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Year 1949

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Events this year

1949★★★★★

State of Vietnam established

France establishes the State of Vietnam within the French Union, with former emperor Bảo Đại as head of state.

Politics· Vietnam, France
April 4, 1949★★★★★

NATO founded

Twelve North American and Western European countries sign the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, creating the NATO collective defence alliance.

TreatyPolitics· United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Iceland
May 23, 1949 – October 7, 1949★★★★★

Germany divided: West and East Germany founded

The Federal Republic of Germany is founded in the Western occupation zones, followed by the German Democratic Republic in the Soviet zone.

Politics· Germany
December 1949★★★★★

ROC government retreats to Taiwan

Defeated in the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek's government withdraws to Taiwan and makes Taipei its provisional capital.

WarPolitics· Taiwan, China
December 27, 1949★★★★★

Netherlands transfers sovereignty to Indonesia

Following the Hague Round Table Conference, the Netherlands formally transfers sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia, ending the Indonesian National Revolution.

TreatyPolitics· Indonesia, Netherlands

Ongoing

December 19, 1946 – 1954★★★★★

First Indochina War

War between the Việt Minh and France breaks out in Hanoi and lasts until the Geneva Accords of 1954.

War· Vietnam, France, Laos, Cambodia
May 15, 1948 – 1949★★★★★

1948 Arab–Israeli War

Neighbouring Arab states go to war with Israel; the war ends with the 1949 armistice agreements, and about 700,000 Palestinians flee or are expelled from their homes.

War· Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq
June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949★★★★★

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

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.

Politics· Germany, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, France