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Gorbachev
Mikhail S. Gorbachev was the last general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985. He promoted “perestroika” (“restructuring”) and “glasnost” (“openness”) to improve Soviet Union economically. He also made huge changes in government and the people favored him. Gorbachev won a Nobel Peace Prize. -
Japan's invasion on China
The Japanese Empire invades Republic of China and creates puppet state Manchuria. This was named the Second Sino-Japenese War. -
Germany invades Poland
The invasion of Poland started the morning after the Geiwitz Incident and led to the beggining of WWII. German troops invaded from the north, south and west of Polad. The Soviets and Slovakia joind the invasion on Septemper 17, 1939. The Polish invasion resulted in the Soviet and Axis victory and they split Polish territory between Lithuania, Slovakia, Germany and the Soviet Union. -
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg translates to "lightning war" in German. -
Battle of Britain
World War II's air campaign waged by German air forces against Britain alone after the French quit the war. -
Tripartite Pact
Truce between Germany, Italy, and Japan creating a military defense and served as propaganda directed at the United States. The signatories representing these countries were Adolf Hitler, Saburo Kurusu, and Galeazzo Ciano. Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia soon joined this military alliance. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was a policy promoted by President Roosevelt to ensure the defense of the United States by sending food and supplies to France, Great Britain, China, and others. -
Leningrad Blockade
One of the most longest sieges of history seizing Leningrad, Russia by the German Army. It ended in January 27, 1944 and resulted in Soviet victory. -
Wannsee Conference
Nazi officials gathered to discuss the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question." led by Reinhard Heydrich. -
Battle of the Midway
Battle between Japan and the U.S. in the Midway Atoll six months after Japan attack on Pearl Harbor that resulted in American victory. -
D-Day
D-Day is the millitary term for the Invasion of Normandy. It was the largest invasion force in history led by Dwight D. Eisenhower in Normany, France that resulted in Allied victory. -
Yalta Conference
Meeting between the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union to disscuss post-war reorganization in Yalta, Crimea. -
Iwo Jima/Okinawa
Battles between Japan and the United States in the Pacific War during WWII on the Ryukyu Islands that resulted in Allied victory. -
VE Day
VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day marking the accpetance of Nazi Germany's surrender by the Allied forces ending WWII. -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Potsdam, Germany where the United States, the Soviet Union, and United Kingdom disscussed post-war order. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In the end of WWII, the United States, UK, and China wanted Japan to surrender. The United States dropped bombs Japan killing approxamately 129,000 people and resulted in Allied victory. -
V-J Day
Japan ceased fighting and surrendered in WWII. -
Formation of the United Nations
The United Nations started with 26 nations to prevent international conflict and to maintain peace. -
Truman Doctrine
Proposed by U.S. President Harry S. Truman to contain communism and prevent Soviet expansion. -
Marshall Plan
President Truman signed the Marshall Plan proposed and named after Secretary of State George C. Marshall to help postwar Europe. The U.S. gave 17 billion dollars to Europe to financially and economically aid Europe. -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a military alliance between Noth American and European democracies to offset the Warsaw Pact after WWII. -
Mao Zedong & People’s Republic of China
Mao Zedong was the founder of the People's Republic of China, Communist Party of China, and help found the Red Army. His ideas were greatly influenced Marx and Lenin. He launched new movement such as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward. -
Korean War
The Korean War divided the Korean Peninsula between North and South. The U.S. fought along side the South and China fought for North Korea. -
Stalin’s death; Khrushchev
Joseph Stalin died in Kuntsevo Dasha, Moscow, Russia of cerebral hemorrhage. -
Warsaw Pact
A defense treaty between eight communist states: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, E.Germany, Albania, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Soviet Union. The Warsaw Pact ended in July 1, 1991. -
Vietnam War
Conflict between the Viet Cong fighting along side with North Vietnam against South Vietnam and the United States that ended in April 30, 1975. More than 3 million lives were lost and economic crisis in both nations. -
Sputnik
The Soviet Union successfully launched the Sputnik- the first artificial satellite. -
Bay of Pigs
American CIA failed to invade Cuba after Fidel Castro overthrew General Fulgencio Batista. After the invasion ended in a disaster, President Kennedey took blame for it. -
Berlin Wall
Barrier made by East Germany that divided East and West Berlin. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
13 day standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union because Soviet Union had missiles in Cuba. The Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles as long as Kennedy agreed to not invade Cuba and remove missiles in Turkey. -
The Fall of the Soviet Union
Too much radical changes had been made by Gorbachev and eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union. Eleven republics announced they would no longer be part of the Soviet Union and declared independce.
