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Cold War Origins: The Conferences, Tehran Conference November 1943 -…
Cold War Origins:
The Conferences
Yalta Conference
February 1945
Why?
shape the postwar order, particularly the fate of Germany and Eastern Europe
addressed critical political and territorial issues
Held as the Allied victory in Europe was becoming increasingly likely
What did they disagree on
Polish government
USA backed govt in exile in London
Stalin backed communist group
effects
Stalin's subsequent failure to uphold the commitment to free elections in Eastern Europe, leading to the establishment of Soviet-aligned communist regimes, is often seen as a major negative effect and a significant factor in the onset of the Cold War.
main points discussed
German reparations
unconditional surrender and occupation of Germany
future of Poland and its government
liberation of Eastern European nations
principle of free elections
What did they agree on
Germany would be divided into four occupation zones (American, British, French, and Soviet). Berlin would also be divided into four sectors.
Germany would undergo demilitarization and denazification.
The Soviet Union reaffirmed its commitment to enter the war against Japan within two to three months after Germany's surrender, in return for territorial concessions in Asia
Stalin agreed to the Declaration on Liberated Europe, pledging to assist liberated nations in forming interim governments "broadly representative of all democratic elements" and to facilitate free elections.
The Potsdam Conference July to Aug 1945
Why?
Its importance lay in finalizing the details of the postwar settlement in Europe and issuing an ultimatum to Japan
New Leaders: Truman USA (FDR passed away), Atlee for Churchill mid conference (Churchill voted out in GBR), and Stalin
War between Japan/USA raging on, Germany already surrendered - How to end the War with Japan?
main points discussed
administration and occupation of defeated Germany
reparations
precise demarcation of the German-Polish border
demand for Japan's unconditional surrender.
What did they agree on
division of Germany and Berlin into four occupation zones
Each occupying power would take reparations from its own zone
Soviet Union to receive industrial equipment from the Western zones in exchange for agricultural goods
What did they disagree on
disagreements persisted regarding the level of German reparations
Soviet Union seeking substantial payments and the Western powers being more cautious, mindful of the consequences of reparations after World War I
he practical implementation of free elections in Eastern Europe remained a point of contention, as Soviet influence was already firmly established in many areas.
Truman informed Stalin about the successful testing of the atomic bomb
influenced dynamics and potentially reduced the perceived need for immediate Soviet entry into the war against Japan from the American perspective
effects
solidified the administrative framework for postwar Germany and set its eastern border
agreement on reparations, while a compromise, highlighted the growing economic divisions between the zones
Potsdam Declaration directly preceded the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan's subsequent surrender, ending World War II
underscored the growing ideological rift and mistrust between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, particularly over Eastern Europe, further contributing to the escalating tensions that would define the Cold War era
Tehran Conference
November 1943
main points discussed
opening of a second front in Western Europe (Operation Overlord)
Potential USSR entry against Japan
future of Poland and its borders
fate of Germany
postwar international organization (which would become the United Nations
What did they agree on
USSR attack Germany from East
westward shift of Poland's borders, with the Soviet Union gaining territory in the east and Poland gaining territory from Germany in the west
launching Operation Overlord (the invasion of Normandy) in May 1944.
UN
Why?
First meeting of big 3
Roosevelt USA
Churchill GBR
Stalin USSR
crucial for coordinating military strategy against Nazi Germany
initial groundwork for the postwar world
What did they disagree on
There were underlying tensions regarding the future political alignment of Eastern European countries.
Churchill favored a different approach to the second front, advocating for operations in the Mediterranean and the Balkans to potentially limit Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, while Roosevelt and Stalin prioritized the invasion of France.
effects
solidified the alliance between the three powers for the remaining period of the war.
agreements on Poland's borders set the stage for postwar territorial changes and contributed to future tensions
commitment to and subsequent execution of Operation Overlord, which fundamentally changed the course of the war in Europe by creating a second major front