The United States enacts a large-scale economic aid programme to rebuild Western European economies after the Second World War.
The Union of Burma becomes independent from Britain, choosing not to join the Commonwealth.
Ceylon becomes an independent dominion within the Commonwealth, ending British colonial rule.
The Soviet Union blocks road and rail access to West Berlin; the Western Allies respond by supplying the city through an airlift for almost a year.
British India is partitioned into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan, accompanied by mass migration and violence.
John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley at Bell Labs build the first working transistor, the foundation of modern electronics.
France establishes the State of Vietnam within the French Union, with former emperor Bảo Đại as head of state.