Post World War II: A Blog of Timelines

This blog is going to go through the years after World War II and recap all of the major happenings of the latter half of the 20th century.


Starting off, we have the year 1945 (which was still in WWII but we'll ignore that)

The United Nations is created!!!
      But what is the difference between this and the failed League of Nations from the past? 

• For one, the UN was much stronger because of the membership of the United States 
• And yes, we did make that much of a difference. 
• There was also a promise of authorization to use military force! 
• The League of Nations, however, was essentially just talk



League of Nations when it failed because everyone was to on-edge to join

• It also started after the war ended, thus making countries hesitant to join because of the unpromising future and countries were still salty about consequences.
• The UN was created and finalized during a war. Countries were more willing to make strong allies and end the war, and have a plan for afterwards. 

1946: 

Nuremberg Trials 

Germany if everyone had been tried

• This was when America, the UK, France and the Soviet Union judged 22 top-tier Nazi criminals. 
• all of these men were found guilty
• a question brought up today was why ALL of the Nazi's were not tried; literally so many people had participated. 
• Germany needed people who knew how to run a government to be in charge of Germany.
• Taking away everything Germany had after WWI essentially allowed Hitler to take charge. 
• A state structure, led by their own people, was needed to really reconstruct the country. 

1947: 

Israel and Palestine 

• Palestinian Mandate: chunk of the Ottoman Empire run by Britain 
• In 1917, The Balfour Declaration claimed that Britain would help Palestine set up a place for the Jews
• Fighting for the religious homeland (all of the religions, countries, etc.) 

1948: 

The Marshall Plan 

The U.S. if the USSR had accepted the plan

• The U.S. offered 13 billion dollars to aid Western Europe after World War II
• The Soviet Union declined this offer 
• Why??? 
• The Soviet Union did not want to be in debt to a country like the United States
• was it a bribe?? 
• In a way, yes. 
• The Soviet Union would "owe" the U.S., under their control in a way

The Berlin Airlift 

• The U.S. brought food and goods to West Berlin by air after the East German Government attempted to cut off supplies, resources, and trade routes. 
• Federal Republic of Germany (FRG): West Germany 
• German Democratic Republic (GDR): East Germany 

1953: 

Stalin Dies

Soviets at all times

• Khrushchev takes charge after Stalin's death
• Cuban Missile Crisis was extremely negative to his power
• there was a brief period of de-Stalinization 
• policy in Soviet Russia where Stalin's beliefs and memories were attempted to be eradicated
• tension in the Cold War
• Korean War, beginning of Vietnam, Hungarian Revolution... 
• all of these were happening 
• very busy time for Soviets 

1956: 

Hungarians Revolt 

• Budapest uprising and revolts, but no country comes in to help. 
• WHY?? America was supposed to be all for containing communism
• If the Hungarians were trying to break away, why would the U.S. not help out? 
• But, Hungary was apart of the Warsaw Pact, along with being one of the satellite countries (a buffer for the Soviets)
• If the U.S. had gone into Hungary, it would have been interpreted as a direct attack against the Soviets. 

Suez Crisis: 

• Invasion of Egypt so as to gain control of the Suez Canal (for oil) 
• marked the last time England and France did something drastic without the U.S.

Charles de Gaulle

• French Fifth Republic is formed 
• He is remembered most for asserting French Independence 
• France did not have to listen/follow the UK or US.
• Pulled French Military Control out of NATO
• offers help to Algeria rebels 

1960's: 

U-2 Spy Plane

• shot down over the Soviet Union and was a prisoner of war for a while 

Beatles

• John Lennon: "We're bigger than Jesus" (sorry Hughes)

Gorbachev becomes the next notable Soviet leader

Margaret Thatcher: 

• Britain's first Female Conservative Prime Minister 
• She was adamant on her beliefs, didn't let people intimidate her
• But she had a lot to prove because of her gender
• BFFS with our boi Ronald Reagan