Cold War Story, Apendix A: Cold War Political/Military Timeline, Page 1 of 5 Pages

Feb 45: Yalta Conference held between Soviet Premier Stalin, U.S. President Roosevelt, and British Prime Minister Churchill to discuss Allied war planning to include: partition of former German occupied nations of Eastern Europe (Soviet jurisdiction with the allowance for “free” elections; and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Japan as soon as possible after Germany’s surrender

12 Apr 45: President Roosevelt dies and Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States

13 Apr 45: Truman briefed about atomic weapons by Secretary of War Stimson and Manhattan Project Director, General Groves

May 45: Germany Surrenders to Allies

16 Jul 45: First atomic bomb test in New Mexico is successful

24 Jul 45: Potsdam Conference between allied leaders

6 Aug 45: U.S. drops first atomic bomb on Hiroshima

9 Aug 45: U.S. drops second atomic bomb on Nagasaki
USSR declares war on Japan

Oct. 45: JCS Paper “Strategic Vulnerability of Russia to a Limited Attack” presented a plan to destroy 20 of the USSSR’s largest cities with atomic bombs.

Bulgaria and Romania followed Poland in establishing servile pro-Soviet governments

Secretary of War Robert Patterson approved JCS plans to attain and develop as many overseas bases as possible to maintain US strategic air superiority and its world leadership role

Dec 45: Pro-Soviet forces in northern Iran seized control of government and declared the new national government of Azerbaijan – which immediately grants the USSR oil-drilling rights. Russian troops come to within 40 miles of Tehran

The New York Times reported that Soviet troops kept Iranian forces in their barracks during the coup and U.S. officials wre extremely concerned about Soviet intentions and a new U.S./USSR conflict.

Precipitated Admiral Leahy and Gen Eisenhower to call on war planners to develop plans for US/USSR conflict

5 Jan 46: President Truman’s Letter about Russia’s threat of expansion and broken promises

Feb 46: Stalin Speech at the Supreme Soviet which western politicos took as the most provocative and “war-like”

21 Feb 46: Great Britain informs US that it cannot continue to sustain assistance to Greece and Turkey (and their fight against Communist elements being wages for control of both governments)

22 Feb 46: US Ambassador Kennan’s 8,000 word “Long Telegram” which set the state for idenifying the Soviets as aggressors and US/USSR confrontation in a bi-polar world “A totalitarian regime bent on expansion.”

12 Mar 46: President Truman goes before joint session of Congress and requests $400 million for aid to Greece and Turkey – media dubbed the Truman Doctrine – approved by Congress on 22 April 1946

Mar 46: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech

Apr 46: JCS approved memorandum for President outlining prospective Soviet moves and necessary US countermeasures – planners reiterated use of US strategic air power to destroy the Soviet will to resist and cripple industrial capabilities

26 May 46: Czechoslovakia’s last free election –Communists won 35% of the vote

Jun 46: US military chiefs (Eisenhower, Spaatz and Nimitz) met and agreed to ask British to join and assist in US contingency plans for global war with USSR – codenamed PINCHER

Jun 46: Soviets force Turkish government for freedom of navigation through Dardanelles (from Black to Mediteranean Seas)

Aug 46: Soviet TU-4’s unveiled at Aviation Day – first evidence that USSR was developing a strategic bomber force

Sep 46: SAC created under newly-established USAF (Only had 30 B-29 bombers SILVERPLATE configured to deliver atomic bombs

Jun 47: US launched the Marshll Plan to arrest an impending shift in power and influence towards the USSR in Europe – it would not aid US but help “link-it” to Europe


			The story of The Impact of U.S. Aerial Reconnaissance during the Early Cold War (1947-1962): Service & Sacrifice of the Cold Warriors
Appendix A Political/Military Cold War Actions Timeline From February 1945 to October 1962 Page 1 of 5 Pages This page includes dates from Feb. 45 to Dec. 48
		Political and Military Actions Feb 45: Yalta Conference held between Soviet Premier Stalin, U.S. President Roosevelt, and British Prime Minister Churchill to discuss Allied war planning to include: partition of former German occupied nations of Eastern Europe (Soviet jurisdiction with the allowance for “free” elections; and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Japan as soon as possible after Germany’s surrender 12 Apr 45: President Roosevelt dies and Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States 13 Apr 45: Truman briefed about atomic weapons by Secretary of War Stimson and Manhattan Project Director, General Groves May 45: Germany Surrenders to Allies 16 Jul 45: First atomic bomb test in New Mexico is successful 24 Jul 45: Potsdam Conference between allied leaders 6 Aug 45: U.S. drops first atomic bomb on Hiroshima 9 Aug 45: U.S. drops second atomic bomb on Nagasaki USSR declares war on Japan Oct. 45: JCS Paper “Strategic Vulnerability of Russia to a Limited Attack” presented a plan to destroy 20 of the USSSR’s largest cities with atomic bombs. Bulgaria and Romania followed Poland in establishing servile pro-Soviet governments Secretary of War Robert Patterson approved JCS plans to attain and develop as many overseas bases as possible to maintain US strategic air superiority and its world leadership role Dec 45: Pro-Soviet forces in northern Iran seized control of government and declared the new national government of Azerbaijan – which immediately grants the USSR oil-drilling rights. Russian troops come to within 40 miles of Tehran The New York Times reported that Soviet troops kept Iranian forces in their barracks during the coup and U.S. officials wre extremely concerned about Soviet intentions and a new U.S./USSR conflict. Precipitated Admiral Leahy and Gen Eisenhower to call on war planners to develop plans for US/USSR conflict 5 Jan 46: President Truman’s Letter about Russia’s threat of expansion and broken promises Feb 46: Stalin Speech at the Supreme Soviet which western politicos took as the most provocative and “war-like” 21 Feb 46: Great Britain informs US that it cannot continue to sustain assistance to Greece and Turkey (and their fight against Communist elements being wages for control of both governments) 22 Feb 46: US Ambassador Kennan’s 8,000 word “Long Telegram” which set the state for idenifying the Soviets as aggressors and US/USSR confrontation in a bi-polar world “A totalitarian regime bent on expansion.” 12 Mar 46: President Truman goes before joint session of Congress and requests $400 million for aid to Greece and Turkey – media dubbed the Truman Doctrine – approved by Congress on 22 April 1946 Mar 46: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech Apr 46: JCS approved memorandum for President outlining prospective Soviet moves and necessary US countermeasures – planners reiterated use of US strategic air power to destroy the Soviet will to resist and cripple industrial capabilities 26 May 46: Czechoslovakia’s last free election –Communists won 35% of the vote Jun 46: US military chiefs (Eisenhower, Spaatz and Nimitz) met and agreed to ask British to join and assist in US contingency plans for global war with USSR – codenamed PINCHER Jun 46: Soviets force Turkish government for freedom of navigation through Dardanelles (from Black to Mediteranean Seas) Aug 46: Soviet TU-4’s unveiled at Aviation Day – first evidence that USSR was developing a strategic bomber force Sep 46: SAC created under newly-established USAF (Only had 30 B-29 bombers SILVERPLATE configured to deliver atomic bombs Jun 47: US launched the Marshll Plan to arrest an impending shift in power and influence towards the USSR in Europe – it would not aid US but help “link-it” to Europe May 48: Soviet block Western allies from Berlin –USAF and Allied Airlift begins 5 Jul 48: Air Force Chief of Staff [quote] in Life magazine about US plan to use nuclear weapons in future conflict with the USSR 18 Jul 48: Two USAF Groups of 60 B-29 “atomic bombers” fly into bases in UK (Even though US didn’t have 60 nuclear bombs – which were eventually delivered to the UK bases at start of Korean War, this was the first nuclear “show of force”) Dec 48: Joint War Plan “TROJAN” targeted 70 Russian cities to be attacked with 133 atomic bombs
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