the break down of the grand alliance at potsdam Flashcards
when had nazis surrendered
9 weeks prior
how long prior had the us successfully tested their nuclear weapon
1 day
where had stalin set up a puppet government and what had this broken
poland
declaration of liberated europe
what were the key issues at potsdam
resolve the german and berlin question
resolve the polish question
deal with other power vacuums
end the war on japan-the bomb
What were the 3-D for social and political change in Germany?
denazified democratised demilitarised
how were German people to be treated for social political change?
to be re-educated
nazism stamped out
war, criminals to be tried and punished in nuremberg trials
what was restored in Germany as part of social, social political change?
free speech
What part of Germany did the USSR want?
The rhur
Where would the occupying powers receive reparations from in germany?
Their own zones
where else did the USSR receive reparations from in germany?
They got 25% from the western zones
And half of the $20 million total
10% of industrial hood from western zones for agricultural products in exchange
how was Germany’s economic system to remain?
a single economic unit with common policies and industry and finance
when was the reparations agreement disbanded after tensions?
May 1946
using the example of coal, how did the west and the USSR have different aspirations of the Germany?
The USSR wanted to take it all for reparations
The west wanted to use the reparations to rebuild Germany
With the aim to punish and weaken Germany, what did the USSR do their resources?
They looted them of resources and expertise
was the deals with the reparation agreement successful in Germany?
No, the USSR did not give the western zones, the food and resources agreed-upon although they argued they were not given the proper level of reparations in the first place
What particularly was resolved about Poland in the Potsdam agreement
The Polish borders previously discussed at Yalta
how did the West feel about agreeing the new Polish borders?
They were reluctant to agree
How many Germans were expelled from Poland, after the movement of the border?
5 million
How did the Polish feel about the new borders and what have they lost?
They felt betrayed by the west and lost 20% of its land
What was agreed-upon for Austria?
Austria and its capital of Vienna would be divided into four zones
What happened to the Indo China region?
it was divided to allow for surrender of Japanese troops
given to the British in the south and China in the north
Where else did the USSR in Asia? Want to share of?
Japan
The USA rejected this
How did Truman state his occupation of a bomb?
but casually and elusively
Saying he had a ‘new weapon of unusual destructive force ‘
how and wide did Stalin react to the news of the USA having a bomb
He seemed unconcerned as he already knew from the spies about the Manhattan Project since 1941
but he was privately concerned about the US nuclear monopoly
Why did Truman want to use the bomb?
to end the war in Japan
To avoid the USSR occupying more territory
How did Truman try and exploit his nuclear monopoly?
He tried to use it to his diplomatic advantage through atomic diplomacy
When was the first successful Trinity test?
July 16, 1945
when were the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
the 6th of August H and the 9th of August N
what are some reasons given by the USA for dropping the bombs
To end the war
Revenge for Pearl Harbor
A military test for an expensive weapon
To intimidate the USSR
What were the consequences of dropping the bombs in Japan?
it cost 129,000 Japanese lives
Increased insecurity of the USSR
Began in Arms race
The USSR didn’t occupy much territory in Asia
