1944
  1945
  1946
  1947
  1948
  1949
  1950
  1951
  1952
  1953
  1954
  1955
  1956
  1957
  1958
  1959
  1960
  1961
  1962
  1963
  1964
  1965
  1966
  1967
  1968
  1969
  1970
  1971
  1972
  1973
  1974
  1975
  1976
  1977
  1978
  1979
  1980
  1981
  1982
  1983
  1984
  1985
  1986
  1987
  1988
  1989
  1990
  1991
1953
    Afghanistan    
Muhammad Daud becomes prime minister of Afghanistan. He begins to modernise the country and receive military and economic aid from the Soviet Union. Relations with the Pathan tribes of Pakistan deteriorates.

Biography of Muhammad Daud.


    Cambodia    
King Sihanouk successfully negotiates for Cambodia's independence from the French.

Read more about King Sihanouk.


    Czechoslovakia    
Following the death of Stalin, the Czechoslovakian government permits a mild liberalisation of conditions.


    Hungary    
After the death of Stalin, the Hungarian government liberalises some of its policies. Political prisoners are granted amnesty and labour camps are abolished.


    Laos    
Laos gains full sovereignty and becomes a member of the United Nations. The new nation faces civil war as Pathet Lao guerrilla forces continue attacking central Laos.

Read more about the history of Laos.


    Romania    
After the death of Stalin, Romania begins to assert its independence from the Soviet Union.


    Soviet Union    
Joseph Stalin dies. Major changes follow. Soviet citizens are granted a greater degree of personal freedom, although still within the bounds of Communist ideology.

Telegram from China to the USSR on Stalin's Death.

How Moscow broke the news of Stalin's death to the people.



    Korea    
After continued fighting, an armistice is declared and signed. The Korean War ends. A Demilitarized Zone remains at the 38th parallel.



    Soviet Union    
The Soviet Union explodes a hydrogen bomb.

Read about Andrei Sakharov, the father of the hydrogen bomb.


    Soviet Union    
Nikita Khrushchev becomes leader of the Soviet Union.

See more pictures of Nikita Khurushchev.

Listen to excerpts from Khrushchev's speeches.




<< 1952   1954 >>


Cold-War-at-a-Glance 2003