Yalta and Potsdam Conferences Review

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

Who were the leaders at Yalta?

Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (UK), Stalin (USSR).

What were Churchill and Stalin’s relations like?

They were suspicious; Churchill feared Stalin aimed to dominate Eastern Europe.

How did ideologies differ between the Allies?

USA/UK were capitalist, USSR was communist; they disagreed on rights, freedoms, and economies.

Why was Poland a key point of conflict at Yalta?

Churchill wanted the anti-communist Polish government-in-exile to lead; Stalin wanted pro-Communists in power.

What did Stalin do to Polish officers during the war?

He had 10,000 Polish officers killed (Katyn massacre).

What was agreed at Yalta regarding Germany?

Germany and Berlin would be divided into 4 zones.

What was one of the agreements made at Yalta?

The USSR would help against Japan, and free elections were to be held in Eastern Europe.

What were the disagreements at Yalta?

Stalin wanted a westward Polish border shift and big German reparations; others were hesitant.

Who attended the Potsdam Conference?

Stalin (USSR), Truman (USA), Attlee (UK).

How did Truman differ from Roosevelt?

Truman was more anti-Communist and more confrontational.

What nuclear development occurred at Potsdam?

The USA tested its first atomic bomb but didn’t inform Stalin.

How did Stalin react to the atomic bomb?

He saw it as a threat and felt betrayed.

How did Stalin break the Yalta agreement on Poland?

He installed a Communist government, ignoring promises of free elections.

What did the USSR do with its military post-WW2?

Kept troops stationed in Eastern Europe and refused to demilitarize.

What was agreed at Potsdam regarding Poland?

Poland’s borders shifted west.

What were the key agreements made at Potsdam?

Germany was divided into zones, Nazis were banned, and trials were to take place at Nuremberg.

What were the key disagreements at Potsdam?

Stalin’s refusal to allow free elections and Truman’s new 'Get Tough' policy.