Yalta and Potsdam Cold war (copy)

When was the Yalta Conference?

February 1945

what military agreements were there at Potsdam?

Russia agreed to enter war against Japan exactly 3 months after German surrender. in return Russia would receive territory in Manchuria and Sakhalin Island

what agreements were made over Germany at Yalta?

Germany temporarily divided into four zones Berlin divided into four zones disarm, de-militarise, de-nazify Reparations for Germany - $20 billion with half to soviets

what were agreements made over Eastern Europe at Yalta?

'Declaration of Liberated Europe' - set up democracies in eastern Europe (despite Soviets already implementing communist framework). Set up polish government of national unity

Describe tensions over reparations at Yalta

Stalin wanted Germany to pay USSR reparations Stalin wanted payments in coal, US waned coal to rebuild Europe and Russian demands ignored.

Describe tensions over Germany at Yalta

USSR forced Germany to sell raw materials and food to the Soviet Union Some German factories dismantled and moved to the USSR dismantling Germany whereas allies wanted strong germany to prevent spread communism and feared repeating Versailles

describe what happened with the 'Polish Question' at Yalta?

Stalin adamant about keeping his influence and refused to give up any land conquered from the Poles in 1939 Also wanted a pro-communist government installed to give security to his western border (however USA and Britain wanted The London Poles to lead gov) issues of where to draw borders and meant Stalin now had large gains in land and Europe meant Churchill and Roosevelt began to question Stalin's intentions with Eastern Europe

Why were people critical of Roosevelt at Yalta?

Accused him of 'selling out' and naively letting Stalin have hi way however it is doubtful he had much choice. With World war II still raging his main intention was maintaining the Grand Alliance and many troublesome political issues could be solved after the war.

describe the problems that arose with Asia at the Yalta conference

Roosevelt was desperate for the USSR to join the war against Japan therefore promised the USSR: easier soviet naval access to the pacific resources (Manchuria and Sakhalin island) In return stalin promised to support the gov of Jiang Jieshi which was threatened by Mao Zedong and Chinese communists.

When was the Potsdam Conference?

July-August 1945

When had Germany surrendered

8th May 1945

What agreements were made over East Europe at Potsdam?

New boundaries agreed

Agreements over Germany at Potsdam

Germany and Berlin divided into separate sectors and zones as agreed at Yalta. Demilitarisation. Democracy re-established with free press and freedom of speech (despite Stalin not wanting this in the East). Nazi party was to be banned in Germany and legal trials at Nuremberg of 21 Nazi leaders for war crimes.

Agreements over international organisation at Potsdam:

Allies agreed to participate fully in UNO

Describe miliatary tension at Potsdam

Stalin denied a naval base in the Mediterranean

How were the allies divided over reparations enforced on Germany at Potsdam?

Stalin waned Germany to pay heavy but Truman wanted the economy to recover and feared repeating Versaille. Stalin was hence suspicious of why the West wanted to protect Germany and help it recover.

describe tension over Poland at Potsdam

Stalin had taken tighter control of Eastern Europe since Yalta and went back on his word: setting up a puppet communist government in Poland neglecting the London poles and hence the rest of the big three. Stalin argued this was a defensive move but Truman objected to Stalin's control and began to see him as a conqueror not a liberator.

how did the atomic bomb affect dynamics at Potsdam?

The US informed the other countries at the meeting of the US successful detonation of the first atomic bomb. Historians have often interpreted Truman's firm stance during negotiations as due to their belief nuclear capability would enhance its bargaining power but Soviet intelligence meat Stalin was well-informed. Also could be argued the US no longer required USSR's help in the Japanese war.

what decisions on Asia were made at Potsdam?

Stalin reaffirmed intention to enter war against Japan.

Truman rejected Stalin's proposal of working out trusteeship of Korea

Agreed following Japanese surrender: china would occupy northern french indochina while the British South East Asia would occupy southern Indochina

How had the US' stance on Asia at Potsdam changed since Yalta?

The US had retreated somewhat from its anti-colonial stance, partly because the US military wanted to regain control of strategically important Pacific islands such as Okinawa but also because the USSR seemed more likely to develop into a threat than the European imperialists

how early did Kennan begin to point out the USSR's intentions?

September 194