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A photo of the exhibition of the Cold War Museum in Lithuania by foundin_a_attic –

15 Most Important Cold War Days

The climax of World War II occurred in 1945 when Allied forces, led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, defeated the Axis powers, led by Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war ended with the dropping of two atomic bombs by the United States on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945.

After the war, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two superpowers, and their relationship became marked by a tension known as the Cold War. The Cold War was characterized by a global power struggle between the two superpowers, with each side attempting to spread its ideology and influence around the world.

The United States, a capitalist democracy, and the Soviet Union, a communist state, engaged in a series of proxy wars, arms races, and diplomatic standoffs as they sought to establish their respective spheres of influence. The Cold War lasted until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In the article are the fifteen most important Cold War days.

1. July 25, 1945: The Potsdam Conference begins

The Potsdam Conference was a meeting of the Allied powers that took place in Potsdam, Germany from July 17 to August 2, 1945. The conference was held after the Allied victory in Europe but before the end of the war against Japan.

The conference was attended by the United States, represented by President Harry S. Truman, the United Kingdom, represented by Prime Minister Clement Attlee, and the Soviet Union, represented by Premier Joseph Stalin.
The purpose of the conference was to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe and the Far East, as well as to address the issue of reparations for the damage caused by the war.

2. The Truman Doctrine was announced on March 12, 1947

The Doctrine was a policy announced by President Harry S. Truman that committed the United States to provide military and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism. The Doctrine was a response to the spread of communism in Eastern Europe and the Middle East after World War II, and it marked the beginning of the United States’ efforts to contain the spread of communism around the world.

3. June 24-July 2, 1948: The Berlin Blockade begins

The Berlin Blockade was a major event that took place during the Cold War. It began on June 24, 1948, and lasted until May 12, 1949. The blockade was implemented by the Soviet Union, which blockaded the Western-controlled sectors of Berlin in an attempt to force the Western powers (the United States, the United Kingdom, and France) to withdraw from the city.

The Berlin Blockade was a significant event during the Cold War, as it marked the first major confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. It also demonstrated the determination of the Western powers to defend their interests and resist Soviet attempts to spread communism.

Berlin, which was located in the Soviet-occupied zone of Germany, had been divided into four sectors controlled by the Allied powers following the end of World War II. The Soviet Union wanted to force the Western powers out of Berlin to exert control over the entire city. In response, the Western powers launched the Berlin Airlift, in which they airlifted supplies into the city to sustain the population and demonstrate their determination to remain in Berlin.

4. November 1, 1952: The United States conducts its first hydrogen bomb test

The United States conducted its first hydrogen bomb test, called Ivy Mike, on November 1, 1952, on the Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Ivy Mike was a test of a weapon known as a thermonuclear device, which used a fusion reaction to release a much larger explosion than the fission reactions used in traditional atomic bombs.

The Ivy Mike test was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked a significant escalation in the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The test demonstrated the United States’ ability to develop advanced nuclear weapons, and it led to the development of even more powerful hydrogen bombs by both the United States and the Soviet Union.

5. June 25, 1950: The Korean War begins

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The war was fought between North Korea, which was backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Korea, which was backed by the United States and several other countries.

The Korean War was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked the first major military conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was also the first time that American troops were sent to fight in a foreign war since the end of World War II.

6. October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launches the Sputnik

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, on October 4, 1957. The launch of Sputnik marked the beginning of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, as both countries competed to develop advanced space technologies and explore the solar system.

The launch of Sputnik was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it demonstrated the Soviet Union’s technological superiority and sparked fear and concern in the United States. In response, the United States ramped up its space program and eventually succeeded in putting a man on the moon in 1969.

7. October 22, 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis begins

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a major event that took place during the Cold War and began on October 22, 1962. The crisis was a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, which is located just 90 miles off the coast of Florida.

The crisis was sparked when the United States discovered that the Soviet Union had secretly deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba, and it quickly escalated into a major international crisis. The United States imposed a naval blockade on Cuba and demanded the removal of the missiles, while the Soviet Union refused to back down.

The crisis lasted for 13 days and was ultimately resolved when the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a pledge by the United States not to invade Cuba.

8. April 12, 1961: Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to orbit the earth

Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet astronaut who became the first human to orbit the earth on April 12, 1961. Gagarin’s flight was a major achievement for the Soviet Union and a major milestone in the history of space exploration.

The flight of Yuri Gagarin was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked a major achievement for the Soviet Union in the space race with the United States. The United States responded to the Soviet Union’s achievement by ramping up its space program and eventually succeeding in putting a man on the moon in 1969.

9. July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the moon

Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut who became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Armstrong’s historic moonwalk was a major achievement for the United States and a major milestone in the history of space exploration.

The moon landing was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked a major achievement for the United States in the space race with the Soviet Union. It was also a major turning point in the Cold War, as it demonstrated the technological superiority of the United States and helped to ease tensions between the two superpowers.

10. May 1972: President Richard Nixon visits the Soviet Union

President Richard Nixon visited the Soviet Union in May 1972 as part of his efforts to improve relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The visit was the first by a U.S. president to the Soviet Union, and it marked a significant moment in the history of the Cold War.

During his visit, Nixon met with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreement, which limited the number of nuclear weapons that each country could deploy. The SALT agreement was a major achievement in the history of the Cold War, as it helped to reduce tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and contributed to the eventual end of the Cold War.

11. December 26, 1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on December 26, 1979, to prop up the communist government in the country, which was facing a rebellion from Islamic fundamentalist groups.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked a major escalation of the conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States. The United States and its allies strongly condemned the invasion and supported the Afghan rebels, known as the mujahideen, in their fight against the Soviet-backed government.

The Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan was a major factor in the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, as it became bogged down in a costly and unpopular war. The conflict in Afghanistan also had a significant impact on global politics and contributed to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the region.

12. November 9, 1989: The Berlin Wall falls ( Re-unification of Germany)

The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, marking the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany. The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier that had been constructed by the Soviet Union in 1961 to divide East and West Berlin and prevent the flow of people and ideas between the two sides.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked the end of the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. The fall of the wall was also a major symbol of the collapse of communism and the triumph of democracy, and it was celebrated around the world.

13. July 1991: The United States and the Soviet Union sign the START I treaty

The United States and the Soviet Union signed the START I treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on July 31, 1991. The treaty was a major achievement in the history of the Cold War, as it marked the first time that the two superpowers had agreed to significantly reduce their nuclear arsenals.

The START I treaty was signed by President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and entered into force on December 5, 1994. It required the United States and the Soviet Union to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals by about 30% over seven years. The treaty was later extended and modified by the START II treaty, which was signed in 1993.

14. December 8, 1991: The Soviet Union is dissolved

The Soviet Union was dissolved on December 26, 1991, marking the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union was a federal socialist state that had been established in 1922 and was made up of 15 constituent republics.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union was a significant event in the history of the Cold War, as it marked the end of the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. It also had a major impact on global politics, as it contributed to the spread of democracy and the integration of the former communist countries of Eastern Europe into the Western world.

15. March 11, 1985: Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union on March 11, 1985, following the death of his predecessor, Konstantin Chernenko. Gorbachev was a reform-minded leader who sought to modernize the Soviet Union and improve relations with the United States.

Gorbachev also played a key role in the negotiations that led to the end of the Cold War, including the signing of the START I treaty and the reunification of Germany. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his efforts to promote international cooperation and disarmament. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War and the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.