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World History · 1900 — Present

European History

A century that remade the continent. From the empires and alliances that led to the Great War, through two world wars and the long division of the Cold War, to the fall of the Wall and the building of the European Union — modern Europe, era by era.

1900
The century opens
168
Major events
2022
War returns to Europe
The Cold War1946 – 1989
1946Greeks Vote For Return of Monarchy 1946Republican Government Organized in Italy 1946Verdicts at Nuremberg 1947Marshall Plan Unvieled 1947Truman Doctrine 1948Berlin Blockaded 1948Communists Take Over Czechoslovakia 1948Italian Elections 1948Soviets Recall Advisors From Yugoslavia 1949Federal Republic Of Germany Created 1949Ireland Becomes Independent 1949NATO Founded 1949Soviets Explode Atomic Bomb 1952Czechoslovakia's Slanky Executed For High Treason 1952King George VI Dies, Elizabeth Crowned Queen 1953Stalin Dies 1954Four Power Meeting (Berlin) 1955Geneva Summit 1955Germany Becomes Member of NATO 1955Vienna Treaty Restores Austrian Independence 1956Soviet Troops March Into Hungary 1957Rome Treaty, Common Market Established 1957Sputnik Launched By Russians 1958Imry Nagy Executed in Hungary 1960EFTA Formed 1960Failed Summit in Paris 1961Berlin Wall Constructed 1961French Approve Referendum on Algeria 1961Vienna Summit 1963French Veto Britain's Joining Common Market 1964Malta Becomes Independent 1966France Withdraws From NATO Military Command 1967Military Coup in Greece 1968Non-Proliferation Agreement Signed 1968Rioting in France 1968Spring Summer in Czechoslovakia 1969Juan Carlos Succeeds Franco 1969Violence in Northern Ireland 1972Arab Terrorists Murder 11 Athletes at the Olympic Games 1972Britain Takes Direct Control Over Northern Ireland 1972Summit Meeting in Washington 1974Military Coup in Portugal 1974Military Government of Greece Resigns 1974Revolt in Cyprus, Turkey Invades 1974Willy Brandt of West Germany Forced to Resign 1975Franco Dies, Juan Carlos Takes Over 1979SALT II 1980Strikes Across Poland 1981Martial Law in Poland 1981Mitterand Elected French Premier 1981Pope John Paul II Shot Twice 1983US Deploys Pershing Missiles- Soviets Walk Out of Talks 1985Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader 1986Portugal and Spain Enter The Common Market 1986Soviet Nuclear Disaster at Chernobyl 1986Soviets Free Scharansky 1987Gorbachev Campaigns for Glasnost and Perostroika 1987Reagan and Gorbachev Meet in Washington 1988Gorbachev Announced Unilateral Troop Cuts 1989Berlin Wall Comes Down 1989Free Election Held For Soviet Congress of Deputies 1989Havel Becomes President of Czechoslovakia 1989Nicole Ceausecu Deposed in Romania 1989Solidarity Wins Election in Poland
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