Origins Of The Cold War: Tehran, Yalta And Potsdam Flashcards
What countries were in the Grand Alliance?
The USA, the USSR and Britain
When was the Tehran Conference?
1943
What was agreed at Tehran?
• USA and Britain would open a second front and launch an attack on Germany from the West
• Stalin would declare war against Japan
• Discussion of what would happen to Germany after
the war
• Foundations for the United Nations set up
What impact did Tehran have on international relations?
• Stalin was pleased the USA and Britain were opening a second front against Germany
• But Britain was annoyed and wanted the second front in the Balkans
• Good relations between the USA and USSR – development of the two super powers.
Which leaders met at Yalta Conference, Feb 1945?
Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (GB), and Stalin (USSR)
What was agreed at Yalta?
• Germany and Berlin would be divided into zones of occupation under control of USA, USSR, GB and FR
• USSR would join the war against JAP
• United Nations to be set up after WWII
• Eastern European countries could hold free elections
after the end of the war
What did the Allied leaders disagree on at Yalta?
Stalin wanted to move the border of Poland westwards into German territory – Roosevelt was unhappy but agreed since Stalin promised not to help Communist rebels in Greece. The British supported the London Poles.
How many USSR civilian and military deaths were there in WWII?
Over 21 million, including over 13 million soldiers (the USA lost only 0.5million soldiers)
What was agreed at Potsdam?
• Germany and Berlin would be divided as agreed at Yalta
• Poland’s eastern border moved west – this would give the USSR more territory
• Nazi leaders to be tried as war criminals
What were the disagreements at Potsdam?
• Truman blocked Stalin’s demands for crippling reparations (fines) to be placed on GMY
• Truman refused to allow the USSR to occupy JAP once it was defeated
• Truman and Atlee opposed Stalin’s demand that he set up pro-Soviet governments in Eastern Europe. Stalin’s Red Army was looking like an army of occupation.
Why was Potsdam less successful?
• Stalin’s troops remained in Eastern Europe – hopes of free elections seemed very distant now
• Truman informed Stalin that the USA now possessed the atom bomb – Stalin feared that the USA might use this weapon in the future against the USSR
• Truman adopted a far more hardline approach to Stalin than Roosevelt had
• GB and USA were suspicious of Stalin who had now set up a pro-Communist government in Poland
• Stalin was suspicious as to why USA wanted GMY to ‘recover’ economically
Which leaders met at Potsdam Conference, July 1945?
Truman (USA), Churchill (GB), and Stalin (USSR) – but Churchill was replaced by Atlee
