*1945: Soviet Union (i.e. USSR - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) takes over Eastern Europe and establishes puppet/satellite governments (see map)*
1945-1952: USSR rebuilt swiftly (slave labour, E. Europe contributes). Stalin solidifies himself in power with the secret police. Five year plans implemented for the economy.
*1949: USSR explodes its first A-bomb (test)*
1953: Stalin dies
*1953-55: Power struggle occurs - Khruschev wins*
*1956: Destalinization policy leads to revolts in Poland and Hungary where people seek greater freedom from Soviet control. Soviets though crush the rebellions.*
*1957: 'Sputnik' (Soviet satellite) created fear in USA, began space race*
*Peaceful Coexistence Policy towards the USA. It was argued that this was hampered by the USA policy of brinkmanship - pushing the enemy to the brink of war eg 1954 - USA persuaded NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to rearm West Germany. Result: 1955 - Warsaw Pact - Eastern European Defense system similar to NATO*
*1960: 'U-2 incident' (i.e. USA spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union) led to cancellation of Paris summit meeting between the two sides*
*1962: Cuban Missile Crisis*
1963: Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
1964: Krushchev forced to retire Why? Hungarian revolt in 1956, Cuban Missile Crisis - showed weakness, wheat shortages, poor relations with China
1964: Brezhnev takes over the USSR
*1968: Czechoslovakian Revolt ('Prague Spring') Soviets crushed the rebellion.*
*1972: SALT I signed - an example of new relationship between the Soviet Union and USA called 'detente' meaning easing of tension*
*SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Talks*
*1975: Helsinki Accord signed - West agrees that Eastern European boundaries are permanent, both East and West agreed to respect basic human rights for all*
*1979: SALT II signed* - not ratified by the US Senate
-treaty adhered to unofficially; unofficial treaty expired in 1985
- *USSR invaded Afghanistan*
1981: Brezhnev dies - Andropov replaces him - former KGB chief; poor health, little accomplished
1983: Andropov dies, Chernenko replaces him; again poor health, little accomplished
*1984: Chernenko dies, Gorbachev replaces him*
*1984-1989: Soviets finding it more and more difficult to fund the arms race*
- *glasnost ("giving voice to") introduced allowing Soviets more freedom to speak freely and to criticize their government*
- *perestroika ("to reconstruct") introduced to try to change the Soviet Union's political system and economy which suffered from poor productivity, shortages, alcoholism, etc.*
- *Soviets loosening their grip on E. Europe. Democracy movement in E. Europe.*
*1989: Berlin Wall removed leading to eventual reunification of Germany. Symbolic end to the Cold War.*
