The events of 1949
- 11 January 1949
U.S. – The first recorded snow fall in Los Angeles, California occurs.
- 17 January 1949
U.S. – The first Volkswagen Beetle (VW Beetle) arrives in the United States, only to be rejected by U.S. consumers.
- 01 February 1949
Rationing – The Government announces an end to clothes rationing. Rationing for many other things remains in place.
- 01 April 1949
Ireland – Eire leaves the British Commonwealth and becomes Republic of Ireland.
- 04 April 1949
NATO is formed – the North Atlantic Treaty is signed in Washington, DC.
- 11 May 1949
Thailand is formed after a name change from Siam.
- 08 June 1949
Literature – the Book 1984 by George Orwell is first published.
- 29 June 1949
South Africa – Apartheid becomes a reality by the introduction of the The South African Citizenship Act – amongst other things it bans mixed marriages.
- 29 August 1949
The Cold War – the Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb. As a result the Cold War escalates.
- 01 October 1949
The People’s Republic of China is formed – China.
