The Potsdam Conference

• What was the main objective of the Potsdam Conference?

  To finalize a post-war settlement and implement agreements made at Yalta
• How did the leadership change in the US affect relations with the USSR at the Potsdam Conference?

  Harry S. Truman's dislike for communism strained relations compared to Roosevelt's approach
• Who replaced Franklin D. Roosevelt as US President?

  Harry S. Truman
• What was Truman's attitude towards communism?

  He openly disliked communism and Stalin personally
• What significant event occurred just before the Potsdam Conference?

  The USA successfully exploded an atomic bomb
• How did Truman inform Stalin about the atomic bomb at Potsdam?

  He stated that the US possessed a new weapon of unusual destructive force
• What was the Red Army's role in Eastern Europe after World War II?

  The Red Army was in control of Poland and setting up a communist government
• What was Truman's view on the use of atomic bombs on Japan?

  He believed it saved hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides
• What was the outcome of the Potsdam Conference regarding free elections in Eastern Europe?

  There was no sign that Stalin intended to allow free elections
• What were the main points discussed at the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam Conferences?

  • Tehran: Military decisions prioritized; agreement to invade France.
  • Yalta: Stalin's sphere of influence; free elections promised.
  • Potsdam: No free elections; communist government in Poland; reparations disputes.
• Who were the main participants at the Potsdam Conference?

  Churchill, Truman, and Stalin
• What was the disagreement regarding reparations at the Potsdam Conference?

  Arguments arose over how much the USSR should take from Germany
• How did the agreements made at Yalta differ from the outcomes at Potsdam?

  Yalta promised free elections, while Potsdam showed no evidence of this
• What mnemonic can be used to remember the discussions at the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam Conferences?

  • PEER:
  • P: People – who was there
  • E: Elections
  • E: Europe – what was happening
  • R: Repayment
• What was the date of the Potsdam Conference?

  July 1945
• What was the significance of the phrase "the only language Stalin understood was how many army divisions do you have?"

  It reflected Truman's belief in the importance of military strength in negotiations
• How did Truman's background influence his presidency during the Cold War?

  His military experience and moral beliefs shaped his approach to communism
• What was the date of Franklin D. Roosevelt's death?

  12 April 1945
• How did Truman's relationship with Roosevelt affect his presidency?

  Truman was not particularly close to Roosevelt and was unaware of key projects like the Manhattan Project
• What were the implications of the disagreements at the Potsdam Conference for future US-Soviet relations?

  Disagreements indicated a growing rift that would escalate into the Cold War