1. Communist Takeover in Czechoslovakia Feb. 1948 Key members of Czech gov’t die mysteriously Pro-western President forced to resign, new constitution ratified –Complete takeover by Czech communists

2. Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49) Blockade of Berlin began on June 24, ’48 From June 1948 to May 1949, U.S. and British planes airlift 1.5 million tons of supplies to the residents of West Berlin. After 200,000 flights, the Soviet Union lifts the blockade.

3. The Arms Race: A “Missile Gap?” }The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in 1949. }Now there were two nuclear superpowers!

4. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)  Signed April 4, 1949  No military action during the Cold War  Provide for the common defense of allies  Still in existence today

5. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)  United States  Belgium  Britain  Canada  Denmark  France  Iceland  Italy  Luxemburg  Netherlands  Norway  Portugal  1952: Greece & Turkey  1955: West Germany  1983: Spain

6. Warsaw Pact (1955) }Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance }14 May 1955 in Warsaw, Poland }Counter the potential threat from the NATO alliance }All the socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe except for Yugoslavia were members

7. Warsaw Pact (1955) }U. S. S. R. }Albania }Bulgaria }Czechoslovakia }East Germany }Hungary }Poland }Rumania