The Yalta Conference (FEBRUARY 1945)
Decisions that were made:
Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan once Germany had surrendered.
They agreed that Germany would be divided into four zones: American, French, British and Soviet. Since the German campital, Berlin, was deep in the Soviet zone, it was agreed that Berlin itself would also be divided into four zones.
As Allied soldiers advanced through Germany, they were revealing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. The Big Three agreed to hunt down and punish war criminals who were responsible for the genocide.
They agreed that as countries were liberated from occupation by the German army, they would be allowed to hold free elections to choose the government they wanted.
The Big Three all agreed to join the new United Nations Organization, which would aim to keep peace after the war,
The Soviet Union had suffered terribly in the war. An estimated 20 million Soviet people had died. Stalin was therefore concerned about the future security of the USSR. The ‘Big Three’ agreed that eastern Europe should be seen as a ‘Soviet (USSR) Sphere of Influence)
Stalin wanted the border of the USSR to move westwards into Poland. Stalin argued that Poland, in turn, could move its border westwards into German territory. Churchill did not approve of these plans but he knew he could do very little about it as Stalin already had troops stationed in Poland. Roosevelt also disliked this but Churchill persuaded Roosevelt to accept as long as the USSR agreed not to interfere with the British plans for Greece. The British wanted to make sure that Greece would not fall to communism as it was a strategic base for them.
THE POTSDAM CONFERENCE (JULY/AUGUST 1945)
They disagreed over what to do about Germany.
Stalin wanted to cripple Germany to remove it as a threat.
Truman did not want a repeat of the Treaty of Versailles.
Therefore, Germany remained divided and no agreement was made.
They disagreed over reparations.
Twenty million Russians had died in the war and the Soviet Union had been devastated.
Again, Stalin wanted reparations from Germany whilst Truman felt support was needed
They disagreed about Soviet policy in Eastern Europe.
At Yalta, it was agreed that Stalin could set up pro-Soviet governments in eastern Europe. Truman however, did not like this and decided to take a ‘get tough attitude’ with Stalin.
WHY DID THESE DISAGREEMENTS HAPPEN AT POTSDAM?
Only three months had passed but the world had changed forever.
1. Stalin was now occupying most of Eastern Europe.
Soviet troops had liberated many countries from Nazi rule but had then left his troops there. Stalin controlled Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.
2. America had a new president
On 12th April 1945, Roosevelt died. He was replaced by his Vice-President, Harry Truman.
Truman was very ANTI-Communist and was very suspicious of Stalin.
3. The Allies had tested an atomic bomb
On 16th July 1945, the Americans successful tested an atomic bomb at a desert site in the USA. Stalin was told by Truman at the start of the Potsdam Conference.
4. Churchill was voted out of office at the beginning of the Potsdam Conference.
Clement Attlee became Prime-minister. Attlee didn’t trust Stalin or Communism!
5. Adolf Hitler was now dead!
TASK! For each of the above points, tell me why this may have led to disagreements.
EXAM LINK - Explain why there were disagreements at the Potsdam Conference (6 marks)