Origins

• When did the Second World War break out?

  September 1939
• Who were the main leaders of the Grand Alliance?

  Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin
• What was the purpose of the Grand Alliance?

  To defeat Nazi Germany and its allies
• What were the main conferences held by the Grand Alliance during World War II?

  • Tehran Conference (November 1943)
  • Yalta Conference (February 1945)
  • Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)
• What was Stalin's concern during the Tehran Conference?


  He was worried about the delay in opening a 'second front' against Nazi Germany in Western Europe.
• What significant event occurred in June 1941 related to the USSR?

  4 million German soldiers invaded the USSR.
• What was the main aim of the Yalta Conference?

  To decide how Europe would be governed after the war.
• What disagreement arose regarding Poland during the Yalta Conference?

  Stalin expected elections for a pro-communist government, while Churchill supported non-communist politicians.
• What was a key outcome of the Potsdam Conference regarding leadership?

  Harry S. Truman replaced Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the USA.
• What major development did the USA achieve before the Potsdam Conference?

  The USA developed and tested an atomic bomb.
• What was one of the decisions made at the Potsdam Conference regarding Germany?

  Germany would be divided into four zones of occupation.
• How much in reparations was Germany required to pay after the war?

  £20 billion
• What was agreed regarding the future governments of Eastern European countries?


  They would be decided in free, democratic elections.
• What was the disagreement between Truman and Stalin regarding reparations?

  Truman did not want to weaken Germany, while Stalin wanted heavy reparations.
• What were the key agreements made regarding Poland after the war?


  • Poland would receive land from Germany.
  • The USSR could keep land it had seized from Poland.
  • The borders of Poland would return to their 1921 position.
• What was the significance of the United Nations as agreed upon in the conferences?

  It was to be set up as a peace-making organization to settle disputes without war.
• How was the economy of Germany managed after the war according to the agreements?

  The economy was run as a whole despite being divided into four zones of occupation.
• What was the agreement regarding the USSR's support against Japan?


  Stalin would support the US against Japan three months after Germany's defeat.
• What was the outcome of the disagreement regarding Poland's borders?


  Truman did not agree with the changes to Poland's border and giving the USSR more territory.
• What was the agreement regarding the Nazi Party after the war?

  The Nazi Party would be abolished.