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V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day)
The end of WWII; marks the date of Germany's unconditional surrender in Germany (the seventh, in France) as well as the date the Russians formally surrendered to the Allies. -
Period: to
Cold War
A decades-long standoff between the two global superpowers, Russia and the U.S., based upon differing economic systems and values. -
Potsdam Conference
Formally divided Germany and Austria into four zones. It was also agreed that the capital of Germany, Berlin, would be split up in a similar manner. The border between Russia and Poland was decided, and Korea was divided between the U.S. and Russia. -
Winston Churchill's 'Sinews of Peace' Speech
Churchill's famous speech in which he declared '...an iron curtain has descended upon Europe.' He was referring to the fact that the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were engaged in a fight over whose economic system was the 'correct' one. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman promises that the U.S. will give aide to any country faced with an attempted communist takeover or revolution, setting a precedent that later puts several governments an an unstable and unfavorable condition. -
The Berlin Blockade
In response to the former Allies merging their parts of Germany into West Germany, Russia blocked off all methods of transport between the two sides in an attempt to starve them out. However, the Berlin Airlift, carried out by U.S. and U.K. planes, delivered supplies to West Berlin as needed. In May of the following year the blockade was ended. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was made between East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union, uniting them to the U.S.S.R's cause and against that of the members of NATO's. -
The Space Race
the U.S.S.R. spaceship carried Laika the dog into space, the first ever living being to be sent into orbit. This initiated a technology showdown between Russia and the U.S., each racing to get a man on the moon before the other, and setting off a chain reaction of rapid technological advancement. -
Glasnost and Perestroika
Mikhail Gorbachev announced a new plan to follow 'glasnost'; openness and freedom of speech and expression, and promised 'perestroika', reforms in the government and the economy. He also expressed his positive attitude towards ending the arms race and having free elections. -
The Berlin Wall Falls
The Cold War ends, and the wall separating east and west Berlin is broken down, reuniting the two sides of Germany once more. It is representative of the grudging peace made by Russia and the U.S. after the arms race and nuclear war threats.
