1945 Conferences and the Emergence of Superpowers

Question 1

Tehran Conference

Answer 1

1943 between Stalin Roosevelt and Churchill
met to resolve potential conflict amongst allies post war, and to liberate france from Nazi control
agreed to establish an organisation to secure world peace after the end of the war
however, no clear post-war plans were decided
top priority was defeating germany
however, Churchill was also concerned about the Soviets dominating Eastern Europe

Question 2

Yalta Conference

Answer 2

February 1945
Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt
agreed that Germany would be split into four zones - USSR, USA, Britain and France
USSR agreed that they would enter the war against Japan after the defeat of Germany
USSR agreed that the Polish provisional government would expand to include the London Polish government, and that free elections would be held across Europe
Stalin appeared to renege on the last two points and on 5 May 1945, Truman cut lend lease aid to the Soviet Union

Question 3

Potsdam Conference

Answer 3

July 1945
Stalin, Truman, Clement Attlee
four way division of germany confirmed, and agreed that Berlin would be split into four zones
disagreements over elections in Poland and Truman was far more confrontational than roosevelt ever had been
Truman told Stalin that the US had an atomic bom

Question 4

Potsdam Conference

Answer 4

July 1945
Stalin, Truman, Clement Attlee
four way division of germany confirmed, and agreed that Berlin would be split into four zones
disagreements over elections in Poland and Truman was far more confrontational than roosevelt ever had been
Truman told Stalin that the US had an atomic bomb

Question 5

summary about the impact of early conferences

Answer 5

beginning of early tensions
displayed emerging ideological differences
intensifying sphere-of-influence mentality
beginning of the arms race
established Germany and Berlin as a point of tension

Question 6

Le Monde quote about conferences

Answer 6

“Negotiations had been hard, and the outcome far from satisfactory. Once the enemy had been defeated, the alliance no longer had any real purpose. Above all, peace in Europe did not feel like true peace” - Le Monde, 22 July 1985