Gandhi assassinated in New Delhi by Hindu fanatic (Jan. 30).

Burma (Jan. 4) and Ceylon (Feb. 4) granted independence by Britain.

Communists seize power in Czechoslovakia (Feb. 23–25).

Organization of American States (OAS) Charter signed at Bogota, Colombia (April 30).

Nation of Israel proclaimed; British end mandate at midnight;

Arab armies attack (May 14).

Berlin blockade begins (June 24), prompting Allied airlift (June 26). (Blockade ends May 12, 1949; airlift continues until Sept. 30, 1949.)

Stalin and Tito break (June 28).

Independent Republic of Korea is proclaimed, following election supervised by UN (Aug. 15).

Verdict in Japanese war trial: 18 imprisoned (Nov. 12); Tojo and six others hanged (Dec. 23).

United States of Indonesia established as Dutch and Indonesians settle conflict (Dec. 27).

Alger Hiss, former U.S. State Department official, indicted on perjury charges after denying passing secret documents to communist spy ring; convicted in second trial (1950) and sentenced to five-year prison term.

Truman ends racial segregation in military.

Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the American Male.

Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire wins Pulitzer