| Date | Historical Event |
| 1941 |
The Belgian Communist Party, Socialist Party, Liberal Party and Catholic Party formed the
Independent Brigades and started the resistance movement.
|
| 1941.3.11 |
The Land-Lease Act of USA took effect. Thereafter USA abandoned the
isolationist policy and supported the Allies' struggle against the Axis Powers.
|
| 1941.3.26 |
Simovich of Yugoslavia staged a coup. On ..27 of the same month the Pro-German Provisional
Regency was overthrown and King Petar II was put to power. An anti-German policy was then
adopted. On .4.6 the Axis Powers invaded Yugoslavia. On ..10 Germany induced Croatia to secede
from Yugoslavia and established the Independent State of Croatia, which was a German
vassal state under the one-party rule of the Ustasha. On ..17 Petar II fled overseas
and the Yugoslav Kingdom collapsed. The Axis Powers partitioned Yugoslavia. A Serbian
Kingdom was established in Serbia as a German vassal state. On .7.12 Italy established
the Montenegrin Kingdom.
|
| 1941.4 |
The Iraqi army installed al-Kaylani as the Prime Minister, who adopted an anti-British
policy. The British army attacked the Iraqi army (Thirteen Days' War). In May of the
same year al-Kaylani was overthrown by Britain.
|
| 1941.4.6 |
The Axis Powers invaded Greece. On .5.7 of the same year Germany installed a Puppet
Government in Greece. On .6.2 King Georgios II of Greece fled overseas. Greece (Danish
Dynasty) collapsed.
|
| 1941.4.24 |
| Norodom Sihanouk succeeded as King of Cambodia. |
 |
|
| 1941.5.5 |
Former Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia restored the Solomonic Dynasty. On ..16 of the
same month, the Italian rule in Ethiopia came to an end.
|
| 1941.6.22 |
The Axis Powers invaded USSR, which marked the beginning of the German-Soviet War
(also called the Soviet Patriotic War). USSR thus joined the Allied Powers. Finland also
attacked USSR (the Continuation War).
|
| 1941.6.27 |
| The Yugoslav Communist Party led by Tito started a guerilla warfare
against the invaders. |
 |
|
| 1941.8.9 |
USA and Britain held the Atlantic Conference in Newfoundland. On ..14 of the same
month the two countries issued the Atlantic Charter and set out a series of
international principles which became the basis of the aims of the future United Nations.
|
| 1941.8.25 |
Britain and USSR dispatched armied to occupy the southern and northern parts of Iran,
respectively. On .9.16 of the same year, King Reza Khan of Iran abdicated and was succeeded by
Mohammad Reza.
|
| 1941.12.7 |
Japan launched a surprise attack against the Pearl Harbour in Hawaii and attacked the
Philippines and Malaya, thus starting the Pacific War, which was a part of the Second
World War. On ..8 of the same month, USA joined the Allied Powers in the War. On ..13 Japan
invaded Burma. On ..25 the Japanese army occupied Hong Kong.
|
| 1942.1.1 |
26 countries signed the Declaration by United Nations in Washington and
formed the Anti-Fascist League (a colloquial term for the Allied Powers) in opposition
to the Axis Powers.
|
| 1942.1.3 |
Japan overthrew the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and occupied the
Philippines. On ..11 of the same month, Japan invaded Dutch East Indies. On .2.15 Japan occupied
Malaya. On .3.7 Japan occupied Burma. On .3.8 Japan occupied Dutch East Indies. On .4 Japan
occupied Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo.
|
| 1942.4.11 |
Gandhi requested Britain to grant independence to India and launched the Quit India
Movement, i.e. the Third Non-Cooperation Movement, which was soon suppressed by the
Indian Government.
|
| 1942.5 |
The Polish Workers' Party and the Government-in-Exile started a guerilla warfare
against the German invaders.
|
| 1942.6.4 |
Japan and USA commenced the Battle of Midway Island. On ..7 of the same month the
Japanese navy inflicted heavy losses. Since then USA gained an upper hand in the Pacific War.
|
| 1942.7.17 |
The German army started an offensive against Stalingrad of USSR, which marked the beginning
of the Stalingrad Campaign. On .2.2 of the next year, the Soviet Army destroyed the
German army. Thereafter the Axis Powers were at a disadvantage in the war.
|
| 1942.8.30 |
Germany formally annexed Luxembourg.
|
| 1942.10.5 |
Sheng Shicai, warlord of Xinjiang, declared submission to the authority of the Nationalist
Gpvernment and broke off relation with USSR by requesting the Soviet army to withdraw from
Xinjiang. In 1944.10 the Chinese Nationalist Government displaced Sheng Shicai and took over
control of Xinjiang.
|
| 1942.10.23 |
The Allies launched a counter offensive against the Axis Powers in North Africa. On .11.12
of the same year the Axis Powers were expelled from Egypt. On 1943.5.13 the armies of the Axis
Powers surrendered to the Allies, which marked the end of the North African Campaign.
|
| 1942.12.1 |
Darlan, an official of France (Vichy Government), revolted and set up France (Resistance
Government) in Algeria. On .6.3 of the next year, the Resistance Government cooperated with
the Fighting French Forces and was reorganised as the Committee of National Liberation.
|
| 1943.6.4 |
The Argentine United Officers' Group launched the "June 4th Movement" and overthrew
the Government of the Radical Civic Union. Thereafter Argentina was under military and civilian
rules alternately.
|
| 1943.6.15 |
The Communist International was dissolved.
|
| 1943.7.10 |
The Allies launched the Sicilian Campaign and landed on Sicily. In the same month,
the Anti-Fascist United Freedom Front of Italy started an uprising. On ..25 the top leaders of
the National Fascist Party staged the "July 25th Coup" to overthrow Mussolini. On .9.8
Italy surrendered. On ..9 the German troops occupied the northern and central parts of Italy. The
Anti-Fascist United Freedom Front was thus reorganised as the Committee of National Liberation
and started the resistance movement. On ..15 Germany directed Mussolini to establish the
Republican Fascist Party and Italy (Salo Government) in Salo, which was a German puppet
government. On .10.13 the Central Government of Italy joined the Allied Powers and declared war
on Germany.
|
| 1943.8.1 |
Japan declared the independence of Burma and established the Republic of Burma,
which was a Japanese puppet state.
|
| 1943.9.9 |
Germany occupied Albania and overthrew the Italian rule in Albania. On ..14 of the same month
a Puppet Government was set up.
|
| 1943.8.29 |
Germany dissolved the Danish Government and took over direct administration of Denmark. On
.9.16 of the same year, the resistance groups of Denmark formed the Freedom Council and
started the resistance movement.
|
| 1943.10.14 |
Japan established the Second Republic of the Philippines as its puppet regime.
|
| 1943.10.21 |
Japan induced Bose, head of the Indian National Army, to establish the Free India
Government-in-Exile in Singapore and launched an attack against India.
|
| 1943.11.5 |
Japan convened the Greater East Asia Conference with the heads of the client states
and puppet governments and declared the formation of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere, which included Japan and the occupied territories.
|
| 1943.11.22 |
USA, Britain and China held the Cairo Conference. On ..26 of the same month they
issued the Cairo Declaration, which declared that Japan shall return all the
Chinese territories it occupied to China and grant independence to Korea. The three powers also
requested for the unconditional surrender of Japan.
|
| 1943.12 |
Establishment of the Slovak National Council, which started the resistance movement
in Slovakia. On .8.29 of the next year, it launched the Slovak National Uprising against
German rule. In October Germany crushed the uprising.
|
| 1943.12.4 |
The Yugoslav Communist Party reestablished the Yugoslav Regime. On 1944.10.20 the
coalition army of USSR and Yugoslavia captured Belgrade and overthrew the Serbian Kingdom. On
1945.5.6 Yugoslavia annihilated Croatia. On .12.2 the monarchical system was abolished. A
federation composed of six constituent republics (Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia,
Macedonia and Bosnia) was established. But real power was held by the Federal Government
controlled by the Communist Party. One-party rule was established in the whole country. Tito
started his prolonged rule in Yugoslavia.
|
| 1944 |
The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mexican Government jointly launched the Cooperative
Wheat Research and Production Program, which greatly increased the wheat yield in Mexico.
Later the Programme was extended to other countries to help solve the food problem. The
development was called the Green Revolution by historians.
|
| 1944.3 |
Outbreak of the Second National Uprising of el Salvador against President Martinez.
On .5.9 of the same year Martinez was forced to resign.
|
| 1944.3.10 |
The Greek Communist Party established the Political Committee of National Liberation
as a governing agency. On .9.2 of the same year the Greek Communists submitted to the authority
of the Government-in-Exile.
|
| 1944.3.22 |
Germany occupied Hungary. In May of the same year, the anti-Fascist groups in Hungary formed
the Hungarian Front and started the resistance movement. On .11.3 of the same year,
Germany induced the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party to overthrew Hungary (Regency). On ..4
Germany installed Szalasi, Prime Minister of Hungary and head of the Arrow Cross Party as
National Leader and established Hungary (Puppet Government). On .12.2 the Hungarian
Front was expanded as the National Liberation Front. On ..21 they formed Hungary (Resistance
Government).
|
| 1944.3.26 |
The USSR armies entered Romania. On .8.23 of the same year, the Romanian army staged the
"August 23rd Coup" and overthrew the Prime Minister Antonescu.
|
| 1944.5 |
The USSR armies entered Finland. On .9.19 of the same year Finland signed an armistice with
USSR and withdrew from the Axis Powers.
|
| 1944.5.26 |
The Albanian Communist Party established the Antifascist Council of National Liberation
as a government agency. On .11.29 of the same year the Communist Party expelled the German
armies.
|
| 1944.6 |
Widespread anti-governmental campaigns broke out in Guatemala against President Ubico. On
.7.4 of the same year, Ubico was forced to step down and was replaced by a Military Government
which continued the dictatorial rule. In October the Guatemalan populace revolted and overthrew
the Military Government (October Revolution of Guatemala) On .3.15 of the next year,
the Revolutionary Action Party came to power and carried out democratic reforms.
|
| 1944.6.3 |
The French Committee of National Liberation was reorganised as the Provisional Government. On
..6 of the same month, the Allies launched the Normandy Campaign and landed on Normandy
successfully. On .8.19 the Communist Party launched the Anti-Fascist Uprising in Paris.
On ..25 the Allies captured Paris. The Vichy Government collapsed.
|
| 1944.7 |
| Juan Peron, an Argentine military officer, seized power. During his
rule he carried out nationalist policies, which came to be known as Peronism (also called
Justicalism). |
 |
|
| 1944.7.1 |
The Allies held the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference (commonly
called the Bretton Woods Conference), which resolved to establish a global monetary system based
on US dollars (commonly called the Bretton Woods System). On .12.27 of the next year,
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (IBRD; commonly called the World Bank) were created.
|
| 1944.7.20 |
Stauffenberg, a German military officer, staged a coup in an attempt to overthrow Hitler, but
failed ("July 20th Incident").
|
| 1944.7.21 |
USSR induced the Polish Workers' Party to establish the Second Polish Republic. On
.8.1 of the same year, Bor, a Polish military officer, launched the Anti-Fascist Uprising in
Warsaw, which was crushed by Germany on .10.2. On 1945.1.17 the coalition armies of USSR and
Poland captured Warsaw. On .6.28 the Workers' Party formed a coalition government with the
Government-in-Exile.
|
| 1944.8.1 |
Free Thai came to power in Thailand.
|
| 1944.8.21 |
USA, Britain and USSR held the Dumbarton Oaks Conference to discuss the issue of the
post-war new global organisation. On .10.9 of the same year, it was decided that a United Nations
shall be established after the war. The Conference laid down a number of principles concerning
the organisation of the United Nations.
|
| 1944.9.5 |
USSR declared war on Bulgaria. On ..9 of the same month the Bulgarian leftists launched the
"September 9th Uprising" and established a Government of the Fatherland Front.
|
| 1944.9.14 |
The Grand Duchy Luxembourg was restored. On ..20 of the same month the Kingdom of Belgium was
restored. On 1945.5.3 the Kingdom of the Netherlands was restored.
|
| 1944.10.6 |
The USSR armied entered Czechoslovakia. On 1945.4.3 the Czechoslovak Communist Party formed a
coalition government with the Government-in-Exile and established the Second Czechoslovak
Republic. The coalition armies of USSR and Czechoslovakia annihilated Slovakia. On .5.5 the
Anti-Fascist Uprising in Prague broke out. On ..9 the coalition armies captured Prague.
The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia collapsed.
|
| 1944.10.13 |
The Allies captured Athens and toppled the Greek Puppet Government. On the same day the Greek
Government-in-Exile returned to the country and established a Regency.
|
| 1944.10.20 |
The USA armies entered the Philippines. The Filipino Government-in-Exile returned to the
country and reestablished the Government of the Commonwealth.
|
| 1944.11 |
Alikhan Tore, leader of the Uygurs in Xinjiang, China, started a revolt, which spread to the
three regions of Ili, Tarbagtai and Altai Mountain (the Revolution of the Three Regions
). On ..12 of the same month, he established the East Turkestan Republic. On
1946.6.16 East Turkestan was reincorporated into China. Representatives of East Turkestan and the
Chinese Central Government formed a Coalition Government of Xinjiang.
|
| 1945.2.4 |
USA, Britain and USSR held the Yalta Conference in the Crimean Peninsula to discuss
the post-war territorial arrangements and the organisational principles of the United Nations. On
..11 of the same month, the three powers secretly signed the Yalta Agreement,
which confirmed the Soviet interests in Mongolia and northeastern China.
|
| 1945.2.13 |
The USSR armies entered Hungary. On .3.28 the USSR armies and Hungary (Resistance Government)
jointly overthrew the Puppet Government. On .4.3 the German armies were expelled.
|
| 1945.3.9 |
Japan staged the "March 9th Coup" and seized the French Indochina. Japan directed
Dai Nam, Cambodia and Luang Prabang Lanchang to declared independence from France on .3.9, .3.11
and .4.8, respectively. But in fact the three countries came under Japanese control. On .6.12 of
the same year Dai Nam was renamed the Viet Nam Empire.
|
| 1945.3.22 |
Seven Arab states signed the Pact of the League of Arab States and formed the
League of Arab States (LAS).
|
| 1945.4 |
USA, Britain, France and USSR occupied Austria in different zones. On ..27 of the same month
the Republic of Austria was reestablished.
|
| 1945.4.25 |
50 countries held the San Francisco Conference to discuss the organisation of the United
Nations. On .6.26 of the same year the Charter of the United Nations was signed.
On .10.24 the United Nations (UN) came into existence. A Security Council was
established under the United Nations, with China, USSR, France, Britain and USA being the
permanent members. The United Nations established the Trusteeship System to replace the
Mandate System of the League of Nations. Thereafter a number of mandates became trusted
territories.
|
| 1945.4.28 |
The Italian Committee of National Liberation overthrew the Salo Government and executed
Mussolini.
|
| 1945.4.30 |
The Macedonian Communist Party established the People's Republic of Macedonia in
Vardar Macedonia, which was incorporated into Yugoslavia on .12.2 of the same year.
The USSR armies captured Berlin. Hitler committed suicide. On .5.1 of the same year, Donitz
succeeded as the German Fuhrer. On ..8 Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies.
On ..23 the Allies arrested Donitz, which marked the end of the Third Reich of Germany. On .6.5
Britain, France, USA and USSR set up the Allied Control Commission and occupied Germany
and Berlin in different zones.
|
| 1945.5.1 |
The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League of Burma united with the British army and
overthrew the Puppet Government. Britain regained control of Burma.
|
| 1945.5.4 |
The German armies in Denmark surrendered to the Allies. Denmark regained independence. On ..9
of the same month, the German armies in Norway also surrendered. Norway (Puppet Government)
collapsed and Norway (Oldenburg Dynasty) was restored.
|
| 1945.6.7 |
USSR requested Turkey to amend the Montreux Convention and laid claims to parts of the
territories of Turkey, which led to the Turkish Crisis. In August next year USA and
Britain declared support of Turkey. On ..22 Turkey rejected the requests of USSR. Since then
Turkey adopted a pro-Western policy.
|
| 1945.7 |
Britain reoccupied Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo. On .8.15 of the same year Britain
reoccupied Hong Kong. On .9.5 Britain reoccupied Malaya.
|
| 1945.7.17 |
USA, Britain and USSR held the Potsdam Conference to discuss the post-war
arrangements in Europe. On .8.2 the three powers concluded the Potsdam Agreement
, which finalized the post-war political arrangements in Europe.
|
| 1945.8.6 |
The USA air forces dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima of Japan. On ..9 of the same month
another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
|
| 1945.8.8 |
USSR declared war on Japan. Subsequently USSR dispatched troops to occupy southern Sakhalin,
Kurile Islands, northeastern China and north Korea.
|
| 1945.8.14 |
China and USSR signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, by
which China recognized the independence of Mongolia and granted certain concessions in
northeastern China to USSR.
|
| 1945.8.15 |
Japan declared unconditional surrender to the Allies. On .9.2 of the same year, Japan signed
the Terms for Surrender, which marked the formal end of the Second World War. In December
the Allies resolved to set up the Far Eastern Commission as a decision-making body for
the Allied control of Japan. The Allied Control Commission for Japan was set up as an
advisory and supervisory body.
France reoccupied Cambodia.
|
| 1945.8.16 |
China (Puppet Government) collapsed. On ..18 of the same month the Manchurian Empire
collapsed and Manchuria was reincorporated into China. On .10.25 China resumed sovereignty of
Taiwan from Japan.
|
| 1945.8.17 |
| The Indochinese Communist Party led by Ho Chi Minh established the
Committee of National Liberation as a government agency in the northern part of Vietnam
([North] Viet Nam). On ..19 of the same month, the Committee of National Liberation
launched the August Revolution of Vietnam and deposed Emperor Nguyen Vinh Thuy on ..30.
On .9.2 the Committee of National Liberation declared the independence of Vietnam from France and
established the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam and the one-party rule of the Communist
Party. Thereafter Decolonization Movements emerged in the dependencies of the Western
powers. |
 |
With the collapse of the Second Republic of the Philippines, USA reoccupied the Philippines.
| Sukarno launched the August Revolution of Indonesia on Java.
declared the independence of the Dutch East Indies from the Netherlands and established the
Republic of Indonesia. On .9.29 of the same year the Dutch colonists returned to the East
Indies and reoccupied certain regions. |
 |
|
| 1945.8.23 |
The Issara National Independence Movement launched the August Revolution of Laos
in Luang Prabang Lanchang. On .9.15 of the same year, the Issara National Independence
Movement caused King Sisavang Vong to declare the unification of Laos and united Luang Prabang
and Champassak as the Kingdom of Laos (Independent Provisional Government). On .10.12
the Issara National Independence Movement launched the "October 12th Uprising". On ..20
they deposed Sisavang Vong and declared the independence of Laos from France.
|
| 1945.9.6 |
A Korean nationalist group established the Korean People's Republic in south Korea.
On ..8 of the same month the USA troops occupied south Korea and carried out military rule. On
.12.15 the Korean People's Republic was dissolved.
|
| 1945.9.8 |
Thailand was renamed the Kingdom of Siam.
|
| 1945.9.9 |
The Chinese armies entered the northern part of Vietnam. On ..12 of the same month the
British armies entered the southern part of Vietnam. On ..21 Britain helped the French armies
enter the southern part. Subsequently France reoccupied the southern part of Vietnam and the rest
of Indochina. In March next year the Chinese armies retreated from the northern part and France
occupied parts of the territories. On .6.1 France established the Autonomous Republic of
Cochinchina in the southern part in opposition to [North] Viet Nam.
|
| 1945.10.19 |
The Venezuelan Democratic Action launched the October Revolution of Venezuela
and seized power. During their rule they carried out nationalist policies.
|
| 1945.10.29 |
The First Anti-Vargas Coup broke out in Brazil. President Vargas was overthrown. On
.1.31 of the next year, Dutra succeeded as President and established the Second
Republic of Brazil.
|
| 1945.11.20 |
The Nurnberg International Military Tribunal began the trial of the German war
criminals. On .5.3 of the next year, the Fast East International Military Tribunal also
began the trial of the Japanese war criminals.
|
| 1945.12.10 |
USSR induced the Azerbaijani Democratic Party to establish the Autonomous Republic of
Azerbaijan in southern Azerbaijan under Iranian rule. On .1.22 of the next year, USSR
induced the Kurdistan Democratic Party to establish the Republic of Kurdistan in
Mahabad of eastern Kurdistan, thus leading to the Iranian Crisis. On .3.2 the British
and USA troops withdrew from southern Iran. In May USSR withdrew its troops from northern Iran.
On .12.11 Iran resumed control of southern Azerbaijan. On ..15 Iran resumed control of eastern
Kurdistan.
|
| 1946.1.7 |
France signed an agreement with Cambodia and granted internal autonomy to Cambodia. On .8.27
of the same year, France signed a similar agreement with Laos and granted internal autonomy to
Laos.
|
| 1946.1.11 |
The monarchical system of Albania was formally abrogated and replaced by the one-party rule
of the Communist Party. Hoxha started his prolonged rule in Albania. During his rule he
adopted an isolationist policy.
|
| 1946.2.2 |
Establishment of the Second Hungarian Republic.
|
| 1946.2.8 |
The Communist Party of North Korea led by Kim Il Song established the North Korean Regime
in the northern part of Korea.
|
| 1946.2.18 |
Opposing the racial discrimination of the British military officers, the navy in Bombay of
India launched the Bombay Navy Uprising, which was crushed by the Government on ..23 of
the same month.
|
| 1946.3.5 |
In a speech presented in USA, former British Prime Minister Churchill pointed out that the
Communist countries were under an "Iron Curtain" and called on the Western countries to prepare
for war. This marked the beginning of the Cold War between the Western Bloc and the
Communist Bloc.
|
| 1946.4.1 |
Britain united Federated Malay States, Unfederated Malay States, Malacca and Penang as the
Malay Union, while Singapore became a separate crown colony. On 1948.2.1 the Union was
reorganised as the Federation of Malaya.
|
| 1946.4.17 |
The French and British troops completely withdrew from Syria. Syria gained complete
independence. On .6.17 Transjordan gained independence from Britain, but remained under British
control.
|
| 1946.4.18 |
The International Court of Justice was set up in Hague. The League of Nations
formally ceased to exist. Its assets, properties and responsibilities were transferred to the
United Nations.
|
| 1946.6 |
Outbreak of the Second Nationalist-Communist Civil War between China (Nationalist
Government) and the Communists.
|
| 1946.6.18 |
The monarchical system of Italy was abrogated and the Italian Republic was
established. Thereafter the Christian Democratic Party dominated the political scene by
forming coalition governments with other political parties.
|
| 1946.7.1 |
Britain abrogated the Kingdom of Sarawak, which then became a British crown colony. In
November of the same year, Britain abrogated the State of North Borneo, which was then renamed
Sabah and became a British crown colony.
|
| 1946.7.4 |
The Philippines gained independence from USA and established the Third Republic of the
Philippines.
|
| 1946.7.29 |
28 countries held the Paris Peace Conference to discuss the peace treaties with
Italy, Romania, Hungary, Finland and Bulgaria. On .2.10 the Peace of Paris was
signed whereby Italy was to cede parts of its territories to France, Yugoslavia and Greece. A
Free Territory of Triest composed of Zones A and B was set up. Both Zones were United
Nations mandates, with Zone A administered by Britain and USA, while Zone B administered by
Yugoslavia.
|
| 1946.8.7 |
Ospina, leader of the Colombian Conservative Party, succeeded as President and carried out
oppressive rule (la Violencia). Later the Liberal Party and the Communist Party revolted
successively in opposition to the Government of the Conservative Party.
|
| 1946.9.15 |
The monarchical system of Bulgaria and the Third Bulgarian Empire was abrogated and replaced
by the one-party rule of the Workers' Party.
|
| 1946.9.28 |
Georgios II, former King of Greece, returned to his country and restored Greece (Danish
Dynasty). On .10.26 of the same year the Communist Party launched an uprising in the northern
mountainous areas, which marked the beginning of the Greek Civil War. On 1947.12.24 the
Communists established Greece (Provisional Democratic Government).
|
| 1946.10.13 |
A plebiscite held in France ratified the new Constitution, which established the Fourth
French Republic. The French Union was also established to replace the French
Colonial Empire.
|
| 1946.12.19 |
France launched an offensive against [North] Viet Nam. The First Indochina War (also
called the First Vietnam War) broke out.
|
| 1946.12.24 |
The Netherlands installed a number of puppet native states in East Indies (including: State
of Great East, East Indonesia, Pasundan, East Sumatra, Madura, South Sumatra, East Java, etc.) in
opposition to the Republic of Indonesia.
|
| 1947.1.1 |
USA and Britain united their administrative zones in West Germany as the Bizone. In
March next year the Bizone was further united with the French Zone as the Trizone.
|
| 1947.2.5 |
Bierut, leader of the Polish Workers' Party, became the President. On ..7 of the same month,
Cyrankiewicz, leader of the Socialist Party, became the Premier. The leftists thus controlled the
Polish Government. On 1948.12.20 the Workers' Party and the Socialist Party were amalgamated into
the United Workers' Party, which carried out one-party rule. This marked the end of the
Second Polish Republic.
|
| 1947.2.6 |
Australia, New Zealand and a number of Western states possessing colonies or trust
territories in south Pacific signed the Canberra Agreement and established the South
Pacific Commission (SPC).
|
| 1947.3.25 |
The Netherlands and Indonesia concluded the Linggadjati Agreement (also
called the Cirebon Agreement), by which the Netherlands recognized that Java, Sumatra and
Madura shall be governed by the Republic of Indonesia, which shall form a federation with the
native states created by the Netherlands. On .7.20 of the same year, the Netherlands violated the
Agreement by launching the First Police Action against the Republic of Indonesia. On
.8.4 the two parties ceased fire.
|
| 1947.5 |
A Constitution was granted in Cambodia, which then adopted a constitutional form of
government.
|
| 1947.5.3 |
The new Japanese Constitution took effect. Under the new Constitution, Japan adopted a
parliamentary cabinet system and abandoned the right of possessing armed forces and participating
in military actions overseas.
|
| 1947.6 |
Britain proposed the Mountbatten's Plan, which partitioned India into the two
dominions of India and Pakistan based on religions.
|
| 1947.6.5 |
Marshall, Secretary of State of USA, proposed the European Recovery Programme
(commonly called the Marshall Plan). The Programme was implemented on .4.3 of the next year.
|
| 1947.7 |
The United Nations handed the administration of the Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas,
Palau Islands and Caroline Islands to USA. The islands became USA trusted territories and were
collectively called the American Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
|
| 1947.7.19 |
Aung San, leader of the Burmese independence movement, was assassinated. The
incident was called the 1947 Assassination by historians.
|
| 1947.7.28 |
A plebiscite held in Spain ratified the Bill of Succession, which restored
the monarchy. The throne was temporarily held vacant and Franco continued to be the Head of
State.
|
| 1947.8.14 |
The western part of India (called Western Pakistan) and eastern Bengal (called Eastern
Pakistan) gained independence from Britain and became the Dominion of Pakistan. On the
next day India also gained independence and became the Dominion of India.
|
| 1947.10.5 |
Nine Communist and Workers' Parties united to form the Communist Information Bureau
(COMINFORM).
|
| 1947.10.20 |
23 countries signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), by
which they undertook to mutually reduce the tariffs and promote free trade. When the Agreement
came into effect on .1.1 of the next year, a mechanism for international trade negotiation was
formally inaugurated.
|
| 1947.10.27 |
King Hari Singh of Jammu proclaimed the incorporation of Jammu and Kashmir into India, which
aroused discontent among the Muslims in the country. India and Pakistan dispatched troops to
support the King and the Muslims, respectively. The First Indo-Pakistani War (also
called the Kashmir War) broke out. On 1949.1.1 both parties ceased fire. Thereafter India and
Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in different zones.
|
| 1947.11.8 |
Luang Pibul, a Siamese military officer, overthrew the Free Thai Government and
established a military dictatorship.
|
| 1947.11.29 |
The United Nations passed the Partition Plan for Palestine, which provided
for the establishment of a Jewish state and a Palestinian state in Palestine.
|
| 1947.12.15 |
Saarland of Germany became an autonomous region, with its security and foreign affairs being
taken up by France. Saarland thus became a de facto sphere of interest of France.
|
| 1947.12.30 |
The monarchical system was abrogated in Romania. In February next year, the Communist Party
and the Social Democratic Party were amalgamated into the Workers' Party and carried out
one-party rule.
|
| 1948.1.4 |
Burma gained independence from Britain and established the Burmese Regime.
|
| 1948.2.4 |
Ceylon gained independence from Britain and became the Dominion of Ceylon, which
adopted the parliamentary cabinet system.
|
| 1948.2.20 |
When the rightist cabinet members of Czechoslovakia tried to cause a cabinet crisis, their
attempt was defeated by the Communist Party. On ..25 of the same month the Communist Party purged
the rightist members inside the cabinet (February Incident). On .6.14 President Benes
was forced to resign and the Communist party seized control of the whole government and started
its one-party rule. This marked the end of the Second Czechoslovak Republic.
|
| 1948.3.17 |
Five West European countries signed the Brussels Treaty. On .8.25 of the same year,
the Brussels Treaty Organisation was formally established.
|
| 1948.3.30 |
Faroe Islands became a self-governing country of Denmark.
|
| 1948.4.16 |
A number of European countries formed the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation
(OEEC).
|
| 1948.4.30 |
The American countries held the Ninth Pan-American Conference and resolved that the Union of
American Republics be reorganised as the Organisation of American States (OAS).
|
| 1948.5.14 |
Britain ended its mandate for Palestine. The Jews in Palestine established the State of
Israel. On ..15 of the same month the Arab states dispatched troops to Palestine and entered
into the First Arab-Israeli War (also called the First Middle East War or the
Palestinian War). During the war Transjordan acquired the West Bank of River Jordan. The war
ended in 1949.7.
|
| 1948.6 |
The United Nations despatched military observers to monitor the execution of the armistice in
Middle East. This marked the beginning of the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.
|
| 1948.6.24 |
The first World Healthy Assembly was convened in Geneva. The World Health Organisation
was established to improve the hygienic and health conditions of the world.
USSR imposed a blockade of all traffice between West Germany and West Berlin (the First
Berlin Crisis). Thereafter USA and Britain organised a large-scale air lift to West Berlin
to circumvent the blockade, which was not lifted by USSR until .5.12 of the next year.
|
| 1948.6.28 |
The Communist Information Bureau expelled Yugoslavia from membership (the Soviet-Yugoslav
Conflict). Yugoslavia broke off relation with USSR and withdrew from the Communist Bloc
thereafter.
|
| 1948.8.15 |
USA ended the military rule of the southern part of Korea and established the Republic of
Korea ([South] Korea), which was under the dictatorial rule of Syngman Rhee. On
.9.9 of the same year, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ([North] Korea) was
established in the northern part, which was under the one-party rule of the Workers Party
and the prolonged rule of Kim Il Song.
|
| 1948.9.18 |
Muso, leader of the Indonesian Communist Party, staged a coup in Madioen on Java and seized
power of the municipal government (Madioen Incident). On ..30 of the same month the
Communists were suppressed by the Indonesian Government.
|
| 1948.10.29 |
Odria, a Peruvian military officer, seized power in a coup.
|
| 1948.11.24 |
Jimenez, a Venezuelan military officer, staged a coup and toppled the Democratic
Action Government. He seized power and carried out dictatorial rule.
|
| 1948.12.9 |
The Party of the Hungarian Workers began to gain ground in the political struggle
and compelled the Independent Party of Smallholders, the ruling party, to purge the rightists
within the party. A coalition government composed of the Independent Party of Smallholders and
the Party of the Hungarian Workers was formed, with the latter holding real power. On .8.20 of
the next year, Rakosi, General Secretary of the Party of the Hungarian Workers, succeeded as
Premier and established one-party rule in the country. The Second Hungarian Republic came to an
end.
|
| 1948.12.14 |
Osorio, a Salvadorian military officer, seized power in a coup. In 1950 Osorio
created the Revolutionary Party of Democratic Unification and carried out "Military
Reformist" policies.
|
| 1948.12.18 |
The Netherlands launched the Second Police Action and attacked the Republic of
Indonesia again. On .5.7 of the next year, both parties ceased fire.
|
| 1949.1.25 |
USSR and the East European countries formally established the Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance (COMECON) in Moscow.
|
| 1949.2.1 |
The Malayan Communist Party organised the Malayan National Liberation Army and rose
against the British colonial rule. The warfare was not ended until 1960.
|
| 1949.3.30 |
A series of military coups occurred in Syria since this day. On .12.19 of the same year,
military officer ash-Shishakli eventually came to power.
|
| 1949.3.31 |
Newfoundland ended its colonial status and was incorporated into Canada.
|
| 1949.4 |
South Africa unilaterally declared annexation of South West Africa.
|
| 1949.4.3 |
Transjordan declared annexation of the East Bank and West Bank of River Jordan and was
renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
|
| 1949.4.4 |
The Western allies signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington and formed
a military alliance. On .8.24 of the same year the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO; commonly called the Atlantic Alliance) was formally established.
|
| 1949.4.23 |
The Chinese Communists captured Nanjing and overthrew the Nationalist Government. On .10.1 of
the same year, the Communists established the People's Republic of China, which was
under the one-party rule of the Communist Party and the prolonged rule of Mao Zedong. On .12.8
the Nationalist Party retreated to Taiwan, where they established China (Taiwan Government)
and carried out one-party rule as well as a prolonged martial rule.
|
| 1949.5.5 |
The European countries established the Council of Europe.
|
| 1949.5.23 |
The Federal Republic of Germany ([West] Germany) was established in the Trizone of
Germany. On .10.7 of the same yaer, USSR established the German Democratic Republic ([East]
Germany) in the Soviet Zone, which was under the one-party rule of the Socialist Unity
Party of Germany. Germany thus split into two separate regimes.
|
| 1949.6.1 |
The Sanusi Order established the Emirate of Cyrenaica in Cyrenaica of Libya.
|
| 1949.6.2 |
India began to adopt an expanionary policy in South Asia by dispatching a troop to occupy
Sikkim. On .8.8 of the same year, India and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Friendship, by
which Bhutan became an Indian client state whose foreign affairs were to be guided by India. In
1950.12 India and Sikkim signed a peace treaty with Sikkim whereby Sikkim also became an Indian
client state.
|
| 1949.6.14 |
France reorganised Cochichina as an associated state of France - the Vietnamese Regime
([South] Viet Nam), which was nominally independent but in fact remained under French
control. France installed the former Emperor Nguyen Vinh Thuy as the Chief of State. On .7.19 of
the same year, France and Laos signed a treaty by which Laos nominally gained independence but
in fact remained under French control. On .11.8 France also signed a treaty with Cambodia by
which Cambodia gained nominal independence but in fact remained under French control.
|
| 1949.7.20 |
Siam was once again renamed Thailand.
|
| 1949.8.23 |
The Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia held the Hague Round Table Conference. On .11.2
of the same year the two countries signed the Hague Round Table Conference Agreement,
which reiterated the terms of the Linggadjati Agreement. On .12.27 the Republic of
Indonesia and the native states united to form the Republic of the United States of Indonesia
, which adopted a federal system. The Republic of the United States of Indonesia and the
Netherlands formed the Netherlands-Indonesian Union. In 1950 the Indonesian
Unification Movement emerged in Indonesia. The various native states were annexed into the
Republic of Indonesia.
|
| 1949.8.28 |
The Greek Royal Government army expelled the Communist Party from the country. The
Provisional Democratic Government collapsed. On .10.16 of the same year, the Communists ceased
their struggle and the Greek Civil War came to an end.
|
| 1949.12.10 |
The United Nations passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
|
| mid-20th Century |
Beginning of the Third Industrial Revolution. This period saw the rapid development
of the nuclear technology, information technology, aeronautical technology and biological
technology.
|
| 1950.1.26 |
India ended its dominion status and established the Republic of India.
|
| 1950.3.18 |
The Chinese Communist Party started to carry out radical reforms in the country and launched
a series of political campaigns.
|
| 1950.4 |
The Khmer Issarak launched an anti-French rebellion in Cambodia and established the
Khmer Regime (commonly called the Resistance Provisional Government of Khmer).
|
| 1950.4.27 |
South Africa announced the Group Areas Bill, which assigned separate
residential areas for different races and started the implementation of the Apartheid Policy
.
|
| 1950.5 |
Schuman, Foreign Minister of France, proposed the establishement of an international
organisation to integrate the coal and steel production of France and [West] Germany. His
proposal came to be known as the "Schuman Plan" and was the prototype of the post-war European
organisations for economic co-operation. On .4.18 of the next year, the European Coal and
Steel Community was formally founded.
|
| 1950.6.25 |
[North] Korea invaded [South] Korea. The Korean War broke out. On .7.3 of the same
year, the UN armies commanded by USA entered the Korean Peninsula in support of [South] Korea. On
.10.25 China dispatched troops to support [North] Korea. In 1953 the belligerents signed the
Panmunjom Armistice, which recognized the partition of the Korean Peninsula, thus
ending the War. Thereafter China rose as a major power in East Asia.
|
| 1950.8.13 |
The Laotian leftist groups formed the Issara Front (commonly known as Pathet Lao) in
Xam Nua in opposition to France and the Royal Government. On ..15 they established Laos
(Resistance Government) and the First Laotian Civil War broke out.
|
| 1950.8.17 |
Having completed the Unification Movement, Indonesia abrogated the federal system and the
Republic of the United States of Indonesia.
|
| 1950.11.7 |
King Tribhuvana of Nepal united with the Napalese Congress Party in an attempt to overthrow
the Rana Family in power, but failed. The Napalese Congress Party revolted against the Rana
Family. On .2.18 of the next year, Tribhuvana promulgated the Provisional Constitution and
adopted a constitutional form of government, which marked the end of the rule of the Rana Family
and the restoration to power of the King.
|
| 1951.1.31 |
Vargas, former Brazilian President, became President again. During his presidency, he carried
out the policy of industrialization.
|
| 1951.4.30 |
Mosaddeq became the Prime Minister of Iran. During his tenure he carried out
nationalist policies. On .5.2 of the same year, he proclaimed nationalization of the petroleum
resources.
|
| 1951.5.23 |
Tibet submitted to the authority of the Chinese Government.
|
| 1951.6.30 |
The socialist parties, social democratic parties and the labour parties of various countries
founded the Socialist International in Frankfurt am Main of [West] Germany.
¡C
|
| 1951.8.30 |
USA and the Philippines signed the Mutual Defence Pact and formed a military
alliance. On .9.1 of the same year, USA, Australia and New Zealand signed the Australia,
New Zealand, United States Security Treaty. When the Treaty took effect on 1952.4.29,
the ANZUS Council and a military alliance between the three countries were formally
established.
|
| 1951.9.8 |
The belligerents of the Pacific War concluded the San Francisco Peace Treaty,
which formally deprived Japan of all its overseas dependencies. On the same day Japan and USA
signed the USA-Japanese Mutual Security Pact and formed a military alliance. On
.4.28 of the next year, USA ended the military control of Japan, but continued to occupy the
Ryukyu Islands.
|
| 1951.10.27 |
Egypt unilaterally declared abolition of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and ceased to be
one of the suzerains of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Britain denied recognition of the Egyptian actions.
|
| 1951.12.20 |
Muscat gained independence from Britain.
|
| 1951.12.24 |
With the end of the trusteeship of the three regions in Libya (Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and
Fezzan), the three regions were united as the Libyan Regime, which adopted a
constitutional form of government. Emir Idris of Cyrenaica became King of Libya.
|
| 1952 |
The Kenyan tribes started an anti-British uprising ("Mau Mau Uprising"), which was
crushed by Britain on 1956.10.21.
|
| 1952.1.9 |
The five Central American countries formally established the Organisation of Central
American States (ODECA).
|
| 1952.3.10 |
Batista, former Cuban President, seized power in a coup and reestablished dictatorial rule.
|
| 1952.3.16 |
Four Scandinavian countries established the Nordic Council.
|
| 1952.4.9 |
The Bolivarian Nationalist Revolutionary Movement launched the Nationalist
Revolution. On ..11 of the same month, they overthrew the military government and seized power.
On ..12 Estenssoro succeeded as President. During his presidency he carried out
nationalist policies.
|
| 1952.5.26 |
USA, Britain, France and [West] Germany concluded the Bonn Conventions, by
which the three occupying powers abolished the legislation of occupation, but continued to
station troops in [West] Germany.
|
| 1952.5.27 |
Six Western European countries held a conference in Paris and signed a treaty by which a
European Defence Community (EDC) was to be established to build up a unified European army.
When the French National Assembly rejected the treaty on 1954.8.30, the EDC plan failed.
|
| 1952.7.23 |
| Nasser, leader of the Egyptian Free Officers, launched the "July
23rd Revolution" and seized power. On .6.18 of the next year, the monarchy was abolished and
replaced by the Republic of Egypt. |
 |
|
| 1952.7.25 |
Puerto Rico became a USA commonwealth and exercised self-rule.
|
| 1952.8 |
Chile, Peru and Ecuador signed the Santiago Declaration and declared the
extension of their maritime jurisdiction up to 200 nautical miles. Since then many developing
countries declared their own territorial seas and exclusive economic zones.
|
| 1952.9.11 |
Britain returned Eritrea to Ethiopia. Eritrea then formed a federation with Ethiopia and was
granted autonomy.
|
| 1953.3.5 |
Stalin died. On ..14 of the same month, Khrushchov came to power. On .6.28
Khrushchov started to purge Stalin's favourites and arrested Beria, head of the USSR Ministry of
Internal Security (Beria Incident). On .9.7 Khrushchov succeeded as the First Secretary
of the Communist Party.
|
| 1953.6.13 |
Rojas Pinilla, a Colombian military officer, seized power in a coup and carried out
dictatorial rule.
|
| 1953.6.17 |
Large scale anti-governmental mass movements broke out in East Berlin, capital of [East]
Germany. The Soviet troops suppressed the movements ("June 17th East Berlin Incident").
|
| 1953.7.26 |
Castro launched the "July 26th Movement" in Santiago of Cuba in opposition
to the dictatorship of Batista. He was arrested after the movement failed.
|
| 1953.8.1 |
Britain united Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland as the Federation of
Rhodesia and Nyasaland (also called the Central African Federation).
|
| 1953.8.16 |
King Mohammad Reza of Iran attempted to sack the Prime Minister Mosaddeq. After his attempt
failed, he fled to Iraq. On ..19 of the same month, military officer Zahedi staged a coup to
overthrow Mosaddeq. On ..22 Mohammad Reza returned to Iran and resumed power. During his rule
Mohammad Reza carried out modernization reforms, which were called the "White Revolution"
by historians.
|
| 1953.10.22 |
Laos formally gained independence from France. On .11.9 Cambodia also formally gained
independence from France.
|
| 1954 |
USSR started to install nuclear weapons. Since then USA and USSR started an intense nuclear
arms race, thus resulting in a situation of Balance of Terror.
|
| 1954.3 |
Zhivkov succeeded as General Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party and started
his prolonged rule.
|
| 1954.3.13 |
The [North] Viet Nam armies started the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and attacked the
French troops in Dien Bien Phu. On .5.7 of the same year, they captured Dien Bien Phu and
expelled the French colonists from northwestern Vietnam.
|
| 1954.4.26 |
The Geneva Conference was convened to discuss the Korean and the Indochinese issues.
On .7.20 of the same year, the participating countries concluded the Geneva Agreements
, which provided for ceasefire in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, withdrawal of the French
troops from Indochina and recognition of the status quo of a split Vietnam, thus ending the First
Indochina War. [South] Viet Nam formally gained independence from France. On ..21 Khmer Regime
(Resistance Provisional Government) was dissolved.
|
| 1954.5.8 |
Stroessner, a Paraguayan military officer, seized power in a coup and carried out
dictatorial rule.
|
| 1954.6.18 |
Armas, a Guatemalan military officer, staged the "June 18th Coup" against
the Government of the Revolutionary Action Party, which was overthrown on ..27 of the same month.
|
| 1954.8.9 |
Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey signed the Treaty of Alliance, Political Cooperation, and
Mutual Assistance and formed the Balkan Alliance. The Alliance was dissolved on
1960.6.24 by the three signatories.
|
| 1954.8.24 |
When the Second Anti-Vargas Coup took place in Brazil, President Vargas committed
suicide.
|
| 1954.9.3 |
To oppose USA's protection of Taiwan, China started bombarding Quemoy, an outlying island off
the Fujian coast under the control of the Taiwan Government (First Taiwan Strait Crisis
). On .8.1 of the next year, China and USA started negotiation and ended the crisis.
|
| 1954.9.8 |
USA caused eight countries to sign the Southeast Asia Collective Defence Treaty in
Manila, capital of the Philippines and formed the Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation
(SEATO) on .2.19 of the next year.
|
| 1954.10.1 |
Britain reorganised the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria as the Federation of Nigeria
, which was granted self-rule.
|
| 1954.10.5 |
Britain, USA, Italy and Yugoslavia reached an agreement by which Zone A of Triest was to be
annexed into Italy, while Zone B was to be annexed into Yugoslavia.
|
| 1954.10.21 |
The NATO member states concluded the Paris Accords, which terminated the
Allied occupation of [West] Germany. On ..23 of the same month, the Brussels Treaty Organisation
was transformed into the Western European Union (WEU).
|
| 1954.11.1 |
The Algerian Front for National Liberation rose aganist French colonial rule. The
Algerian War of National Liberation broke out.
|
| 1954.12.2 |
USA and China (Taiwan Government) signed the Sino-American Mutual Defence Pact
. USA thus established a military alliance system to contain the Communist Bloc in East Asia
and Western Pacific.
|
| 1954.12.15 |
The Netherlands reorganised its colony Suriname (formerly called Dutch Giana) as
its self-governing country. On ..29 of the same month, Netherlands Antilles also became
a self-governing country.
|
| 1955.2.4 |
Iraq and Turkey signed the Baghdad Pact, which provided for the cooperation in mutual
defence between the two countries. Later Britain, Pakistan and Iran joined as signatories. On
.4.15 of the same year the Middle East Treaty Organisation (METO) was formed.
|
| 1955.3.22 |
The Laotian leftists founded the People's Party, which was the core organisation of
the Issara Front. On 1956.1.6 the Issara Front was reorganised as the Patriotic Front.
On .4.10 the People's Party dissolved Laos (Resistance Government) and thus ended the First
Laotian Civil War.
|
| 1955.4.1 |
The National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (commonly called EOKA) started an
anti-British rebellion.
|
| 1955.4.18 |
29 Asian and African countries held the Asian-African Conference (also called the
Bandung Conference) in Bandung of Indonesia. The Conference endorsed the Final Communique of
the Asian-African Conference, which spelled out the participants' standpoint of struggling
for national independence and opposing imperialism.
|
| 1955.5.14 |
USSR and the East European Communist countries signed the Warsaw Treaty, by
which they formed a military alliance. The Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) was formed.
|
| 1955.8 |
A mutiny broke out in the Equator Province in the southern part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The
mutineers requested for self-rule in the southern part. The First Sudanese Civil War
broke out.
|
| 1955.9.21 |
The Argentine military officers staged the Revolution of Liberation to overthrow
President Juan Peron.
|
| 1955.10.26 |
Ngo Dinh Diem, Prime Minister of [South] Viet Nam, deposed Emperor Nguyen Vinh Thuy
and established a Republican Government. He made himself President and carried out dictatorial
rule.
|
| 1955.11.15 |
The Japanese Democratic Party and the Liberal Party were merged to form the Liberal
Democratic Party. Thereafter the Liberal Democratic Party was in power for a long period.
The political situation was called the "1955 System".
|
| 1955.12 |
Britain induced Muscat to launch the Omani Unification War and attacked the Islamic
Imamate of Oman. On 1957.8.11 Muscat annihilated the Imamate and reunified Oman.
| Martin Luther King, a USA Black rights activist, launched a mass campaign
against the racial segregation implemented on buses in Alabama, thus starting the Black Civil
Rights Movement. The assassination of Martin Luther King by the racists on 1968.4.4 led to
widespread riots among the Blacks throughout the country. |
 |
|
| 1956.1.1 |
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan gained independence from Britain and established the Sudanese Regime
([Eastern] Sudan).
|
| 1956.2.24 |
Khrushchov, First Secretary of the USSR Communist Party, presented a report titled On the
Personality Cult and its Consequences (commonly called the "Secret Report") on which he
severely criticized Stalin's dictatorial rule. Thereafter a De-Stalinization Movement
arose in many East European countries, which led to the split of the Communist Bloc.
|
| 1956.3.2 |
France recognized the independence of the Alawi Regime. On .4.7 of the same year, Spain also
recognized the independence of the Alawi Regime and gave up most parts of Spanish Morocco. On
1957.8.14 the Alawi Regime was renamed the Kingdom of Morocco. On 1958.4.1 Morocco
regained Tarfaya from Spain. On 1956.10.20 Morocco regained Tangier. On 1969.1.4 Morocco regained
Ifni from Spain.
|
| 1956.3.5 |
Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia agreed not to join the Middle East Treaty Organisation and
formed another bloc in Middle and Near East. On .4.21 of the same year, [Northern] Yemen also
joined the bloc.
|
| 1956.3.20 |
Tunisia gained independence from France.
|
| 1956.3.23 |
Pakistan ended its dominion status and established the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
|
| 1956.4 |
The COMINFORM was dissolved.
|
| 1956.4.21 |
Indonesia declared abrogation of the Hague Round Table Conference Agreement. The
Netherlands-Indonesian Union was thus dissolved.
|
| 1956.5.2 |
Mao Zedong proposed the "Hundred Flowers Policy" and launched the Hundred Flowers
Campaign throughout China to encourage differing views outside the Communist Party.
Criticisms against the Communist Party sprang up. On .6.8 of the next year, Mao Zedong launched
the Anti-Rightist Campaign to suppress the opposite views.
|
| 1956.6.28 |
Workers in Poznan of Poland went on strike which led to riots, and was suppressed by the
Government (Poznan Incident). On .10.20 of the same year, Gomulka, former
leader of the Workers' Party, entered the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party
again. In an attempt to interfere with the situation, Rokossovsky, the Minister of Defence of
Soviet nationality, deployed troops to besiege Warsaw (October Incident of Poland). On
..21 the Polish populace staged a demonstration in support of Gomulka against USSR. Gomulka
succeeded as General Secretary of the United Workers' Party while Rokossovsky was expelled from
the Politburo of the United Workers' Party.
|
| 1956.7.1 |
Britain dissolved the British Leeward Islands.
|
| 1956.7.21 |
With the formal dissolution of the Union of Indochina, the French influence withdrew from
Indochina.
|
| 1956.7.26 |
Egypt unilaterally declared nationalization of the Suez Canal Company and led to the Suez
Canal Crisis. On .10.29 of the same year, Israel launched a surprise attack against Egypt
with the support of Britain and France. The Second Arab-Israeli War (also called the
Second Middle East War or the Suez Canal War) broke out. On 1957.3.8 the Israeli troops were
expelled from Egypt and the War came to an end.
|
| 1956.8.30 |
French Togo became a French autonomous republic and established the Togolese Republic
, with the French President being its chief of state. Thereafter a number of French colonies
became autonomous republics successively.
|
| 1956.10 |
The leftists of Jordan won the elections. On ..29 of the same month Sulayman became
the Prime Minister and carried out nationalist policies. On 1957.4.13 the rightists staged a coup
to overthrow Sulayman. In July the British armies completely withdrew from Jordan and Jordan
gained complete independence.
|
| 1956.10.22 |
A pro-democracy movement arose in Hungary. On ..23 of the same month, anti-governmental
uprisings broke out (October Incident of Hungary). On ..24 former Premier Nagy Imre
resumed his position and carried out democratic reforms. USSR dispatched troops to Hungary
to suppress the uprisings. On .11.1 the Party of the Hungarian Workers was dissolved and
reorganised as the Socialist Workers' Party. On ..4 the Soviet troops overthrew Nagy
Imre and crushed the uprisings. Thereafter Hungary was under the prolonged rule of Kadar
.
|
| 1956.11 |
The leaders of the Cuban "Revolutionary Movement of July 26th" returned to Cuba and launched
the guerilla warfare (Cuban Revolution).
|
| 1957.1.1 |
France returned Saarland to [West] Germany.
|
| 1957.3.6 |
| Gold Coast and British Togoland gained independence from Britain and united to
form the Dominion of Ghana, which adopted the parliamentary cabinet system. Nkrumah
, Chairman of the Convention People's Party, became the Premier. |
 |
|
| 1957.3.25 |
Six West European countries signed the Rome Treaty and formed the Common Market and
the Atomic Community. On .1.1 of the next year, the European Economic Community (EEC;
commonly called the European Common Market) and the European Atomic Community (EURATOM)
were formally established.
|
| 1957.5.10 |
The Colombian Conservative Party and Liberal Party jointly overthrew President Rojas Pinilla.
On .7.20 the two parties formed the National Front, by which they agree to form a
coalition government and share powers.
|
| 1957.7.25 |
The monarchical system of Tunisia was abrogated and replaced by a Republican Government.
Bourguiba, leader of the Neo-Destur Party, started his prolonged rule and established
one-party rule in Tunisia.
|
| 1957.8.31 |
Malaya gained independence from Britain. Thereafter Malaya was under the prolonged rule of
the United Malays National Organisation.
|
| 1957.9.3 |
Faubus, Governor of Arkansas of USA, neglected a Court injunction by deploying National
Guards to Little Rock, capital of Arkansas, to forcefully implement the racial segregation in the
public schools. His action aroused widespread criticisms (Little Rock Incident). On ..24
of the same month, the Federal Government deployed federal troops to Little Rock to prohibit
racial segregation.
|
| 1957.9.17 |
Sarit, a Thai military officer, staged a coup and overthrew Prime Minister Luang
Pibul. On .10.20 of the next year, Sarit staged another coup and seized the supreme power.
|
| 1957.10.4 |
USSR launched the first artificial earth satellite. Since then USA and USSR were
engaged in keen competition in the aeronautical technology.
|
| 1957.10.22 |
The Duvalier Family established a dictatorship in Haiti.
|
| 1957.11 |
The leftists, centrists and rightists of Laos formed the First Coalition Government, with
Phouma being the Prime Minister. On 1958.8.18 the Coalition Government collapsed and the
rightists came to power.
|
| 1958.1.3 |
Britain united its dependencies on Carribean Sea (including the states of the British Leeward
Islands, British Windward Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago) as the Federation of the
British West Indies.
|
| 1958.1.23 |
The "1958 Revolution" broke out in Venezuela and President Jimenez was overthrown.
|
| 1958.2.1 |
Egypt and Syria united to form the United Arab Republic (UAR). On ..14 of the same
month Iraq and Jordan formed the Arab Union, a confederation in which the two member
states retained their independent status. On .3.8 UAR and Yemen formed the United Arab
States, a confederation in which the two member states retained their independent status.
|
| 1958.4.15 |
Eight African countries held the First Conference of Independent African States in
Accra, capital of Ghana to promote the independence of the African colonies and the
post-independence international cooperation.
|
| 1958.5.5 |
Mao Zedong implemented the "Three Red Flags" policies (General Line, Great Leap
Forward and People's Commune), which led to economic turmoil.
|
| 1958.5.9 |
A mass campaign against President Chamoun broke out in Lebanon, which stirred up political
unrest in Middle East.
|
| 1958.5.13 |
Massu, a military officer of the French troops in Algeria, launched a mutiny and
seized the power of the Algerian Colonial Government by making himself President of the Committee
of Public Safety. The mutiny led to political chaos in France. On .6.1 of the same year, de
Gaulle, former Premier of France, resumed his position.
|
| 1958.7.14 |
Qasim, leader of the Iraqi Free Officers, staged the "July 14th Coup". By
overthrowing the Faisal Dynasty and establishing a Republican Government, Iraq gained full
independence. On ..15 of the same month, USA dispatched troops to Lebanon. On ..17 Britain also
dispatched troops to Jordan as a threat to Iraq. On .8.2 Jordan proclaimed dissolution of the
Arab Union. On .9.23 Chehab succeeded as President of Lebanon. Thereafter the political
situation was stabilized and the USA and British troops were withdrawn successively.
|
| 1958.7.26 |
Romania urged USSR to withdraw its troops from Romania. Since then Romania was freed of the
Soviet control.
|
| 1958.8.7 |
The Colombian National Front started to rule. Thereafter the political situation of Colombia
was stabilized. This marked the end of the Period of la Violencia.
|
| 1958.8.23 |
The Chinese armies resumed bombardment against the islands of Quemoy and Matsu, which led to
the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. On .10.25 of the same year, the Chinese Government and
the Taiwan Government reached a tacit understanding and ended the crisis.
|
| 1958.9.19 |
The Algerian Front for National Liberation established the Government-in-Exile of the
Algerian Republic in Egypt.
|
| 1958.9.28 |
A plebiscite held in France ratified the new Constitution which strengthened the President's
authority and changed the parliamental cabinet system to the "semi-presidential system". On .10.5
of the same year, the Fourth French Republic was supplanted by the Fifth French Republic
. At the same time, the French Community was set up to replace the French Union.
|
| 1958.10.2 |
French Guinea gained independence from France and established the First Republic of
Guinea. Ahmed Sekou Toure, leader of the Democratic Party, started his prolonged
rule and established one-party rule in his country.
|
| 1958.10.7 |
President Mirza of Pakistan annulled the Constitution and declared a martial law. He
appointed military officer Ayub Khan as the Chief Martial Law Administrator. On ..28 of
the same month Ayub Khan launched the October Revolution of Pakistan in which he
overthrew Mirza and made himself President. Thereafter Pakistan was under military rule.
|
| 1958.10.14 |
Madagascar became a French autonomous republic and established the Malagasy Republic
, which was under the prolonged rule of the Social Democratic Party.
|
| 1958.10.28 |
Ne Win, a Burmese military officer, seized power in a coup. On 1960.4.4 he returned
power to a civilian government. On 1962.3.2 Ne Win seized power in another coup. On .7.4 he
formed the Party of the Socialist Program and established one-party rule.
|
| 1958.11.22 |
Tsedenbal succeeded as the First Secretary of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary
Party and started his prolonged rule.
|
| 1958.11.24 |
French Sudan became a French autonomous republic and established the Sudanese Republic
([Western] Sudan).
|
| 1958.11.25 |
Senegal became a French autonomous republic and established the Republic of Senegal.
|
| 1958.11.27 |
USSR requested that West Berlin should become a free city within 6 months and was rejected by
the Western countries. This led to the Second Berlin Criss. On 1959.9.25 the leaders of
USA and USSR held the Camp David Talk to pacify the situation and agreed to convene a
four-power summit meeting in 1960.
|
| 1958.11.28 |
Chad, Mauritania, Middle Congo and Gabon became French autonomous republics and established
the Republic of Chad, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Republic of Congo
([West] Congo) (commonly called Congo [Brazzaville]) and Gabonese Republic.
|
| 1958.12.1 |
Ubanghi-Shari became a French autonomous republic and established the Central African
Republic.
|
| 1958.12.4 |
Dahomey and Ivory Coast became French autonomous republics and established the Republic
of Dahomey and Republic of Ivory Coast.
|
| 1958.12.11 |
Upper Volta became a French autonomous republic and established the Republic of Upper
Volta.
|
| 1958.12.19 |
Niger became a French autonomous republic and established the Republic of Niger. In
1959 the ruling Progressive Party established one-party rule in the country.
|
| 1959.1.1 |
Eastern Cameroon became a French autonomous republic and established the Cameroon Regime
.
The leftist revolutionary organisations of Cuba overthrew President Batista. On the next day they
formed a new government with Castro holding the real power.
|
| 1959.1.8 |
de Gaulle succeeded as President of France. During his presidency he revived the power of
France.
|
| 1959.2.11 |
Britain united parts of the princely states in southern Yemen as the Federation of Arab
Emirates of the South, which was renamed Federation of South Arabia on 1962.4.4.
The other princely states were grouped into the Protectorate of South Arabia. On
1963.1.18 Britain reorganised the Colony of Aden as the State of Aden, which became one state of
the Federation of South Arabia.
|
| 1959.2.13 |
The military rule in Venezuela came to an end. A democractic system under which the
Democratic Action and the Social Christian Party ruled alternately began to take root.
|
| 1959.3 |
Britain induced Abdullaa Afif Didi to rebel against Maldives. He occupied three groups of
atolls (including Addu) in the southern part of Maldives and established the United
Suvadivan Republic, which was annhilated by Maldives in 1962.
|
| 1959.3.10 |
An anit-Chinese uprising broke out in Tibet. On ..22 of the same month, the Chinese
Government suppressed the uprising. On ..31, Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama), religious
leader of Tibet, fled to India, where he established a government-in-exile.
|
| 1959.3.28 |
A mass campaign demanding for the abrogation of the USA-Japanese Mutual Security Pact
arose in Japan. On .1.19 of the next year, Japan and USA concluded the USA-Japanese Treaty of
Mutual Security and Co-operation to replace the USA-Japanese Mutual Security Pact.
|
| 1959.4.4 |
[Western] Sudan and Senegal united to form the Mali Federation, which was a French
autonomous republic.
|
| 1959.4.27 |
Liu Shaoqi replaced Mao Zedong as the State President of China. On .9.30 of the next
year, Liu Shaoqi rectified the malpractice of the "Three Red Flags" policies and started to make
adjustments to the national economy.
|
| 1959.6.3 |
Singapore exercised internal self-rule and became the Autonomous State of Singapore.
|
| 1959.8.19 |
The Middle East Treaty Organisation was renamed the Central Treaty Organisation
(CENTO).
|
| 1959.8.31 |
The Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA for short) was established in the Basque
region in northern Spain. By adopting violent means to struggle for independence, ETA later
developed into a terrorist organisation.
|
| 1959.9.29 |
A Constitution was granted in Brunei, which then adopted a constitutional form of government.
|
| 1959.12.1 |
12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington. The treaty prohibited
all measures of a military nature in Antarctica. When the Treaty came into effect on 1961.6.23,
the Antarctic Treaty System was formally established.
|
| 1959.12.31 |
Phoumi Nosavan, a Laotian rightist prince, seized power in a coup and established a
rightist government.
|
| 1960 |
| Che Guevara, a Cuban revolutionary leader, proposed his theory of
Insurrectional Centres, which helped boost the guerilla activities in the Latin American
countries. In the same year guerillas appeared in Guatemala, which marked the beginning of the
Guatemalan Civil War. |
 |
|
| 1960.1.1 |
Cameroon declared independence from France. Since then the various French autonomous
republics declared independence successively. This year was thus called the Year of Africa
.
|
| 1960.4.19 |
Outbreak of the April Uprising of [South] Korea. On .5.3 of the same year President
Syngman Rhee was forced to resign.
|
| 1960.4.27 |
Togo declared independence from France. In 1962.1 the ruling Unity Party established
one-party rule in the country.
|
| 1960.5 |
The Laotian People's Party restarted rebellion in Xam Nua. The Second Laotian Civil War
broke out. On .8.9 of the same year, Kong Le, a centrist military officer, staged
the "August 9th Coup" and overthrew the rightist government. On ..30 the former Prime
Minister Phouma resumed his position and established a centrist government. On .12.15 Phoumi
Nosavan and Bounoum, leaders of the rightists, jointly captured Vientiane. They toppled the
centrist government and reestablished the rightist government.
|
| 1960.5.1 |
A U-2 reconnaissance plane of USA was shot down over USSR and led to acute tension between
USA and USSR (the U-2 Plane Incident). This led to the breaking up of the four-power
summit meeting scheduled to be held in Paris.
|
| 1960.5.3 |
Britain and five countries formed the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in
opposition to the EEC.
|
| 1960.5.27 |
Gursel, a Turkish military officer, staged the "May 27th Coup" and seized
power.
|
| 1960.6.20 |
The Mali Federation declared independence from France. On .8.20 of the same year, the Mali
Federation was split into the two republics of [Western] Sudan and Senegal. On .9.22 [Western]
Sudan was renamed the Republic of Mali.
|
| 1960.6.26 |
British Somaliland gained independence from Britain and established the State of
Somaliland. On .7.1 of the same year Italian Somalia gained independence from Italy and
united with Somaliland to form the Somali Regime.
Malagasy declared independence from France.
|
| 1960.6.30 |
Belgian Congo gained independence from Belgium and established the Republic of Copngo
([East] Congo), with the capital in Leopoldville and was thus commonly called Congo
[Leopoldville]. On .7.11 of the same year, Tshombe, Governor of Katanga Province of [East] Congo,
established the Independent State of Katanga. The [East] Congo Civil War broke
out. On .8.8 Kalonji, Governor of Kasai, established the Mineral State of South Kasai.
On .8.12 the United Nations deployed troops to [East] Congo to maintain peace. Later the UN
troops were also involved in the Civil War. On .9.5 a power struggle between the leftists
(National Movement, headed by Premier Lumumba) and the rightists (Association of the Bakongo
People, headed by Kasavubu) broke out and developed into a civil war later. On .9.14 military
officer Mobutu seized power in a coup. On .12.13 Gizenga, leader of the leftists, set up
another government in Stanleyville (the First Stanleyville Government) in opposition to
the Central Government.
|
| 1960.7.1 |
Ghana ended its dominion status and established the Republic of Ghana.
|
| 1960.7.16 |
USSR declared withdrawal of all the experts working in China within one month and severed
relation with China.
|
| 1960.7.25 |
The Hutus of Ruanda overthrew the Tutsi Dynasty and established a government controlled by
the Hutus. On .1.28 of the next year, the monarchy was abolished and replaced by the Republic
of Rwanda, an autonomous republic of Belgium.
|
| 1960.8.1 |
Dahomey declared independence from France. In April next year the ruling Democratic
Union established one-party rule in the country.
|
| 1960.8.3 |
Niger declared independence from France.
|
| 1960.8.5 |
Upper Volta declared independence from France.
|
| 1960.8.7 |
Ivory Coast declared independence from France.
|
| 1960.8.11 |
Chad declared independence from France. Tombalbaye became the Head of State and
carried out dictatorial rule.
|
| 1960.8.13 |
Central Africa declared independence from France.
|
| 1960.8.15 |
[West] Congo declared independence from France. Youlou became the President and
carried out dictatorial rule.
|
| 1960.8.16 |
Cyprus gained independence from Britain and established the Republic of Cyprus.
|
| 1960.8.17 |
Gabon declared independence from France.
|
| 1960.9.14 |
Five petroleum exporting countries formed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) in Baghdad. Since then there appeared a number of international
organisations composed of raw materials production or exporting countries.
|
| 1960.10.1 |
Nigeria gained independence from Britain and became a British dominion.
|
| 1960.11.28 |
Mauritania declared independence from France. In December next year the ruling People's
Party established one-party rule.
|
| 1960.12 |
King Mahendra dissolved the cabinet and parliament and assumed power. In January
next year he declared prohibition of all parties and implemented the non-partisan "panchayat"
(assembly) system.
|
| 1960.12.20 |
[North] Viet Nam induced the leftist groups in [South] Viet Nam to form the Viet Nam
South National Liberation Front and launch a rebellion. In the next year USA supported the
suppression of the National Liberation Front by the [South] Viet Nam Government (Special
Warfare). The Second Indochina War (also called the Second Vietnam War) broke out.
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