Conferences (Yalta, Potsdam)

Question 1

When was the Yalta Conference?

Answer 1

4th-11th of Feb, 1945 in Yalta (During WW2)

Question 2

What were the aims of the US in the Yalta Conference?

Answer 2

• The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945
• Demilitarisation of Germany
• Division of Germany into 4 zones
• Creation of the UN (24th October 1945)
• Nazi war criminals brought to justice
• Independent Poland, withdrawal of Stalin’s Red Army.
• Free democratic elections in countries under German rule

Question 3

What did Stalin want at the Yalta conference?

Answer 3

• Surrender of Nazis
• His own zone in Germany
• Only agrees to UN after offered permanent seat
• US$20 billion reparations (10 for USSR)
• Ente war in Pacific against Japan once victory in Europe
• Secret ballot for determination in Poland (but never happened as Stalin did not want to withdraw Red Army.)

Question 4

When was the Potsdam conference?

Answer 4

17th of July, 1945 (almost at the end of WW2)

Question 5

What did the parties agree on in the Potsdam conference?

Answer 5

• Division of Germany
• Demilitarisation of factories
• Japan gov. should accept terms of unconditional surrender
  ○ Occupied by allies
• Nazi war criminals prosecuted
  ○ First list published before 1st Sept. 1945
• ‘humane and orderly’ treatment of Germans

Question 6

What was there controversy over in the Potsdam conference?

Answer 6

• Poland’s borders - political situation with Red Army and communism
• Reparations - Truman did not want repeat of TOV, Stalin wanted to ‘cripple’ Germany due to devastation to USSR
• Atomic bomb - Successfully tested a day before conference, Truman told Stalin

Question 7

When did Truman tell Stalin about the atomic bomb?

Answer 7

24th July 1945