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Origins of Cold War Timeline
Feb 4, 1945
Yalta
The "Big Three" allied leaders—American president Franklin Roosevelt, Soviet leader Josef
Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill—meet at the Yalta Conference to make
arrangements for the postwar world order. Their contradictory agreements include a
declaration to respect democracy throughout Europe, but also the recognition of a de facto
Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. At Yalta the Allies also finalize plans to divide
Germany into separate zones of occupation.
Apr 12, 1945
Roosevelt Dies
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies and is replaced by Truman. Roosevelt had a good
relationship with Stalin, Truman has a poor one and thinks he needed to act tough with
dictators.
Jul 17, 1945
Potsdam
The "Big Three" leaders of the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain meet at the
Potsdam Conference. President Harry Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin, and British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill continue the work begun at Yalta to determine the future of postwar
Europe. Churchill is replaced midway through the negotiations by new Prime Minister Clement
Attlee after Churchill's party loses elections in Britain. The conference establishes a military
administration for Germany and agrees to put Nazi leaders on trial for war crimes. Soviets
continue to do as they please in Poland, despite complaints from US and Britain.
Aug 6, 1945
Hiroshima
The American bomber Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on the Japanese
city of Hiroshima. The instant devastation unleashed on Hiroshima shocks the world and ushers
in the nuclear age.
Aug 8, 1945
Nagasaki
The American plane Bockscar drops an atomic bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" on the Japanese city
of Nagasaki. The USA has a monopoly on atomic bombs (this means they are the only ones with
them).
Mar 5, 1946
Iron Curtain
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gives his famous "Iron Curtain" speech at a college
graduation in Fulton, Missouri: "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron
curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient
states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade,
Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must
call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but
to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow."
Dec 2, 1946
German Zones Merge into Bizonia
The United States and Great Britain agree to merge their respective German zones of occupation.
Mar 12, 1947
Truman Doctrine
In a speech later remembered as the "Truman Doctrine," President Harry S. Truman pledges
American assistance to any nation in the world threatened by Communism, officially establishing
the worldwide containment of Communism as a vital American national security interest.
Jun 5, 1947
Marshall Plan
In a speech made at Harvard University, Secretary of State George Marshall proposes the
Marshall Plan, a $17 billion foreign aid package designed to help Europe recover from the
devastation of World War II.
Jun 24, 1948
Berlin Blockade
After the United States, Britain, and France introduce the Deutsche Mark to serve as a single
currency for their three zones of occupation in western Germany, the Soviets impose the Berlin
blockade, cutting off rail and road access to the capital city, which is located in the middle of the
Soviet zone of eastern Germany.
Jun 24, 1948
The Berlin Airlift
Under General Lucius Clay, the United States begins Operation Vittles—the 11- month Berlin
Airlift—which brings necessary supplies into the city by plane. The airlift represents an
immense feat of coordination, with planes landing and being unloaded around the clock for
nearly a year.