The Cold War: A Collaborative Timeline

[TNF]

In the spirit of XXth Century, the 21st Century, 50 years, and 100 years, what this thread will attempt to do is cover the duration and aftermath of an alternate Cold War. Beginning on September 2, 1945 (V-J Day), this timeline will come to a close on September 2, 2010, allowing us sixty-five years to map out the course of the postwar era. Any PODs are acceptable, provided they aren't *too* ASB.

Without further aideu, I give you...

The Cold War : A Collaborative Timeline

September 2, 1945: World War II comes to a close with the surrender of Imperial Japan to the United States aboard the USS Missouri.

October 24, 1945: The United Nations officially comes into being with the ratification of the Charter of the United Nations by the six permanent members of the United Nations Security Council--United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, China, and the Soviet Union and by a majority of 46 other signatories.

January 17, 1946: The United States Congress passes the 'Fair Employment Practices Act of 1946', banning workplace discrimination in government hiring and agencies, abolishing the poll tax across the Southern United States, and making lynching a federal crime.

February 1, 1946: Former Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower is chosen as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, much to the chagrin of the Soviet Union.

August 1, 1946: The McMahon Act is signed into law by President Harry Truman. The act, which places the U.S.' nuclear arsenal under civilian, rather than military, control and forbids sharing of nuclear technology with nations other than those who collaborated with the United States on the Manhattan Project, is seen as a great step forward in all countries involved.

November 6, 1946: Democrats hold on to both the House and the Senate by the barest of margins in the midterm Congressional election. This is largely seen as a result of the weak economy and unease about the growing threat posed by the Soviet Union.

October 3, 1948: The United Kingdom tests it's first atomic bomb off of the coast of Australia.

January 10, 1949: The Huaihai Campaign (part of the ongoing Chinese Civil War) comes to a close with a Pyrrhic victory for Nationalist forces in Northern China. Although they have been successful in securing the region and beating back the Communists, they have lost hundreds of thousands of troops in the process.

July 2, 1949: Canada tests it's first atomic bomb at an undisclosed location in Alberta.

August 29, 1949: The Soviet Union tests it's fist atomic bomb.

[historybuff]

Sounds interesting. Let's see here.

October 1, 1949: The People's Republic of China is established, with Mao Zedong as it's Chairman, and Zhou Enlai as Premier.

June 1950: North Korea invades South Korea, resulting in many nations from the UN sending troops to help the ROC army.

December 1950: Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his anti-Communist crusade, but many republicans don't believe him, refering to him as "McCarthy the Mad." President Truman even denounces his tactics.

[Gosing]

My very first collaberative TL!

November 2nd, 1948: Though Truman puts up an extremely good fight and does better then many expected him too, Republican Thoman Dewey manages to squeak by the incumbent to a narrow victory. Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond also makes a good show which some believe may have cost Truman the election.

[TNF]

It seems we have some contradiction here. historybuff's post implies that Truman is still POTUS as of 1950, while Gosing has him losing to Dewey in 1948. Because historybuff posted first, we'll go with that, and have Truman win re-election over Dewey.

Also, let's hold off on the fifties as of yet. Let's try and finish up the rest of the forties at least before we try going into the fifties. Events in bold are events that I've added to the list as of this post.

The 1940s

September 2, 1945: World War II comes to a close with the surrender of Imperial Japan to the United States aboard the USS Missouri.

October 24, 1945: The United Nations officially comes into being with the ratification of the Charter of the United Nations by the six permanent members of the United Nations Security Council--United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, China, and the Soviet Union and by a majority of 46 other signatories.

January 17, 1946: The United States Congress passes the 'Fair Employment Practices Act of 1946', banning workplace discrimination in government hiring and agencies, abolishing the poll tax across the Southern United States, and making lynching a federal crime.

February 1, 1946: Former Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower is chosen as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, much to the chagrin of the Soviet Union.

August 1, 1946: The McMahon Act is signed into law by President Harry Truman. The act, which places the U.S.' nuclear arsenal under civilian, rather than military, control and forbids sharing of nuclear technology with nations other than those who collaborated with the United States on the Manhattan Project, is seen as a great step forward in all countries involved.

November 6, 1946: Democrats hold on to both the House and the Senate by the barest of margins in the midterm Congressional election. This is largely seen as a result of the weak economy and unease about the growing threat posed by the Soviet Union.

November 2, 1948: Despite a strong showing for Strom Thurmond in the South, ostensibly a result of the passage of the Fair Employment Practices Act, Harry Truman is re-elected as President of the United States over Tom Dewey, though he is unable to secure a majority of the popular vote, winning only a plurality of 48%. Democrats increase their majorities in both houses of Congress.

October 3, 1948: The United Kingdom tests it's first atomic bomb off of the coast of Australia.

January 10, 1949: The Huaihai Campaign (part of the ongoing Chinese Civil War) comes to a close with a Pyrrhic victory for Nationalist forces in Northern China. Although they have been successful in securing the region and beating back the Communists, they have lost hundreds of thousands of troops in the process.

January 20, 1949: Harry Truman is inaugurated for his second term as President of the United States. His inaugural speech calls for increased aid to the Nationalist forces fighting against Chinese Communist forces and for universal health care in the United States.

July 2, 1949: Canada tests it's first atomic bomb at an undisclosed location in Alberta.

August 29, 1949: The Soviet Union tests it's fist atomic bomb.

October 1, 1949: The People's Republic of China is established, with Mao Zedong as it's Chairman, and Zhou Enlai as Premier.

October 25, 1949: Although the People's Republic of China claims the whole of mainland China, it in reality only has control over segments of Northern China and Manchuria. The Nationalist government, aided by the United States, begins what will be known as the 'Autumn Offensive', a plan devised to crush Communist forces in the North before rooting out Communist control in Manchuria.

[Gosing]

Originally Posted by The New Freedom

It seems we have some contradiction here. historybuff's post implies that Truman is still POTUS as of 1950, while Gosing has him losing to Dewey in 1948. Because historybuff posted first, we'll go with that, and have Truman win re-election over Dewey.

Also, let's hold off on the fifties as of yet. Let's try and finish up the rest of the forties at least before we try going into the fifties. Events in bold are events that I've added to the list as of this post.

Sorry 'bout that.

Now for a certain hellhole:

Spetmeber 2nd, 1945: The Vietminh-led government of Ho Chi Minh declares independance in Hanoi after the resignation of Emperor Bao Dai. The French declare that they will not recognise the new regime.

September 21st, 1945: Indochina is divided into Franco-British and Nationalis Chinese occupation zones. The Vietminh resist, but garner no sympathy from the United States.

October 1947: As part of the ongoing guerilla war, the French launch Operaion Lea against remote Vietminh strongholds near Laos. The Operation is a stunning success-General Vo Nguyen Gap is killed, and Ho Chi Minh is captured along with a large part of his army.

May 21, 1948: Vietnam is formally unified under French control.

March 23rd, 1949: Though guerilla activity is still widespread, the State of Vietnam is formally granted independance within the French Union.

[President Al Bundy]

August 6th, 1945 - Californian senator Hiram Johnson (R-CA) dies. On the evening of his death, Walt Disney announces his intention to run for the senate.

August 26th, 1945 - Walt Disney is elected into the senate of the United States.

January 14th, 1946 - Senator Walt Disney (R-CA) filibusters a debate about the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1946. He speaks for almost 12 Hours. He justifies his rejection of the act with the "terrible interference into the freedom of Americans." Although he is heavily criticized by the left, he is praised by the conservative senate members. Disney's reputation in the senate starts to grow.

July 27th, 1946 - Senator Disney filibusters again a debate. This time it's about the McMahon act. Although he welcomes the prohibition of technology sharing, he argues that nuclear weapon are made by the military and should be under the command of the military.

July 4th, 1947 - Some high-ranked persons of the Republican Party meet in Walt Disney's house to celebrate Independence Day. This is the official reason. Unofficially, Senator Walt Disney (R-CA), Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), Senator Robert Taft (R-OH) and Representative Richard Nixon (R-CA) found the "Patriots". Their goal is to ensure that America stays free from communist subversion, whereever they are in America. They soon fledge contacts to J.Edgar Hoover, to provide them with information on communists. They also plan to run a candidate for the presidency, but not in 1948, but in 1952.

[Odysseus]

October 1st, 1945: FIFA President Jules Rimet makes the decision to hold a World Cup in 1949, rather than in 1946, due to the second world war.

January 27th, 1946: A rainstorm causes the flash flooding of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The city will never recover.

October 1st, 1946: Following the announcement of the 1949 World Cup, the United States forms the National Soccer League, or the NSL, comprising of 14 soccer teams hailing from cities around the states. A concise list follows:

1. New York Yanks
2. Roanoke Industry
3. Detroit Autos
4. St. Louis Atomics
5. Houston Fighters
6. Honolulu Sailors
7. Los Angeles Angels
8. Boston Union
9. Portland Pirates
10. Kansas City Cherokee
11. Denver Peaks
12. Chicago Mafia
13. Atlantic Crusaders (Atlantic City)
14. Minneapolis Gunners

June 14th - July 14th, 1949: The 1949 FIFA World Cup is held in Brazil, with Spain taking the cup, and Brazil and Uruguay coming in 2nd, and 3rd respectively.

[DrakonFin]

February 2nd 1946: Finnish Prime Minister J.K. Paasikivi seriously injured in a private accident, declared unfit to hold his position. Minister of the Interior Yrjö Leino, a Communist, becomes the new Acting Premier.

February 10th 1946: Fearing a coup from the left, President Mannerheim appoints a new government led by Urho Kekkonen (Agrarian Party). The Communists attempt a general strike but are rebuffed by the moderate left.

April 15th 1947: Mannerheim resigns due to ill health. Finnish Parliament elects the Social Democrat K.A. Fagerholm new President. In the vote, Fagerholm defeats Kekkonen only by a two-vote margin.

February 7th 1948: The Allied Control Commission leaves Finland.

March 13th 1948: C.G.E. Mannerheim, severely ill, dies in Helsinki. The solemn state funeral three days later leads to rioting as Communists attack right-wing mourners. The army and police crack down on rioters.

May 23rd 1948: President Fagerholm announces that Finland will join the Marshall Plan. A political crisis with the Soviet Union ensues, leading to the USSR demanding "political guarantees" from Finland.

November 27th 1948: The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance signed by Finnish and Soviet delegates.

[John Fredrick Parker]

Originally Posted by President Al Bundy

August 6th, 1945 - Californian senator Hiram Johnson (R-CA) dies. On the evening of his death, Walt Disney announces his intention to run for the senate.

August 26th, 1945 - Walt Disney is elected into the senate of the United States...

July 4th, 1947 - Some high-ranked persons of the Republican Party meet in Walt Disney's house to celebrate Independence Day. This is the official reason. Unofficially, Senator Walt Disney (R-CA), Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), Senator Robert Taft (R-OH) and Representative Richard Nixon (R-CA) found the "Patriots". Their goal is to ensure that America stays free from communist subversion, whereever they are in America. They soon fledge contacts to J.Edgar Hoover, to provide them with information on communists. They also plan to run a candidate for the presidency, but not in 1948, but in 1952.

Dear God -- is this CTL to become AWOLAWOT all over again

[Odysseus]

Let's really change Sci-Fi ITTL.

November 4th, 1946: Frank Herbert is killed in an automobile accident in Seattle, Washington

January 5th, 1948: Gene Roddenberry, a commercial pilot for Pan American World Airways manages to save a commercial airliner from a horrific crash in Seattle, Washington due to his military piloting skills. No one is injured, and as a result of his piloting, he will give up his writing career and will continue piloting until 1959, when he leaves Pan-Am to become an aeronautical engineer.

October 29th, 1949: George Lucas' family moves to Seattle after his father's store goes out of business. He will continue his early passion for racing cars in his new home.

November 9th, 1949: Patriots Co-Founder Joseph McCarthy suffers a heartattack. It doesn't kill him, but it vastly changes his beliefs - he retires from public politics.

[President Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by John Fredrick Parker

Dear God -- is this CTL to become AWOLAWOT all over again

Maybe...

July 11th, 1949 - After the assasination of Robert Taft, Republican members of the senate pressure for a "Patriot Act", which gives the federal government full rights to crack down on "subversive and unamerican elements". This is also the first time, that the word "Patriot" enters the political landscape. President Truman however, rejects these plans, as these would make America a police state.

November 14th, 1949 - Following McCarthy's heart attack and "retirement" from politics, as well as Taft's death from a bomb assasination, the Patriots need new members they can trust and who have contacts all over the United States. They start linking ties to McCarthy's friend, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Also, Henry Ford II expresses interest in joining this political union, after a long conversation with Walt Disney.

[RandomIdeaGuy]

July 10th, 1949: Robert Taft is killed by a bomb in a suspected anarchist plot.

December 31st, 1949: Thomas Dewey retires as governor of New York, in order to go for a senate bid.

January 7th, 1950: "Archie" Roosevelt wins governorship of New York.

January 8th, 1950: "Archie" Roosevelt is inducted into the Patriots group.

February 19th, 1948: A group of Patriot supporters stage a protest in front of the United Nations Building against the increasing amount of powers the United Nations holds.

March 21st, 1948: Another Patriot protest is held in front of Eisenhower's personal house.

April, 1948 - March, 1949: Multiple protests continue against Eisenhower and the UN, all sponsored by the Patriot group.

April 1st, 1949: UN SecGen Eisenhower is killed by an unknown assassin. The FBI attempts to link it to communists but the evidence produced is inconclusive.

April 3rd, 1949: Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill is voted in as the new Secretary General of the UN.

February 11th, 1948: Andrei Sakharov is arrested by the KGB for suspected anti-Communist activities.

April 17th, 1949: Andrei Sakharov dies in the gulag, where he has been residing for a little over a year now.

[CurlyGangster]

Originally Posted by LoyalistColonial

April 3rd, 2049: Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill is voted in as the new Secretary General of the UN.

The Soviets must be screaming bloody murder over that.

[Iserlohn]

26th May, 1946: During the elections in Czechoslovakia, the Communists manage to gain a slide victory in the Czech parts of the country (41%), while in Slovakia the Democratic Party won (24%). Edvard Beneš, leader of the National Socialists, becomes president and the Communist leader Klement Gottwald becomes premier.

23rd October, 1947: The German author and playwriter Berthold Brecht, famous for his play "Life of Galileo" and currently living in-exile in the USA, secretly bords a ship towards Europe to escape the grip of HUAC, which suspects him of being pro-Communist.

7th November, 1947: Berthold Brecht arrives in Rotterdam, his first exile in post-war Europe. However, he plans to move towards a country with a more fitting political direction soon.

21st February, 1948: Ten Czechoslovak ministers tried to resigned, after the Minister of the Interior Nosek denied the reinstation of eight non-Communist police officers, even though the cabinet was intending to approve this. However president Beneš refused this.

24rd February, 1948: Klement Gottwald, leader of the CPC, states that the current non-Communist members of the cabinet are incapable of running the country and demands from Beneš the full control over the government.

26th February, 1948: Edvard Beneš refuses Gottwald's demands and declares that he is willing to use force if the Communists attempt a coup d'etat.

2nd November, 1949: KMT troops begin a seige of the Communist-controlled city of Shijiazhuang. Currently it seems the city will surrender to the Nationalists in less than three-and-a-half months.




@LoyalistColonial:
Man, Churchill and Eisenhower sure live long. Both of them are over 150 now...

[RandomIdeaGuy]

Originally Posted by CurlyGangster

The Soviets must be screaming bloody murder over that.

Yes, it will be awesome. He's being supported by most of the Western Allies and former Axis. The next one, though, will probably be a staunch anti-imperialist supported by the Warsaw Pact and America.

[historybuff]

Loyalistcolonial, I think you meant to put 1948 and 1949 when you wrote your last couple of entries.

[Odysseus]

October 6th, 1946: The New Jersey Mafia is founded by refugees from Pittsburgh. It is commanded from Atlantic City.

January 7th, 1949: The New Jersey Mafia proclaims themselves enemies of the Patriots.

December 26th, 1949: Joseph Kennedy, Sr. is killed by a member of the NJM.

[RogueBeaver]

September 17, 1948: Robert Kennedy founds the Patriotic University Societies of America, with its HQ at his own Harvard University. Kennedy would later become the POTUS to absorb the GOP into the Patriot movement.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by RogueBeaver

September 17, 1948: Robert Kennedy founds the Patriotic University Societies of America, with its HQ at his own Harvard University. Kennedy would later become the POTUS to absorb the GOP into the Patriot movement.

OK, can we seriously stop doing this? We don't need to reserve Presidents for God's sake.

[Mr_ Bondoc]

Here are some PODs to make up for the "lost sci-fi" characters:

June 27th, 1947: Reverend Lester Carlson, pastor of a La Grande, Oregon, publishes False Angels, portraying alien invaders who come under the guise of "beneficent donors"....

July 5th, 1947: Louis E. Starr of Portland, Oregon, a veteran of both World Wars, publishes The Forever War, describing a massive interstellar war...

July 18th, 1947: Director Orson Welles announces in Hollywood, California, that his next film project Broken Saucers will incorporate his theories on science fiction....