Cold War from 1947 to 1968

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timeline Cold War from 1947 to 1968

There are many theories about how the Cold War began. For some it began in 1919 as the Versailles In 1950 National Security Council resolution 68 stepped up the US Treaty was being negotiated and intervention armies were sent by Britain, France, USA, Japan and The Cold War is one of the most widely effort with the aim of not simply ‘containing’ communism but achieving others to ‘strangle Bolshevism in its cradle’ as Churchill later described it. More conventionally it is dated ‘rollback’ — that is, reversing its gains by means of vast militarisation, from around 1946 and 1947 as the more assertive Truman took over from wartime president Roosevelt. debated phenomena in history. This a development deplored by Kennan. President Eisenhower also warned of the growing influence of what he called ‘the military-industrial Consolidation Military intervention timeline charts its origins and phases complex’ in his farewell speech as president in January 1961. The Cold War emerged in the years from 1945 to Both sides used military power to maintain control. By then, US power, justified by the ‘anti-communist’ mission, 1947. The USA adopted a policy of ‘containment’ to The USSR sanctioned armed repression in East encircled the globe while the USSR by and large concentrated on its prevent the spread of communism while the Soviet Germany, Poland and Hungary in the mid-50s and own sphere and only gave limited and cautious assistance to allies Union came to believe the American goal was world in Czechoslovakia in 1968. The USA used force beyond that sphere, such as the Allende government in Chile in domination. In these circumstances the ‘Grand to establish pro-American governments in Iran 1970–3. Alliance’ of the USA, Great Britain, France and the and Guatemala and assisted military and political The main flashpoint came in the form of the Cuban missile crisis of Soviet Union became a distant memory and conflict dictatorships in Latin America often through covert 1962 where, after a tense stand-off, agreement was reached whereby between them dominated global politics for the next operations. the USSR withdrew its nuclear missiles and the USA pledged not to 40 years. The main flashpoint came as the USA attempted invade Cuba. In the early stages, each side consolidated its to fight against the spread of communism in hold over areas under its control. The USA used Vietnam. It used low-level intervention at first, from Détente the Marshall Plan and NATO to build its influence 1956 until the early 1960s, and then adopted a However, hubris was at hand for US global reach. In the mid-1960s in Western Europe and, in a separate but similar policy of escalating military forces from the mid- the war in Vietnam was stepped up, but by 1973 the US had failed scheme, in Japan. The Soviet Union tightened its grip 1960s. ModernHistoryReviewExtras to break the North Vietnamese resistance. Rollback had failed and the on Eastern Europe, imposing Soviet-style command Go online for a printable pdf of this centre spread next phase of the Cold War, détente, a return to dialogue and making economies and communist-dominated dictatorships. (www.hoddereducation.co.uk/historyreviewextras) agreements on the arms race and other issues, replaced it.

1946 1948 1950 1955 1961 1962 1965 February 22 21–25 February 7 April 14 May 17 April 14–28 October July 1965 Washington receives the Czech crisis and communist takeover National Security Council Warsaw Pact formed Bay of Pigs invasion. Cuban exiles, Cuban missile crisis 150,000 US troops ‘Long Telegram’ from June resolution 68 approved. Top-secret 15 May aided by the US government, sent to Vietnam senior US diplomat George French, American and British zones of US policy document outlines plan Austrian State Treaty signed. attempt to invade Cuba Kennan which urges the Germany merged to form West Germany to militarise Cold War Soviet forces withdraw as 13 August US government to ‘contain’ 24 June–12 May 1949 25 June–27 July 1953 Austria declares neutrality Berlin Wall built ending free Russia and communism Berlin blockade Korean War movement across the city 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968

1968 1947 1956 20 August 12 March 1949 1953 1954 11 January Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia Truman Doctrine promises US help to any 4 April 17 June 21 July Ngo Dinh Diem establishes dictatorship in South Vietnam with US support following attempt to build ‘socialism with country facing a communist takeover North Atlantic Treaty East German Geneva Accords 23 October a human face’ in the ‘Prague Spring’ 5 June Organization (NATO) formed uprising end French phase Hungarian revolution suppressed by Warsaw Pact invasion Marshall Plan. A programme of economic aid 21 September of Vietnam War 30 October offered by the USA to discourage countries Communist (Maoist) victory Suez crisis. British, French and Israeli forces invade Egypt. Pressure from Chris Read is professor of modern European from links with USSR and communism in Chinese civil war USSR, USA and UN causes them to cease fire and withdraw on 7 November history at The University of Warwick.

16 Modern History Review February 2020 www.hoddereducation.co.uk/historyreview 17