Cuban Missile Crisis (oct 16, 1962 – oct 29, 1962)
Description:
The communists led by Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959. In 1960 the Soviet Union promised to support the communists and defend Cuba with Soviet weapons. Khrushchev installed nuclear missiles in Cuba which had the capability of reaching the eastern United States if launched. On 14 Oct 1962, US spy planes detect soviet missiles in Cuba. A week later United States cut off supplies to the island and demanded that the missiles be removed. President Kennedy and Khrushchev exchanged messages about the event. They both made promises to ensure nuclear war could be avoided. Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles, and Kennedy agreed that the United States would never invade Cuba. Kennedy also promised to withdraw US missiles from Turkey.Added to timeline:
Date:
oct 16, 1962
oct 29, 1962
~ 13 days