Timeline (1984: We Begin Bombing)

This is the official timeline for the alternate history 1984: We Begin Bombing

((Not finished yet, will continue to add more))

Point of Divergence
While running for re-election, President Ronald Reagan was preparing to make his weekly Satuday address on NPR (National Public Radio). As a sound check, he said a statement (intended as a joke) to the radio technicians:

"My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."

In fact, it was actually a parody of the opening line of that day's speech:

"My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you that today I signed legislation that will allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they've too long been denied — the freedom to meet in public high schools during nonschool hours, just as other student groups are allowed to do."

Point of Divergence: President Reagan refuses to make a sound check, and instead backs up his joke, bombing Soviet targets within 5 minutes of his statement

11 August, 1984, The Beginning of WWIII

 * 9:06 a.m. - President Reagan surprises everyone from his ranch at Rancho del Cielo, CA by announcing that the United States will begin bombing targets in the Soviet Union within 5 minutes
 * 9:07 a.m. - Soviet Premier Konstantin Chernenko convenes an emergency session of the Politburo to discuss the statement; the Friendship Games are interrupted at this point, and the Soviet military is placed on high alert
 * 9:09 a.m. - American bombers begin their bombing runs in the Russian SFSR and East Germany
 * 9:30 a.m. - First bombs are dropped off in 32 towns and cities across East Germany and the Ukrainian and Byelorussian SSRs. American bombers were also spotted in some towns in the western Russian SFSR.
 * 9:31 a.m. - Soviet Premier Chernenko finally declares war on the United States and its allies. World War III begins.

1984: First Stages

 * 12 August - Massive aerial bombardment continues, Soviet Air Force jets begin attacking American bombers, destroying 3 bombers and 7 fighter escorts. American troops stationed in South Korea are placed on high alert in case of a North Korean attack. NATO begins preparations for an invasion into East Germany.
 * 16 August - The start of the NATO invasion of East Germany; NATO troops quickly take Suhl and the surrounding areas, while Soviet and East German troops hold their positions in rest of the country; the Red Army begins shelling West Berlin in an attempt to take the city. Start of the Great Baltic Rebellion
 * 17 August - NATO troops take Erfurt, Gera, Magdeburg and Wismar, and Schwerin as Soviet troops withdraw to deal with the rebels; Kim Il-Sung declares war on South Korea, and Japan declares war on North Korea in return
 * 18 August - A secret conference is held between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Finnish President Mauno Koivisto, and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Together, they would agree to form an alliance to retake land lost to the Soviet Union, China, and other communist nations.
 * 30 August - Without warning, Boer ultranationalists and miltary officers (led by General Constand Viljoen) seize power in South Africa, killing Prime Minister P.W. Botha, and many other high officials. They officially disband the republic and replace it with a miltary junta (with Viljoen as leader); Great Britain is powerless to stop them, focusing their attentions to the war in Germany.
 * 1 September - NATO troops finally reach the outer limits of West Berlin