cold war timeline flashcards

When and what was the Tehran Conference?

November 1943 – First meeting between Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill to plan Germany’s defeat and discuss post-war Europe.

When and what was the Yalta Conference?

February 1945 – The Big Three agreed on dividing Germany and creating the United Nations.

When and what happened at the End of World War II?

May 1945 – Germany surrendered to the Allies, ending the war in Europe.

When and what was the Potsdam Conference?

July 1945 – Truman, Stalin, and Attlee met to finalise post-war Europe; tensions increased over Eastern Europe.

When and what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

August 1945 – The USA dropped atomic bombs on Japan, forcing surrender and showing U.S. nuclear power.

When and what was the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan?

March 1947 – U.S. policy to contain communism and give financial aid to rebuild Europe.

When and what was the Berlin Blockade and Airlift?

June 1948 – May 1949 – USSR blocked supplies to West Berlin; Allies airlifted food and fuel until Stalin gave in.

When and what was the creation of NATO?

April 1949 – Western allies formed a defensive military alliance to protect against the Soviet Union.

When and what was the Korean War?

June 1950 – July 1953 – North Korea (communist) invaded South Korea; the U.S. and UN fought to stop communism spreading.

When and what was the Warsaw Pact?

May 1955 – Soviet response to NATO; military alliance of communist Eastern European countries

When and what was the Hungarian Uprising?

October 1956 – Hungarians rebelled against Soviet control, but it was crushed by Soviet troops.

When and what was the Berlin Wall built?

August 1961 – East Germany built a wall to prevent citizens from escaping to West Berlin.

When and what was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

October 1962 – U.S. and USSR came close to nuclear war over Soviet missiles in Cuba.

When and what was the Prague Spring?

August 1968 – Czechoslovakia tried to introduce liberal reforms; USSR invaded to re-impose control

When and what was Détente?

1963–1972 – Period of reduced tension between USA and USSR through diplomacy and treaties