Consequences of Potsdam

What happened leading up to Potsdam?

The Allies had become estranged and is telling that Potsdam was a protocol, not a peace treaty.

What did Potsdam leave behind?

Left more questions about Germany and Europe open than it answered.

e.g. was there to be a central gov. at some point? Was Germany to stay one state?

What had really happened to Germany?

It had imploded, but the vacuum was quickly filled with international rivalry of superpowers over ideology (e.g. capitalist, communist), security (Red Army, American bomb developments) and economy (Soviet aim to recover while Americans want to maintain trade).

What were all of the relevant critical decisions really subject to?

The context of the emerging cold war.