Potsdam Conference July - August 1945 Flashcards
When and where was the Potsdam conference?
July - August 1945 in the Berlin suburb of Potsdam.
Who was the Potsdam conference between?
Stalin and Truman
When was the nazis defeated by the USA, USSR and Britain and what did this mean?
May 1945 they defeated the nazis as hitler committed suicide and Germany surrendered
This meant that the allies no longer had a “common enemy” and tensions began to emerge
What were Stalins armies occupying most of?
Eastern Europe - the soviets had been liberating (freeing) nazi countries and left their troops there
By July what countries did Stalin/soviets have control of? And what were refugees in those countries doing?
Baltic states, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Romania
- refugees were fleeing out of these countries fearing a communist take over
What happens on the 12th of April 1945?
President Roosevelt died and he was replaced by his Vice President, Harry Truman
Why was Truman different to Roosevelt?
He was much more anti-communist and was very suspicious of Stalin
What happened on the 16th of July 1945? And what did Truman inform Stalin about at the start of the conference?
Americans successfully tested and atomic bomb, Truman informed Stalin about this at the start of the conference which caused Stalin to feel threatened by the USA.
What was agreed about Germany at Potsdam? (Agreements) (2 points)
- That there would be four “zones of occupation” in Germany
- nazi-war criminals would be put on trial
What was disagreed about Germany at Potsdam and what did Truman not want to repeat? (Disagreements)
The border details of how to divide Germany was disagreed upon Stalin wanted to ensure Germany was weakened and could therefore nether threat the USSR ever again
- Truman did not want to punish Germany and repeat the mistakes of the treaty of Versailles
What did they agree about what Russia was allowed to do? (Agreements) (2 points)
Russia was allowed to take reparations from the soviet zone and 10% of the industrial equipment from the. Western zone as reparations (America and Britain could take reparations from their zone if they wished)
What was disagreed about Russia and reparations? (Disagreements)
The total size of reparations to be paid was disagreed. 20 million Russians had died in the war and the USSR was devastated, so Stalin wanted huge amounts of compensation, but Truman did not want to repeat the mistakes of the treaty of Versailles
At yalta what agreement did Stalin win?
To set up pro- soviet governments in Eastern Europe - he wanted allies close to Russia to protect its people
Truman disagreed over Soviet policy in Eastern Europe why? (Disagreements)
He was unhappy about Stalins intentions and adopted a “get tough” attitude
