Potsdam Conference

When was the Potsdam conference

July-August 1945

2 main consequences Potsdam conference

Increased tension between the USA and USSR

Disagreement over Germanys future

Consequence 1: increased tension between the USA and ussr

Worsened relations between the USA and USSR , increasing ealry Cold War tensions

Unlike at yalta, the wartime alliance was weaker because Roosevelt had died and Truman replaced him, while Churchill was replaced with atlee during the conference

Truman took a much tougher stance towards Stalin, especially over reparations and Eastern Europe.

At the same time USA had successfully tested the atomic bomb, which Truman hinted at during the conference. This made Stalin suspicious of American intentions and increased mistrust between the two sides, helping turn cooperation into rivalry

Consequence 2: Disagreement over Germanys future

It highlighted disagreements over how Germany should be treated after the war, particularly economically

While all sides agreed on demilitarisation, denazification and division into occupation zones, they disagreed on reparations

USSR wanted heavy reparations to compensate for wartime losses

USA and Britain wanted to rebuild Germanys economy to ensure stability and prevent extremism

This unresolved disagreemnet led to Germany developing in different ways in each zone and eventually contributed to the divison of Germany and later crisis such as the Berlin Blockaide