1945-1949: Failure of wartime conferences Flashcards
What were the wartime conferences
November to December Tehran Conference
October 1944 Moscow Conference
February 1945 Yalta Conference
July to August Potsdam Conference
Tehran conference facts
In 1943
Agreed on USSR spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. Western Europe would be Br and USA sphere of influence.
Disagreed on Gr future - as Roosevelt wanted to rebuild but Stalin wanted to punish. Stalin wanted a second front to relieve pressure on Eastern front (was delayed in 1942 + 1943) Got in 1944
Yalta conference facts
4th - 11th February 1945
5 issues in Yalta:
1. German and Berlin question
2. Polish question
3. Declaration on liberated Europe
4. UN
5. Japan
In Yalta what was the German and Berlin question
In Yalta they split Germany into zones and Berlin into sectors. USSR did not want to re-arm Gr however the USA did to have a trading partner
Pay $20 million reparations to USSR (Stalin thought was a beginning number)
In Yalta what was the Polish question
There was issues of governments: The London and Lublin governments. Promise of ‘free elections’
Issues with the borders
USSR problems with Poland:
Katyn Forest massacre - where the USSR killed polish people in 1943
and blamed the Germans
Warsaw Uprising - During an uprising in Warsaw USSR did not help
and waited till uprising was crushed to help
In Yalta what was the declaration on liberated Europe
A document that added to the Atlantic Charter however issues arrived such as when USSR not being present for Atlantic Charter.
Also built on the percentages agreement (UK and USSR)
Fundamental different understanding of free elections.
Br did not honour it as it would mean they would lose their empire
In Yalta what was the UN
The UN formalised in April-June 1945. Gave 5 permanent members Veto
Br, Fr, USA, USSR and nationalist China
In Yalta what was Japan question
America would take Japan for themselves.
Stalin saw USA as breaking their agreement as initial plan was to invade Japan after end of Europe but due to the atomic monopoly couldn’t argue.
When was the Potsdam conference
July 17th - August 1st
Leaders during Potsdam
USA –> Truman
USSR –> Stalin
UK –> Attlee
Key issues in Potsdam
Germany and Berlin
Poland
Spheres of Influence
Vision for Europe
Future of Japan
Arms race
When did the USA gain the atomic bomb
In August 1945. Truman told Stalin they had acquired the nuclear bomb
What was agreed in Potsdam about Germany
Germany was to be disarmed and demilitarised
de-Nazification
Decentralise political system
Freedom of speech and free press restored
Germany eventually become united
USSR receive reparations
What was agreed in Potsdam about Austria
Austria split into four zones
Vienna split into 4 sectors
What was agreed in Potsdam about Poland
German-Polish border on the rivers Oder and Neisse agreed
Transportation of Poles
5 million Gr forced to move from Poland into Gr
What was agreed about the spheres of influence in Potsdam
In Eastern Europe communists had more power, give expansion to the Soviet Union
What was agreed about the UN in Potsdam
Conference to meet in San Francisco to finalise the UN
What was agreed about Japan in Potsdam
USSR wanted shared occupation in Japan but USA rejected
In Potsdam what happened in regards to arms race
Manhattan project kept secret from Stalin. With bomb successfully tested a day before the conference started.
