The Cold War Timeline

cold war timeline

This post is a comprehensive timeline of the Cold War, from the origins of the Russian-American conflict following World War Two to the final dissolution of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall at the end of the 20th century.

Scroll down to learn more. Alternatively, watch this nine-minute explainer video for an overview of the Cold War.

This article is also part of our larger selection of posts about the Vietnam War. To learn more, click here for our comprehensive guide to the Vietnam War .

Cold War Timeline

Date

Summary

Detailed Information

Partitioning of Germany
Fate of Poland
The United Nations
German reparations

This article is part of our larger selection of posts about the Cold War. To learn more, click here for our comprehensive guide to the Cold War.

Additional Resources About Cold War

What Was the Iron Curtain and How Did It Collapse?

cold war timeline

The Origins of the Cold War Timeline

cold war detente

Cold War Detente — US/Soviet Enmity Cools

When Did China Become Communist?

PODCAST: HISTORY UNPLUGGEDThe Cold War — Not WW2 — Was Arguably the Defining Event of the 20th Century