Origins of the Cold War c1945–1949: US, British and USSR relations in 1945 - Tensions at Yalta

Question 1

When was the Yalta Conference?

Answer 1

• 4-11 February 1945

Question 2

How was the war at this point?

Answer 2

• In 1944, Western powers had opened up a ‘second front’ by invading Nazi-occupied France
• During August 1944, Soviet forces swept into Poland
• By March 1945 the Soviets had crossed the Oder River (goes through Poland and Germany)

Question 3

What agreements were made at Yalta?

Answer 3

• Germany would be divided into four zones, each controlled by an allied power (Britain, US, USSR, France)
• Berlin would be similarly divided
• The UN would be formed
• A Declaration on Liberated Europe should be created
• Stalin agrees to join war against Japan

Question 4

Why were there tensions surrounding spheres of influence?

Answer 4

• Western powers were concerned that many Eastern European states had been liberated by the USSR
• Roosevelt and Churchill agreed on national self-determination and no spheres of influence
• But Stalin wanted to provide the USSR’s security (buffer zone) through Soviet spheres of influence in Europe

Question 5

How did the Western powers expect Stalin to act?

Answer 5

• Roosevelt was convinced that Stalin would agree to free elections and democratic governments
• Churchill was convinced that Stalin intended to expand Soviet power in post-war Europe

Question 6

What disagreements were there surrounding Germany?

Answer 6

• Roosevelt and Churchill wanted to reconstruct and re-educate Germany as a democratic nation
• But Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak

Question 7

What were the different economic aims of the powers?

Answer 7

• Roosevelt and Churchill wanted world economic reconstruction
• Though the creation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank
• Stalin focused on economic reconstruction for the USSR
• Mainly at the expense of Germany

Question 8

What disagreements were there regarding the Declaration of Liberated Europe?

Answer 8

• How it was interpreted in relation to Poland, Stalin was determined that a Communist government should stay in place whilst Roosevelt and Churchill insisted it become a democracy
• USSR set up pro-communist gov. on Poland’s liberation called the Lublin Poles

Question 9

What was the Declaration on Liberated Europe?

Answer 9

• Agreement that the Grand Alliance would help any liberated European state or former Axis state in Europe, if they agreed to certain conditions

Question 10

What conditions did European states have to follow under the Declaration on Liberated Europe?

Answer 10

• To establish conditions of internal peace
• To carry out emergency relief measures for the relief of distressed peoples
• To form interim governments broadly representative of population’s beliefs and pledged to the earliest possible establishment of government through free elections
• To facilitate where necessary the holding of such elections