Roosevelt passed away on April 12, 1945, before witnessing the United Nations establishment.
His death occurred while vacationing in Warm Springs, Georgia, just weeks before the UN's first meeting and near the end of World War II in Europe.
Vice President Harry Truman unexpectedly ascended to the presidency due to Roosevelt's sudden demise.
Truman's Presidential Challenges
Truman was unprepared for the presidency, having only served a few months as Vice President and lacking significant involvement in foreign policy during Roosevelt's administration.
Initially, Truman was open to compromises with the Soviets, but his perspective shifted over time.
The Potsdam Conference
Truman met Stalin for the first time in July 1945 at the Potsdam Conference in Berlin.
Stalin demanded war payments from Germany, while Truman emphasized the need for promised elections in Poland.
During the conference, Truman learned about the successful testing of the atomic bomb in New Mexico.
He attempted to leverage this information to intimidate Stalin, claiming the U.S. had a powerful new weapon.
Stalin, aware of the bomb due to Soviet espionage, reacted nonchalantly yet was concerned about this strategic development for America.