Yalta and Potsdam

When was Litvinov's report to Molotov?

November 1944

According to the report, what was the USSR's sphere of influence

Finland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, the Slav countries and Turkey.

According to the report, what was the British sphere of influence?

Holland, Belgium, France, Portugal and Greece.

According to the report, what was included in the neutral sphere?

Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Italy.

When was Yalta?

(4th-11th) February 1945

What was to be discussed at Yalta? (6)

Germany, reparations, the formation of the United Nations, Eastern Europe, Poland and the entry of Soviet forces into Japan.

What was decided at Yalta regarding Germany and Austria?

They were to be divided in to US, British, French and Soviet zones with Berlin to be divided similarly.

What was the Declaration on Liberated Europe?

Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin pledged to support the democratic processes in establishment of new governments in Europe's nations following Nazi control.

What did Arthur Schlesinger say on the Declaration a Liberated Europe?

It was a 'grave diplomatic blunder' from the Soviets point of view.

What was Roosevelt's stance concerning Eastern Europe?

He was accepting of Stalin's control of Eastern Europe; he believed that it would be virtually impossible to get the Red Army out of there, considering the USA and the UK would have to conquer Eastern Europe themselves.

What else was decided at Yalta? (3)

The UN would be ratified, the USSR would join the war against Japan once Germany surrendered and the USSR was to gain Poland.

What would the Soviet Union gain from their involvement in ending the war against Japan?

They would be granted a sphere of influence in Manchuria.

What did Stalin agree to concerning Poland?

Stalin agreed to hold free and fair elections.

What was the US's stance on Poland?

It was part of the Soviet sphere of influence or 'another hemisphere' entirely.

Poland expansion and Germany

Poland expanded to the North and West and the USSR would claim some of Eastern Poland and in return.

How many Germans were expelled due to expansionism?

6-9 million.

How much in reparations did Stalin want Germany to pay?

$10 billion - not agreed upon by the Allies

Conflicting aims in Germany would serve to further divide the Allies.

When did Germany surrender?

8th May 1945

When was the atomic bomb tested by Truman?

16th July

Provided Truman with the sort of leverage he felt was needed to keep the Soviets in line (cooperation).

US atomic bombs (where and when)

Hiroshima on the 6th August and Nagasaki on the 9th August.

What was the significance surrounding the dropping of the atomic bombs?

It was a chance for the US to reassert their role as a superior power. - Got revenge for Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour which nearly wiped out the American navy.

Truman's aims at Potsdam

He wanted free elections in Eastern Europe with Soviet troops occupying it but Stalin did not want this.

He started practising atomic diplomacy.

Stalin's aims at Potsdam

He wanted to cripple Germany so that they could not unite and endanger Soviet security again.

What were the agreements made at Potsdam?

Demilitarisation and de-nazification were to be carried out in Germany, and democracy was to be re-established

Germany had to pay reparations (not to the extent that Stalin wanted).

USA and Britain - Stalin in Eastern Europe (disagreements at Potsdam)

They were annoyed at Stalin's actions in Eastern Europe, communists were being positioned in important government roles.

SED

The KPD and the SPD merged to form the SED (Socialist Unity Party) in April 1946.