Cold War International History Project's Cold War Files

events
Cold War Files: All Units: Events:

		May 7-8, 1945 2 days Germany Surrenders Admiral Karl Donitz (leader of Germany since Hitler’s suicide), authorized General Alfred Jodl to conclude an armistace with the Western Allies on May 6 in order to continue the war with Russians. Eisenhower demanded full and unconditional... [more]

		July 4, 1945 49 years Berlin is Occupied When the war ended in May, the only Allied soldiers in Berlin were the Soviet forces that had fought their way in at the end of April 1945. Under the terms of the Yalta Agreement, Berlin was to be divided into four occupation zones (US, British,... [more]

		July 17 - August 2, 1945 17 days Potsdam Conference Harry Truman, Winston Churchill (later Clement Atlee), and Josef Stalin met in the German city of Potsdam to discuss the future of Europe. It had earlier been determined at the Yalta Conference that a meeting between the “Big Three” would be held... [more]

		August 1945 Korea is Liberated from Japanese Rule In Korea, the end of World War II brought both U.S. and Soviet forces into the Korean peninsula as occupying powers. The occupation of the country took place with a minimum of friction between the two forces. It soon became apparent, however, that... [more]

		August 1945 Korea Partitioned Along 38th Parallel In August of 1945 the Soviet Union and the United States agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel in order to accept the surrender of Japanese forces. The two armies occupied Korea, effectively dividing it into North and South zones. When the... [more]

		November 14, 1947 UN Resolution Calling for General Elections On November 14, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 112(II) which called for a general election under the supervision of the UN Commission. However, the Soviet Union refused to comply with the UN resolution and denied the... [more]

		May 10, 1948 Elections Held in Korea The first elections in Korea took place on May 10, 1948, in the area south of the 38th parallel.

		July 1948 - May 1949 10 months Berlin Blockade and Airlift Responding to the Western Allies currency reforms in the Western occupation zones, Stalin ordered the land access routes to Berlin to be blockaded. This act cut off over 2,500,000 people living in the Western zones with minimal food stocks. The... [more]

		August 15, 1948 Republic of Korea Established Republic of Korea established. “On August 15, 1948 the government of the Republic of Korea was established. The Korean general assembly chose Syngman Rhee as the first president of the Korean Republic. Rhee was a Korean patriot, and previously had... [more]

		September 9, 1948 North Korea is Established The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established on September 9, 1948, three weeks after the Republic of Korea had been formed in Seoul. Kim Il Sung was named premier, a title he retained until 1972, when, under a new constitution, he was... [more]

		January 1, 1949 US Extends Diplomatic Recognition to the Repbulic of Korea US extended diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

		April 1949 Formation of NATO NATO, a mutual defense alliance between Western Europe and Th United States was formed in response to Soviet aggression in Europe. The initial members included the United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Canada,... [more]

		May 23, 1949 Creation of West Germany A new Federal Republic of Germany was formed by combining the French, British, and American occupation zones. Konrad Adenauer, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was elected the first Chancellor of the new FRG. The Western Allied... [more]

		October 7, 1949 Oct. 7, 1949 - Oct. 3, 1990 Creation of East Germany In response to the creation of the new Federal Republic of Germany, the Soviet Union decided to create their own communist Germany in the Eastern Zone. Stalin picked Walter Ulbrict to head the new government, which was closely modeled on Stalinist... [more]

		January 12, 1950 Secretary Acheson Defines America's Defensive Perimeter in Asia On January 12, 1950 Secretary of State Dean Acheson in a speech to the National Press Club defined America’s defensive perimeter in Asia without including Korea. Shortly thereafter on January 19, the Congress rejected a $60 million aid bill for... [more]

		June 25, 1950 North Korea Invades South Korea At approximately 4 a.m. (Korean Standard Time) on a rainy Sunday morning Democratic People's Republic of Korea Army (DPRK - North Korea) artillery and mortars open fire on Republic of Korea (ROK - South Korea) Army positions south of the 38th... [more]

		June 30, 1950 Gen. MacArthur Receives Permission to Employ U.S. Ground Support Forces Gen. MacArthur receives permission to employ U.S. ground support forces and to carry the war into North Korea and the waters offshore but to stay well clear of the Manchurian and Soviet borders. Later in the day he receives permission to deploy one... [more]

		July 7, 1950 United Nations Creates a UN Command in Korea The United Nations issued Resolution 84, which created a United Nations Command which would be led by General Douglas MacArthur. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching... [more]

		September 11, 1950 Truman Approves NSC 81/1 Truman approved National Security Council (NSC) Report 81/1. The report endorsed plans for UN forces to occupy all of North Korea so they could eventually be reunited. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne... [more]

		September 15, 1950 US Lands at Inchon On the morning of September 15, 1950, heavy fighting continued in the 1st Cavalry Division sector of the "Pusan Perimeter" north and west of Taegu. To the south in the 2nd Infantry Division "Naktong Bulge" sector, pockets of survivors from 2 North... [more]

		September 21, 1950 Liberation of Seoul Liberation of Seoul (1st return) 21-30 Sept 1950. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism... [more]

		October 1-27, 1950 4 weeks UN Forces Advance into North Korea UN forces advanced into North Korea. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun. more]

		October 15, 1950 Truman and MacArthur Meet at Wake Island President Truman and General Douglas MacArthur met on October 15 on Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean. Truman met with MacArthur to voice his concerns over the possiblity of China entering the war. MacArthur reassured Truman that he did not think... [more]

		October 19, 1950 North Korean Capital Pyongyang Captured UN forces moved into and captured the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on October 19th. The capture of the city came as UN forces under the command of Douglas MacArthur have pushed North Korean forces steadily back almost to the Yalu River.more]

		November 1, 1950 Intervention of Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) The CCF intervention against U.S. X Corps in northeast North Korea was neither as massive nor as successful as its offensive against EUSA. The most intense combat in the X Corps sector occurred in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir. There,... [more]

		November 27 - December 6, 1950 2 weeks Battle of the Changjin (Chosin) Resovoir Battle of the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir (Nov. 27 - Dec. 9). The encircled 1st Marine Division fights its way southward from the Chosin Reservoir to the port city of Hungnam.

		30 November -24 December 1950 X Corps Evacuation from Chosin and the Hungnam Operation The 1st Marine Division begins its famous fighting withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir. The Fifth and Seventh Marine Regiments begin fighting their way to the First Marine Division command post at Hagari. They finally make it Dec. 4 after fighting... [more]

		December 23, 1950 Gen. Walton H. Walker is Killed Gen. Walton H. Walker, commander of Eighth Army, is killed in a vehicle accident. The jeep the general was riding in smashed into a ROKA truck that pulled out of a side road while the General's jeep was trying pass a northbound convoy. . Lt. Gen.... [more]

		December 24, 1950 Hungnam Operation is Complete Hungnam Operation is complete— The 3d Infantry Division sails for Pusan from Hungnam, completing the evacuation of the port city. In all, ships evacuated 105,000 Americans and South Korean soldiers, 91,000 civilian refugees, 17,500 vehicles and... [more]

		January 4, 1951 Seoul Recaptured by Communist Forces The combined communist forces of China and North Korea recaptured the South Korean capital of Seoul. The capture of the city follows a fast retreat by UN forces in the face of a large offensive made possible by large Chinese reinforcements. The... [more]

		January 25-April 21,1951 UN Counteroffensive of 1951 In the winter of 1951 UN forces fighting in South Korea went on the offensive. After months of retreat following the Chinese intervention, the front lines were once again pushed North. Although U.N. forces had stopped the communist... [more]

		February 1, 1951 UN Brands China as an Aggressor The UN General Assembly issues Resolution 498(V) addressing the "Intervention of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in Korea." The UN branded Communist China as an aggressor in Korea and called upon it to cease... [more]

	April 11, 1951 Gen. MacArthur Relived of Command On April 11, 1951, the President relieved General MacArthur, triggering a firestorm of protest over our strategy not only in Korea, but in the Cold War as a whole. As the last great general of World War II to come home, MacArthur received a hero's... [more]

	April 22-May 22, 1951 1 month CCF Spring Offensives of 1951 The first CCF Spring Offensive was launched on April 22 and lasted until April 29. The offensive was the largest single battle of the Korean War. The CCF attacked with 250,000 men in 27 divisions. Defending against the offensive were five U.S. Army... [more]

	July 21-Nov. 12, 1951 4 months UN Summer and Fall Offensive During the Summer and Fall of 1951 UN forces launched a general offensive. Throughout the summer months, and into the fall of 1951, the fighting was virtually continuous and aimed at achieving limited objectives. U.N. military actions during... [more]

	June, 23, 1951 Jacob Malik Proposes Korean Truce The USSR delgate to the UN, Jacob Malik, proposed a truce on the Korean peninsula.

	July 10, 1951 Korean War Truce Talks Begin Korean War truce talks began on this day.

	August 23, 1951 Communists Break of Truce Talks The communist forces broke of the truce talks in Kaesong. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring... [more]

	October 25, 1951 Peace Talks are Resumed at Kaesong Peace talks once again resumed at Kaesong.

	November 27, 1951 Cease-Fire Line is Agreed Upon The truce talks in Panmunjom finally yielded results as the two sides agreed on a cease-fire line. The cease-fire line runs along the 38th parallel. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally... [more]

	November 27, 1951 38th Parallel Agreed On as Line of Demarcation Nov. 27, 1951, the two sides agreed on the 38th Parallel as the line of demarcation and almost immediately military operations slowed down. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog... [more]

	December 18, 1951 P.O.W. Lists are Exchanged P.O.W. lists are exchanged. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun. more]

	Winter 1952 Second Korean Winter Consequently, for the rest of the winter and early spring, the action at the front consisted almost entirely of small forays and occasional clashes of patrols, while the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) and other U.N. aircraft flew almost daily close-air... [more]

	January 3, 1952 P.O.W. Exchange Proposal Rejected by Communists Something here.

	February 18, 1952 Rioting in the Koje-de Prison Camp Something here.

	May 7-May 12, 1952 5 days Koje-do P.O.W. Camp Rioting On May 7 General Dodd is captured by rioting Koje-do P.O.W.s. General Haydon Boatner replaced General Colson at Koje-do and he is able to put down the rioting.

	May 27, 1952 Martial Law is Delcared in Pusan South Korean President Syngman Rhee declares martial law in Pusan. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy!... [more]

	Summer and Fall 1952 Summer and Fall of 1952 somethign Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun. more]

	June 23, 1952 General Clark Orders Bombing of Power Plants General Clark oders the bombing of North Korean power plants. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy!... [more]

	Oct 8, 1952 Truce Talks are Halted and General Clark Inititates Operation Showdown After truce talks halt, General Clark initiates Operation Showdown. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy!... [more]

	November 15-27, 1952 2 weeks DPRK Holds the "1952 P.O.W. Olympics" The DPRK holds the 1952 P.O.W. Olympics in an effort to portray humane conditions in North Korean prisoner of war camps.

	1953 Third Korean Winter something Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun. more]

	March 5, 1953 Joseph Stalin Dies Stalin died in the Soviet Union. The death of Stalin prompted Permier Georgi Malenkov to voice support for a cease-fire agreement. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching... [more]

	March 5, 1953 Joseph Stalin Dies Josef Stalin died in Moscow of a brain hemorage at the age of 74. Initially a collective leadership emerged, made up of Nikita Khrushchev, Georgy Malenkov, Lavrenty Beria, and Vyacheslav Molotov. First to go was Beria, who was accused of being a... [more]

	March 30, 1953 Truce Talks Resume at Panmunjom Truce talks resume at Panmunjom after a nine month halt in the talks. The talks were moved from Kaesong so they could take place in a more neutral area between the battle lines.

	Summer 1953 Summer of 1953 Something Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun. more]

	17 June 1953 1 day East German Uprising Popular resentment with the Ulbrict government exploded into open rebellion in June 1953. Striking factory works soon began calling for change in leadership and Ulbrict and the other East German communists turned to the Soviets for help. Soviet... [more]

	June 18, 1953 27,000 North Korean P.O.W.s Released The Republic of South Korea released 27,000 North Korean prisoners into the country side. The prisoners had refused repatriation in North Korea. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog... [more]

	July 27, 1953 Korean War Armistice Signed The United States, North Korea and China sign an armistice, which ends the war but fails to bring about a permanent peace. To date, the Republic of Korea (South) and Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (North) have not signed a peace treaty. A... [more]

	September 10, 1953 Repatriation of P.O.W.s Begins The repatriation of P.O.W.s beings at Freedom Village in Panmunjom.

	May 1955 West Germany Joins NATO After years of diplomatic manouvering and despite French fears, it was agreed to allow West Germany to reform an army and, in turn, to join the NATO alliance. The new army was limited to 600,000 men and tight alliance controls helped to dispell any... [more]

	May 1955 Creation of the Warsaw Pact In direct response to the formation of the new West German army, the Soviet Union entered into a formal military alliance (similar to NATO) with East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Named the Warsaw Pact, this... [more]

	February 24-25, 1956 2 days Khruschev’s 'Secret' Speech In a secret speech before a closed plenum of the 20th Congress of the CPSU, Khrushchev denounced Stalin’s cult of the personality. In addition, he revealed that Stalin had rounded up thousands of people and sent them into a huge system of political... [more]

	October 23-November 7, 1956 2 weeks The Hungarian Revolution During an open rebellion by the Hungarian people in response to the Stalinist line of its government, Imre Nagy emerged as a new Prime Minister on October 24 and began to lead the country away from the Soviet bloc. He officialy withdrew from the... [more]

	1961 U.S. Support Troops Arrive in South Vietnam South Vietnam signed a military and economic aid treaty with the United States leading to the arrival (1961) of U.S. support troops.

	June 4, 1961 Vienna Summit Between Khrushchev and Kennedy The first meeting between the new President and Khrushchev covered a wide range of international issues, but focused on Berlin. Khrushchev indicated that he was going to sign a treaty with the East Germans that would infringe on Western access... [more]

	August 12/13, 1961 Berlin Wall is Begun Walter Ulbrict officially ordered his police and security forces to begin construction of a barrier that would surround West Berlin, effectively cutting the city in two. Over the next 28 years the wall was steadily expanded and refined, with all... [more]

	December 11, 1961 U.S. Helicopters and Military Personnel Arrive in South Vietnam American helicopters arrive at docks in South Vietnam along with 400 U.S. personnel, who will fly and maintain the aircraft.

	1962 Number of U.S. Military Advisors in South Vietnam Rises to 12,000 Number of US military advisors in South Vietnam rises to 12,000.

	Early 1962 Operation Ranchhand Begins Operation Ranchhand begins. The goal of Ranchhand is to clear vegetation alongside highways, making it more difficult for the Vietcong to conceal themselves for ambushes. As the war continues, the scope of Ranchhand increases. Vast tracts of forest... [more]

	June 26, 1963 Kennedy’s Berlin Speech In a speech in West Berlin, President John F. Kennedy said, “All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in saying, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner [I am a Berliner].”... [more]

	April - June 1964 three months U.S. Air Power Reinforced American air power in Southeast Asia is massively reinforced. Two aircraft carriers arrive off the Vietnamese coast prompted by a North Vietnamese offensive in Laos. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting... [more]

	Summer 1964 War Escalates and Johnson Approves Operation Plan 34A As 56,000 Viet Cong spread their successful guerrilla war throughout South Vietnam, they are reinforced by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars pouring in via the Ho Chi Minh trail. Responding to this escalation, President Johnson approves... [more]

	July 30, 1964 South Vietnamese Commandos Attack with Help of US. Maddox On this night, South Vietnamese commandos attack two small North Vietnamese islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. The U.S. destroyer Maddox, an electronic spy ship, is 123 miles south with orders to electronically simulate an air attack to draw North... [more]

	August 4, 1964 Johnson Orders Attack on North Vietnamese Naval Bases The captain of the U.S.S. Maddox reports that his vessel has been fired on and that an attack is imminent. Though he later says that no attack took place, six hours after the initial report, a retaliation against North Vietnam is ordered by... [more]

	February 7, 1965 Johnson Orders Retaliation for NLF Attacks A U.S. helicopter base and advisory compound in the central highlands of South Vietnam is attacked by NLF commandos. Nine Americans are killed and more than 70 are wounded. President Johnson immediately orders U.S. Navy fighter-bombers to attack... [more]

	February 13, 1965 Johnson Authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, a limited but long lasting bombing offensive. Its aim is to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South.

	June 27, 1965 Westmoreland Leads Attack Northwest of Saigon General William Westmoreland launches the first purely offensive operation by American ground forces in Vietnam, sweeping into NLF territory just northwest of Saigon.

	January 8, 1966 Operation Crimp Begins U.S. forces launch Operation Crimp. Deploying nearly 8,000 troops, it is the largest American operation of the war. The goal of the campaign is to capture the Viet Cong's headquarters for the Saigon area, which is believed to be located in the... [more]

	April - May 1966 two months Operation Birmingham Begins In Operation Birmingham, more than 5,000 U.S. troops, backed by huge numbers of helicopters and armored vehicles, sweep the area around north of Saigon. There are small-scale actions between both armies, but over a three-week period, only 100 Viet... [more]

	Late May - June 1966 Battle at Dong Ha Drives NVA Back Over DMZ In late May 1966, the North Vietnamese 324B Division crosses the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and encounters a Marine battalion. The NVA holds their ground and the largest battle of the war to date breaks out near Dong Ha. Most of the 3rd Marine... [more]

	October 1966 Viet Cong's 9th Division Mobilizes The Viet Cong's 9th Division, having recovered from battles from the previous July, prepares for a new offensive. Losses in men and equipment have been replaced by supplies and reinforcements sent down the Ho Chi Minh trail from North Vietnam.more]

	January - May 1967 five months Heavy Bombardments of American Bases South of the DMZ Two North Vietnamese divisions, operating out of the DMZ that separates North and South Vietnam, launch heavy bombardments of American bases south of the DMZ. These bases include Khe Sanh, the Rockpile, Cam Lo, Dong Ha, Con Thien and Gio Linh.more]

	April 24, 1967 North Vietnam Airfields Under Attack American attacks on North Vietnam's airfields begin. The attacks inflict heavy damage on runways and installations. By the end of the year, all but one of the North's MiG bases has been hit.

	Late May 1967 Battles in Central Highlands of South Vietnam In the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, Americans intercept North Vietnamese Army units moving in from Cambodia. Nine days of continuous battles leave hundreds of North Vietnamese soldiers dead.

	Autumn 1967 Official North Vietnamese Opponents of Tet Offensive Arrested In Hanoi, as Communist forces are building up for the Tet Offensive, 200 senior officials are arrested in a crackdown on opponents of the Tet strategy.

	Mid-January 1968 NVA Prepares for a Major Offensive in Northwest South Vietnam In mid-January 1968 in the remote northwest corner of South Vietnam, elements of three NVA divisions begin to mass near the Marine base at Khe Sanh. The ominous proportions of the build-up lead the U.S. commanders to expect a major offensive in the... [more]

	March 22-23, 1968 two days Massive NVA Attack on Khe Sanh Military Base Without warning, a massive North Vietnamese barrage slams into Khe Sanh. More than 1,000 rounds hit the base, at a rate of a hundred every hour. At the same time, electronic sensors around Khe Sanh indicate NVA troop movements. American forces... [more]

	March 28, 1968 Official Report on My Lai Conceals Truth The initial report by participants at My Lai states that 69 Viet Cong soldiers were killed and makes no mention of civilian causalities. The My Lai massacre is successfully concealed for a year, until a series of letters from Vietnam veteran... [more]

	June 1968 Westmoreland Approves Demolition of Khe Sanh With strong, highly mobile American forces now in the area, and the base no longer needed for defense, General Westmoreland approves the abandonment and demolition of Khe Sanh.

	November 5, 1968 Nixon Wins Presidency Richard M. Nixon defeated democratic contender Hubert Humphrey in a close presidential election. Previous incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson had chosen not to run for re-election. Nixon came into office with a pledge to obtain "Peace with honor" in... [more]

	January 1969 Nixon Takes Office with Aims of Negotiating a Settlement with North Vietnam President Richard M. Nixon takes office as the new President of the United States. With regard to Vietnam, he promises to achieve "Peace With Honor." His aim is to negotiate a settlement that will allow the half million U.S. troops in Vietnam to be... [more]

	February 1969 Nixon Approves Operation Menu In spite of government restrictions, President Nixon authorizes Operation Menu, the bombing of North Vietnamese and Vietcong bases within Cambodia. Over the following four years, U.S. forces will drop more than a half million tons of bombs on... [more]

	February 22, 1969 Viet Cong Offensive Inflicts Damage on South Vietnam and American Troops In a major offensive, assault teams and artillery attack American bases all over South Vietnam, killing 1,140 Americans. At the same time, South Vietnamese towns and cities are also hit. The heaviest fighting is around Saigon, but fights rage all... [more]

	April 29, 1970 South Vietnamese Troops Push Toward Viet Cong Bases in Cambodia South Vietnamese troops attack into Cambodia, pushing toward Viet Cong bases. Two days later, a U.S. force of 30,000 -- including three U.S. divisions -- mount a second attack. Operations in Cambodia last for 60 days, and uncover vast North... [more]

	November 12, 1970 Calley Trial Begins in Georgia The U.S. Army brings murder charges against Lt. William Calley concerning the massacre of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai in March of 1968, and the military trial begins at Fort Benning, Georgia on November 12, 1970.more]

	Summer 1971 Agent Orange Continues to be Spread While herbicides containing Dioxin were banned for use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1968, spraying of Agent Orange continues in Vietnam until 1971. Operation Ranchhand has sprayed 11 million gallons of Agent Orange -- containing 240... [more]

	September 3, 1971 Quadrapartite Agreement on Berlin Signed An agreement was signed by Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union that codified West Berlin’s ties with West Germany. This agreement helped to significantly reduce tensions between the East and West over the issue of... [more]

	January 1, 1972 Dropping Levels of American Servicemen in South Vietnam Only 133,000 U.S. servicemen remain in South Vietnam. Two thirds of America's troops have gone in two years. The ground war is now almost exclusively the responsibility of South Vietnam, which has over 1,000,000 men enlisted in its armed... [more]

	March 30, 1972 Eastertide Attack on Quang Tri Throws Southern Troops into Chaos NVA Eastertide attack on Quang Tri begins. Massed North Vietnamese Army artillery open a shattering barrage, targeting South Vietnamese positions across the DMZ. Upwards of 20,000 NVA troops cross the DMZ, forcing the South Vietnamese units into a... [more]

	April 1, 1972 NVA Gradually Pushes Towards Hue North Vietnamese soldiers push toward the city of Hue, which is defended by a South Vietnamese division and a division of U.S. Marines. But by April 9, the NVA are forced to halt attacks and resupply. Adger inflector... [more]

	April 27, 1972 Paris Peace Talks Resume Paris peace talks resume. Two weeks after the initial attack, North Vietnamese forces again battle toward Quang Tri City. The defending South Vietnamese division retreats. By April 29, the NVA takes Dong Ha, and by May 1, Quang Tri City.more]

	November 26, 1972 Basic Treaty is Signed The Basic Treaty governing relations between East and West Germany is signed by both parties. Both states agreed to recognize each other, and the four powers agreed to support their admission to the United Nations. This was undertaken with the... [more]

	January 1974 North Vietnamese Rebuild Divisions in the South Though they are still too weak to launch a full-scale offensive, the North Vietnamese have rebuilt their divisions in the South, and have captured key areas.

	August 9, 1974 Nixon Resigns President Richard M. Nixon resigns, leaving South Vietnam without its strongest advocate. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw... [more]

	January 6, 1975 NVA Take Phuoc Long Violating Peace Agreement In a disastrous loss for the South Vietnamese, the NVA take Phuoc Long city and the surrounding province. The attack, a blatant violation of the Paris peace agreement, produces no retaliation from the United States.... [more]

	March, 1975 NVA Captures Quang Tri Province Another NVA offensive sends 100,000 soldiers against the major cities of Quang Tri, Hue and Da Nang. Backed by powerful armored forces and eight full regiments of artillery, they quickly succeed in capturing Quang Tri province.more]

	March 1, 1975 South Vietnamese Army Devasted by NVA Offensive A powerful NVA offensive is unleashed in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. The resulting South Vietnamese retreat is chaotic and costly, with nearly 60,000 troops dead or missing.

	Early April 1975 NVA Makes Stunning Gains within Five Weeks Five weeks into its campaign, the North Vietnamese Army has made stunning gains. Twelve provinces and more than eight million people are under its control. The South Vietnamese Army has lost its best units, over a third of its men, and almost half... [more]

	April 29, 1975 Airlift Out of Saigon U.S. Marines and Air Force helicopters, flying from carriers off-shore, begin a massive airlift. In 18 hours, over 1,000 American civilians and almost 7,000 South Vietnamese refugees are flown out of Saigon. Adger... [more]

	December 1983 4 years Pershing II Missiles Deployed in West Germany Due to Soviet deployment of the SS-20 missile in East Germany and Eastern Europe, NATO decided in December 1979 to accept the new US Pershing II missile system. Despite political pressure and mass protests in Western Europe, the first missile... [more]

	March 11, 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev Comes to Power After the death of Yuri Andropov and then Konstin Chernenko, Mikhail Gorbachev emerged as the new General Secretary of the CPSU. His policies of peristroka and glasnot brought a new openess to the Soviet Union. It also exposed the... [more]

	June 12, 1987 Reagan’s Berlin Wall Speech In a speech in West Berlin, President Ronald Reagan says, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Only a few years later, the wall indeed comes down.

	September 7-11 1987 4 days Honecker Visits Bonn In an unprecedented move, Erich Honecker, leader of East Germany, visited the capital of West Germany. The new Chancellor of West Germany, Helmut Kohl, received Honecker with full state honors. This was significant because it was a further... [more]

	January 20, 1989 George Bush inaugurated as 41st President of the United States George Bush was inaugurated as the 41st President of the United States. President Bush will be the last President of the United States to fight the Cold War, and the Soviet Union will dissolve during his tenure.more]

	February 15, 1989 Last Soviet troops leave Afghanistan. The last Soviet troops were withdrawn from Afgahnistan. Gorbachev demanded that the retreat be orderly and dignified--he did not want television images reminiscent of the chaotic 1975 US pullout from Vietnam. "We must not appear before the world in... [more]

	May 5, 1989 Lithuania and Estonia declare sovereignty Lithuania and Estonia declare sovereignty; Latvia follows on 29 July

	June 3, 1989 Chinese Army suppresses dissidents in Tiananmen Square The Chinese Army suppressed dissidents in Tiananmen Square. Students who had been protesting for democracy for months in the middle of Beijing were brutally scattered and broken up, and possibly thousands die in the crackdown. The suppression was... [more]

	July 6-7, 1989 2 days USSR will not block East European reform Gorbachev told the Strasbourg based Council of Europe that USSR will not block East European reform. Gorbachev told the Council that it is "the sovereign right of each people to choose their own social system." July 7, 1989 Gorbachev told... [more]

	August, 24, 1989 First non-communist government in Eastern Europe since 1948 elected in Poland The first non-communist government in Eastern Europe since 1948 was elected in Poland. The Solidarity union led by Lech Welesa was legalized and allowed to participate in elections. A Solidarity victory in the elections in April of 1989 led the way... [more]

	September 1989 1 month 17,000 East Germans flee to Austria More than 17,000 East Germans flee to Austria via Czechoslovakia and Poland. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid... [more]

	September 10, 1989 Hungary opens border with Austria On May 3, 1989, Hungarian soldiers removed the barbed wire fence on the border with Austria. The Hungarian government called the fence "outdated" and superfluous, given the existence of Hungary's new (1988) liberal passport law. The Hungarian... [more]

	October 9, 1989 100,000 East Germans march in Leipzig, demand democracy 100,000 East Germans marched in Leipzig, demanding democracy with the chant "Wir sind das Volk (We are the people). The march is one of many "Monday Demonstrations" held weekly in Leipzig and other East German cities.... [more]

	October 9, 1989 Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig on the evening of October 9, 1989, Leipzig witnessed the largest protest demonstration in East Germany since the uprising of June 17, 1953: seventy thousand people marched through the city center. The police no longer stood a chance, and they... [more]

	October 18, 1989 Erich Honecker Resigns In the morning, Manfred von Ardenne, a well-known Dresden scientist, said he had the impression that the SED leadership had not yet grasped the seriousness of the situation and complained that there have been no »significant deeds and changes.« He... [more]

	October 18, 1989 Egon Krenz replaces Honecker as East German leader. Erich Honecker resigned from his position of leadership in the East German government, and he is replaced by Egon Krenz. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg... [more]

	November 4, 1989 Largest Protest Demonstration in the History of the GDR in Berlin The center of East Berlin was entirely filled with demonstrators by the early morning of November 4, 1989. Traffic had come to a complete standstill. Actors wearing green and yellow sashes, bearing the slogan "No Violence" were on hand to keep... [more]

	November 7, 1989 The government of the GDR Resigns The entire East German government resigned, after directing a final appeal to the public that, "in this serious situation, all energies be concentrated on keeping up all functions indispensable to the people, society and the economy." The ministers... [more]

	November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall opens After a misunderstanding, Günter Schabowski announced in a press conference the opening of all border crossings within Berlin and with the Federal Republic of Germany. Tens of thousands of people immediately went to the Wall, where the border... [more]

	November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall Falls At a press conference held by the SED leadership, they announced that border controls would be eased. Confusion spreads as people thought the Wall would be opened, and border guards were unsure of what to do. The guards eventually decided to open... [more]

	December 2-3, 1989 2 days Bush and Gorbachev meet at Malta Bush and Gorbachev met at Malta in the so-called shipboard summit. The summit opened the way for the successful conclusoin of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty in 1990 and the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) in 1991. A press... [more]

	December 3, 1989 East German government resigns Amid pressure following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ruling East German government resigned paving the way for possible reunification with West Germany. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety... [more]

	December 25, 1989 Nicolae Ceauşescu and wife executed in Romania The regime Nicolae Ceauşescu collapsed after he ordered regular military forces and the Securitate to fire on anti-Communist demonstrators in the city of Timişoara on December 17, 1989. The demonstrations were triggered by the... [more]

	December 29, 1989 Vaclav Havel becomes first democratic president of Czechoslovakia On December 29, 1989, Vaclav Havel, the head of the Civic Forum, was elected president by the Federal Assembly. In the following free elections of 1990 he retained the presidency. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne... [more]

	February 25, 1990 Demonstrators across USSR attack Gorbachev by name Demonstrators across USSR attacked Gorbachev by name; in Moscow troops and KGB units stand by as 50,000 to 100,000 marched through streets. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog... [more]

	March 11, 1990 Lithuania declares independence Lithuania declares independence; Gorbachev brands move illegal.

	May 4, 1990 Latvia declares independence Latvia declares independence; Gorbachev declares act illegal.

	May 29, 1990 Boris Yel'tsin elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Republic Boris Yel'tsin was elected Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Republic. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy... [more]

	May 30, 1990 Bush and Gorbachev open their second summit in Washington Bush and Gorbachev opened their second summit in Washington, and Gorbachev said during the course of the summit: "Germans should decide whether or not they're in NATO." Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne... [more]

	June 12, 1990 Russian republic declares sovereignty Russian republic declares sovereignty. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun. more]

	June 16, 1990 Ukraine declares sovereignty Ukraine declares sovereignty.

	September 12, 1990 "Two Plus Four" Treaty Signed in Moscow The "Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany" more commonly known as the "Two Plus Four Treaty" was the final peace treaty negotiated between the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and the Four Powers that... [more]

	October 3, 1990 German Unification Germany was officially reunified on October 3, 1990, when the five reestablished federal states (Bundesländer) of East Germany formally joined the Federal Republic of Germany. An agreement to reunite both parts of Germany was reached on February... [more]

	October 3, 1990 Germany is Reunified Following a treaty signed by the four occupying powers and the two German states in Moscow on September 12, the two Germanies were officially reunited as one into the Federal Republic of Germany. The first free elections of a unified Germany were... [more]

	December 20, 1990 Shevardnadze resigns as foreign minister Shevardnardze resigned as the Soviet foreign minister and he warned of an impending dictatorship. His warning followed the replacement of a reformer with a diehard as interior minister by Gorbachev.

	February 25, 1991 Warsaw Pact members abrogate all military agreements Warsaw Pact members abrogated all military agreements, but would retain political ties. At the same time pro-reform demonstrators marched in Moscow. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally... [more]

	March 31, 1991 Warsaw Pact officially dissolves The Warsaw Pact was officially dissolved. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy! Vectoring giantism noun.... [more]

	August 19, 1991 August Coup against Gorbachev fails On August 19, 1991, one day before Gorbachev and a group of republic leaders were due to sign the Union Treaty, a group calling itself the State Emergency Committee attempted to seize power in Moscow. The group announced that Gorbachev was ill and... [more]

	December 7-8, 1991 2 days Minsk Agreement abolishes USSR and Forms the CIS Presidents of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus met secretly at Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Belorussia) to sign the Minsk agreement. The agreement abolished the USSR and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Gorbachev branded the agreement as... [more]

	December 25, 1991 Gorbachev resigns Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union for almost seven years, resigned as the President of the Soviet Union. The federal Russian flag replaced the Soviet flag over the Kremlin, and marked the final dissolution of the Soviet Union.more]

	December 31, 1991 USSR officially ceases to exist under international law The Soviet Union officially ceases to exist under international law. Adger inflector plumelet tyrosyne excepting gaiety globally bog hatching tangleleg restructuring coleslaw gynecopathy stolid daddy!... [more]