(b) Potsdam Conference

When was the Potsdam Conference?

July 1945

Who was Roosevelt replaced by?

Harry Truman

Who was Churchill replaced by?

Attlee

Potsdam Agreements (De-militarization)

Germany was to be completely disarmed & demilitarized

Potsdam Agreements (De-Nazification)

De-Nazification was to be carried out. War crimes would be judged and all former Nazi party members were to be removed from public office.

Potsdam Agreements (Education)

The education system was to be purged of all Nazi influences

Potsdam Agreements (De-centralization)

Decentralisation of the political system was to be undertaken and local responsibility developed

Potsdam Agreements (Freedom)

Freedom of speech and a free press were to be restored, as was religious tolerance

Potsdam Agreements (Economy)

Germany was to become a single economic unit with common policies on industry and finance

Potsdam Agreements (USSR)

The USSR was to receive 25% extra reparations

Potsdam Failures

The Potsdam conference failed to address the growing suspicion and uncertainty that had developed between the USA & the USSR

Atomic Bombs

The day before, the first successful detonation of the USA’s atomic bomb had taken place. 
Truman hoped this’d provide leverage against Stalin to comply with the agreements at Yalta.

Atomic Bomb Tension

Stalin was expecting to be told about this development (since he had spies in the Manhattan Project) but Truman never told him, deepening the distrust between the USSR & the US.