party from 1958 to 1960 to industrialize and empower the economy of the country. Chairman Mao did not believe the Soviet system was effective for China and the country would need to rely on increased output from its abundant labor supply to jumpstart industrialization and create agricultural surpluses. Collectivized farms and worker communes were created, but were badly managed with often counterproductive goals and directives. Twenty million people are estimated to have died from starvation due to the inefficient programs that created a disastrous lack of food exacerbated by natural disasters and crop failures.

Great Purge

Trials and prosecutions in the USSR from 1936-1938 that removed former Bolshevik leaders from power in the Communist Party and government based on charges of treason. The NKVD coerced many of the confessions used in the trials via torture and threatening the families of the accused. The resulting executions and imprisonments removed any possible rivals to Stalin's control of the country.

Greek Civil War

Confrontation between EAM-ELAS (communist) forces and the EDES (nationalist) army after the withdrawal of German occupation forces in Greece in 1944. The UK helped end the conflict temporarily in 1945, but by 1946, it had restarted and the US was forced to intervene to help the EDES. The last communist resistance ended in 1949.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident/Resolution

A naval confrontation off the coast of northern Vietnam on August 2, 1964, where North Vietnamese ships were reported to have launched an unprovoked attack on the USS Maddox. A subsequent attack was reported on August 4th that included the USS Turner Joy. The second attack was never confirmed to actually take place, but President Johnson used the events the next day to urge Congress to pass a resolution that gave him the ability to take "all necessary measures" to prevent further attacks. It would lead to a dramatic increase in US involvement in Vietnam.

Hallstein Doctrine

The policy of West Germany to refuse diplomatic relations with any other nation that officially recognized East Germany (save for the USSR). It lasted from 1955-1970, and was named for diplomat Walter Hallstein. It ended with a switch to Ostpolitik.

Harmel Report AKA Report of the Council on the Future Tasks of the Alliance

Outlining of policy in 1967, that transformed NATOs outlook to align with a dual-track set of goals via détente and deterrence. It was named for Belgian Foreign Minister, Pierre Harmel.

Helsinki Accords AKA Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)

Agreement signed on August 1, 1975, to reduce Cold War tensions by codifying post-war borders and political controls in Europe. The US, Canada, and all of Europe (except Albania) signed the agreements which were non-binding, but had significant impacts. It included "baskets' on security, trade, and human rights commitments such as freedom of travel and information. The commitments would energize dissent organizations globally and within the Eastern Bloc.

Helsinki Watch Committees AKA Human Rights Watch (as of 1988)

An organization was founded in 1978, to push the USSR and Eastern Bloc countries to adhere to the Helsinki Accords. It sent monitors into countries and shared information about abuses to put pressure on governments to follow through on human rights commitments

Ho Chi Minh Trail

System of transportation routes through the dense jungle of Cambodia and Laos that supplied North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces during the Vietnam War. It began use in 1959 and by 1974, it included highly-developed supply stations and support facilities.

Hungarian Uprising (1956)

Resistance against the communist government in Hungary in late 1956. Fighting broke out in October after mass protests and led to a new government under Imre Nagy. Nagy declared Hungary to be neutral and withdrew from the Warsaw Pact. He called for a multiparty democracy and other political reforms. The USSR invaded on November 4th and crushed all resistance after installing a new communist government.

Hydrogen Bomb AKA Thermonuclear Bomb

Nuclear weapon that uses nuclear fusion as opposed to fission to create a massive explosion. The process of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) fusing into helium and releasing energy is caused by a trigger device based on a traditional atomic bomb and is significantly more powerful. Its yield is measured in megatons as opposed to the kilotons used for earlier atomic weapons.

ICBM AKA Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

Land-based devices that follow ballistic flight paths to allow a range of over 3,500 miles. They are used to deliver nuclear warheads across vast distances and the technological sophistication and resources required are so limited that only the US, USSR(now Russia), and the PRC developed any

INF Treaty AKA Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Agreement between the US and the USSR that banned medium and intermediate range nuclear weapons on land. It was signed in 1987, and was the first to ban an entire category of nuclear weapons and not just limit them. Observers were allowed into each country to verify the actions. The US withdrew from the treaty in 2019

Iran-Contra Scandal

Activities, cover-up, and investigation related to the National Security Council illegally selling weapons to Iran to fund Contras opposing the leftist Sandinistas of Nicaragua. The operation was meant to facilitate the release of hostages in Lebanon during the Reagan administration. The actions violated the Boland Amendment and ran counter to other congressional regulations against supplying terrorist organizations. The ensuing congressional hearings led to protests and prison terms.

Iranian Crisis (1946)

Confrontation in Iran where the USSR refused to withdraw troops after the end of WWII. The Soviets tried to retain influence in the country by supporting rebels along their shared border. The US and UK had major influence over the oil in Iran and did not want Soviet interference. They protested USSR actions to the UN and after oil agreements between the Soviets and Iran were reached, troops began withdrawing on March 24, 1946. When the troops left, the US helped end the rebel activities, and Iran ended its oil agreements with the Soviet Union.

Iranian Coup (1953)

The US and UK backed regime change in Iran that removed Mohammad Mosaddegh as premier and gave increased power to the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Mosaddegh had led parliament to nationalize the oil industry that supplied the Western powers a significant amount of their energy. The Eisenhower administration used CIA assets under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt to pursue regime change.

Iron Curtain

Symbolic border between the Eastern and Western camps in Europe during the Cold War. It was popularized by Winston Churchill with his 1946 speech in Fulton, Missouri. The borders of the Eastern Bloc were physical and psychological barriers to movement, communication, and culture between the socialist and capitalist systems

Islamic Revolution in Iran

Uprising that began in January of 1978 and ended with the removal of the government under the Shah on February 11, 1979. The Shah's regime became increasingly autocratic and its secular and Western policies fomented increasing amounts of dissent. Student protests against the continued exile of Ayatollah Khomeini led to a declaration of martial law and deadly repression. Strikes turned into a general protest that shut down the capital and led to the Shah fleeing the country. The military refused to support the interim government after Khomeini returned in February, and the government collapsed completely.

Italian Election of 1948

Initial parliamentary elections in the newly created Republic of Italy. The US, via the CIA, provided financial and material support to the campaign of the Christian Democrats and their allies to oppose the Communist Party's candidates, who hoped to secure a plurality and control the government. The Communists and allies still garnered 31% of the vote despite the intense US-backed propaganda efforts, but the Catholic Church's support (and anti-communist rhetoric) helped the CDP control the government with 48%.

Kal Flight 007

A commercial jet with 269 passengers travelling from Anchorage to Seoul on September 1, 1983. It was shot down by a Soviet fighter jet after it flew off course over Russian territory (Sakhalin Island). The Soviets claimed the flight was part of an espionage operation by the US. A US Congressman was aboard and the flight occurred around the time of a Soviet test launch in the region, but no information was discovered to implicate the flight in any spying.

Khmer Rouge

Regime formed from the Communist Party of Kampuchea in Cambodia that controlled the country from 1975 to 1979 after emerging victorious from the civil war started after the 1970 coup. It was led by Pol Pot and killed millions of people in the country that were deemed a threat to the government. The Khmer was ousted due to an invasion by Vietnam in 1979

Kitchen Debate

Nikita Khrushchev and Vice President Nixon squared off in the middle of a mock US home (largely near the kitchen set) in an American National Exhibition in Moscow on July 24, 1959. The impromptu debate about the merits of their rival economic systems was broadcast the next day in the US and later in the USSR. Reactions were mixed, but it raised Nixon's profile in the US.

Korean War

Conflict that started with the invasion of South Korea (ROK) by North Korean forces (DPRK) on June 25, 1950. The fighting lasted until July 27, 1953, though a technical state of war still exists as no formal peace treaty was ever signed by the two parties. The UN became involved led by the US (due to a Soviet boycott of the Security Council) and after initially falling back to the Pusan perimeter the US, under Douglas MacArthur, made a dramatic landing at Inchon to force the North Koreans back. The PRC entered the conflict as UN forces approached their border at the Yalu River. The war devolved into a stalemate near the original line of demarcation at the 38th parallel and a cease fire kept the areas under military control at the time as the de facto borders for North and South Korea.

"Launch on Warning" AKA LOW

A military tactic that allowed for a nuclear strike to be ordered when an enemy strike seemed imminent. The decision capability was to be given to high-level military commanders and not reserved solely to the president. The strategy was in place in the US from 1979 to 1997, but retired due to the possibility of a false alarm triggering a nuclear strike.

League for the Independence of Vietnam AKA Viet Minh

Insurgency movement formed in China in 1941, during WWII by Ho Chi Minh. It fought against Japanese occupation and declared independence for Vietnam in 1945. The French attempted to retake the colony from the Viet Minh starting in 1946. The Viet Minh transformed into the Vietnamese National Popular Front (Lien Viet) by the end of the war and the Communist Party became the leading political force in the country with most of its leadership coming from the Viet Minh.

Laotian Civil War AKA Secret War

Conflict between royalist and communist factions in Laos from 1959 to 1975. A 1962 agreement to form a coalition government to end the hostilities fell apart by 1964. The Paris Accords of 1973 led to an eventual ceasefire and a new coalition government. The victory of the communists in Vietnam in 1975, helped bolster the Pathet Lao communists in Laos and the Lao People's Democratic Republic came into being in December after the monarchy was abolished.

Lebanon Crisis (1958)

A general strike that took place to protest the government of Camille Chamoun and to push for Lebanon joining the new (Soviet-aligned) United Arab Republic of Syria and Egypt. Chamoun requested UN intervention to quell the uprising he blamed on UAR-backed agitators. US troops landed near Beirut and the insurrection eventually ended without the US becoming overly involved, but still asserting itself in the region to prevent further Soviet influence

London Poles

Government-in-exile during WWII while Poland was occupied by German and Soviet forces. The government maintained influence in Poland via its contacts with the Home Army resistance effort. It lost out on a possible return to power when the Soviet-supported Provisional Government took power in 1945. It continued to exist in some form until 1990.

Lublin Committee AKA Polish Committee of National Liberation

Group of communist leaders that set up a provisional Polish government as of July 22, 1944, in the city of Lublin after it was liberated from German occupation. As Soviet-controlled territory increased, so did the power of the Lublin group. It transformed into the Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland and was recognized by the USSR in 1945.

MAD AKA Mutually Assured Destruction

Political and military tactic of deterrence based on the logic that no nuclear attack could take place between the superpowers due to the fact that a launch by one nation would force the other to respond in kind ensuring that both were destroyed by a nuclear attack and fallout. The theory became popular in the mid-sixties as the idea of a limited nuclear war became less feasible. The term was coined by Donald Brennan who disagreed with the strategy

Malta Summit (1989)

Meeting aboard naval vessels off the coast of Malta between President George H.W. Bush and Secretary Gorbachev on December 2-3, 1989. It was declared to be the end of the Cold War by the participants despite a lack of firm agreements. The two leaders did make symbolic acknowledgements that the era of the Cold War had ended as indicated by the recent tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

Marshall Plan

Economic stimulus and recovery program sponsored by the US under the direction of Secretary of State George Marshall that lasted from 1948 to 1951. It gave supplies and subsidies to 17 European countries to recover from WWII and to stabilize them politically to help ensure democratic and mainly capitalist systems would endure past looming threats of destabilization that US leaders feared would promote communist regimes. $13 billion in aid was extended during the plan which was offered to Eastern Bloc nations, but was declined by order of Stalin.

Mathias Rust Flight (1987)

Unauthorized flight by an amateur West German pilot from Helsinki to Moscow on May 28, 1987. He landed next to Red Square in an effort to create better connections between East and West. He was arrested and imprisoned before being pardoned. The flight was embarrassing for the vaunted Soviet defense network, but highlighted changes from previous responses to incursions.

May 1968 Uprisings (France)

Student revolt (during a year of world-wide youth protests) that led to a general strike in the country. Riots took place in Paris and the country ground to a halt. Students protested specific restrictions at universities in Paris and harsh police responses led to the Night of Barricades on May 10th, where 40,000 students built defenses and were attacked by police in the middle of the night. Workers joined the cause and factories were seized. De Gaulle left the country for a time and considered using military force, but made a speech calling for new elections that helped motivate his supporters and others that wanted a return to stability to counter demonstrate. The uprising faded, but de Gaulle would be out of office within a year

Military Industrial Complex

The multifaceted connections between those responsible for making military, political, and business decisions that help perpetuate a focus on developing military technology and capabilities for the enrichment of the individuals and companies rather than based on the needs of the country and the people. The term was coined by President Eisenhower in his Farewell Address in 1961, where he warned against the growing power of the complex that existed in the US.

MIRV AKA Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle

Specific design of a nuclear missile that can target multiple warheads within the device to separate locations. The development of this technology briefly destabilized the nuclear deterrent status quo between the US and USSR.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact AKA German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact

Agreement signed on August 23, 1939, that created an increased area of control for the USSR beyond its current borders by allowing Nazi Germany to expand as well without conflict. It is named for the foreign ministers that built the agreement, Vyacheslav Molotov and Joachim von Ribbentrop. The USSR (through two additional secret protocols) received the eastern half of Poland as well as all of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Bessarabia in Romania. All of these areas were independent at the time of the agreement, but most would be absorbed into the Soviet Union through force.

Morgenthau Plan

Original post-war Allied policy for Germany as articulated by Secretary of Treasury Henry Morgenthau in 1944. It sought to completely eliminate Germany's war making capabilities by destroying its industrial base in the Ruhr Valley and possibly interning workers in labor camps. President Truman wanted a more moderate approach and by 1946, the Restatement of Policy on Germany by Secretary of State James Byrnes officially redirected Allied plans.

Moscow Summit (1988)

Meeting between President Reagan and Secretary Gorbachev from May 29-June 3, 1988, that finalized the INF Treaty and produced seven agreements that further evolved relations between the two countries by increasing cultural exchanges and agreements on economic policies. It was the last full summit before the election of George H.W. Bush.

Moscow Treaty (1970)

Agreement between the USSR and West Germany that was signed in Moscow on August 12, 1970. It was brought into being through Willy Brandt's Ostpoltik efforts and helped bring about the Helsinki Accords. It agreed to end the Hollstein doctrine by recognizing the GDR and recognized the current boundaries of Germany that had resulted from WWII.

Mujahideen

Guerilla fighters and groups that opposed the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It comes from the islamic term for those that fight for the faith or simply "holy warriors." Various groups worked together despite rivalries to attack Soviet troops and eventually defeat the communist government in Kabul. They were well supplied by the US with military supplies including stinger missiles via Pakistan. Many of these fighters would be involved in the al-Qaeda and Taliban movements after the war.

My Lai Massacre AKA Pinkville Massacre

Event that resulted in the murder of up to 500 unarmed Vietnamese in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968, by US soldiers in Charlie Company under the command of Capt. Ernest Medina. Some of the worst actions were committed under 1st Platoon leader William Calley that rounded up civilians, including children, to be executed. Some villagers were saved by US helicopters that intervened to block further attacks. The events were covered up despite a report of the attack, but a fellow soldier gathered evidence and sent his findings to members of Congress and the Defense Department. Medina was court-martialed, but acquitted and Calley was charged with the murder of 109 civilians and sentenced to life in prison for 22 counts. President Nixon decided to commute his sentence to house arrest and it was eventually reduced to a three-year term. Those charged in the cover-up were also subsequently acquitted. The events surrounding the massacre increased protests around the war and furthered the perceived credibility gap concerning official information about US activities in Vietnam.

National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam AKA Vietcong AKA Liberation Army of South Korea

A combination of regular and irregular combatants in South Vietnam operating in general coordination with the North Vietnamese communist government. The name comes from a term for Vietnamese communist and members were often referred to as VC by US troops.

NATO AKA North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Defensive alliance established in 1949 to create military stability and cooperation in Europe and North America. It currently has 32 member states after starting with 12 founding members (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK, and the US). The key agreement is Article V of the founding document that calls for mutual defense if one member is attacked. It has only been invoked once (after the 2001 attacks in the US). The alliance was conceived to help Western Europe defend against USSR forces which held a sizable advantage in conventional forces even when compared to the collective strength of it

Nedelin Catastrophe AKA Baikonur Explosion

Accident that occurred on October 24, 1960, at the USSR Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where as many as 120 were killed by a rocket explosion. It was the worst disaster of the Space Race era and was named for the head of the USSR missile force, Mitrofan Nedelin. Due to a rushed schedule, safety procedures were overlooked and a short-circuit during repairs caused the engine to prematurely ignite resulting in a massive explosion. The event was covered up until 1989

Nicaraguan Civil War AKA Nicaraguan Revolution

Conflict between right-wing and US-backed Contras that supported the ousted Somoza regime and the leftist and Soviet-backed Sandinistas (FSLN) from 1978-1990 in Nicaragua. The Sandinistas came to power in 1978, after the fall of the Somoza regime and the Contras began attacking the new government. They received covert support from the Reagan administration beginning in late 1981. An end to the fighting was eventually ended by the Tela Accord signed in 1989.

Non-Proliferation Treaty

Agreement signed on July 1, 1968 between the USSR, UK, US, and 59 other countries that banned the development of nuclear weapons by any other countries. France and China (who both had independently developed their own weapons) eventually signed in 1992, and it was extended to 174 countries by the UN in 1995. North Korea withdrew in 2003. India, Pakistan, and Israel are the only countries to have never signed.

Non-Aligned Movement AKA NAM

International organization representing countries that did not want to be dependent on or committed to the Eastern or Western powers during the Cold War. It began as a concept at the Bandung Conference of 1955, and was officially founded at the Belgrade Conference of 1961. The founding leaders were Tito of Yugoslavia, Nehru of India, Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia, and Nkrumah of Ghana. It has persisted as an organization that focuses on international cooperation and continues to include countries that are not part of a multilateral military alliance

Novocherkassk Massacre

International organization representing countries that did not want to be dependent on or committed to the Eastern or Western powers during the Cold War. It began as a concept at the Bandung Conference of 1955, and was officially founded at the Belgrade Conference of 1961. The founding leaders were Tito of Yugoslavia, Nehru of India, Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia, and Nkrumah of Ghana. It has persisted as an organization that focuses on international cooperation and continues to include countries that are not part of a multilateral military alliance