potsdam conference

• background info at potsdam (what changed between yalta and potsdam)

  grand alliance met a few months after yalta in potsdam, germany

  the USA and Britain were unhappy Stalin had removed the non-communists from the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.

  
  

  The USA and Britain were unhappy Stalin had not allowed free elections in eastern Europe.

  Stalin was angry as he thought the West was interfering.

  
  

  truman deliberately delayed the Potsdam meeting so America could test the atomic bomb.

  When Truman informed Stalin about the USA's successful test, Stalin was very angry not to have been told beforehand.

  
  

  Truman was very anti-communist and wanted to get 'tough' with Stalin.
• potsdam date + aim

  july-august 1945

  finalise agreements on post-war europe set out at yalta
• potsdam motivation: usa


  truman wanted to ensure peace in europe and prevent the spread of communism
• potsdam motivation: uk

  clement attlee wanted free and fair elections to be held in central/eastern europe after the war
• potsdam motivation: ussr


  stalin wanted to ensure ussr remained powerful in eastern europe
• potsdam outcome: germany/berlin


  germany/berlin's four zones would be controlled by the ussr, uk, usa and france
• potsdam outcome: german reparations

  germany would pay reparations to russia in kind:

  factories/machinery would be sent to russia from allied-occupied western germany

  25% industrial goods made in western zones to go to the ussr

  in exchange coal and wheat would be sent to the West from Russian-occupied zones
• potsdam outcome: nazi party

  nazi party to be banned and war criminals to be put on trial
• potsdam outcome: poland


  poland's boundaries were set over the (temporary) oder-neisse line
• how did potsdam affect the us-soviet alliance: atomic bomb

  it was negative because:

  the trinity test increased tensions between us/ussr

  the detonation of the first atomic bomb

  this meant the leaders were more likely to clash over issues as truman was withholding information about it, decreasing trust between the ussr and usa
• how did potsdam affect the us-soviet alliance: reparations

  stalin wanted harsher reparations against germany, but truman wanted to protect the german economy
• how did potsdam affect the us-soviet alliance: eastern europe

  the ussr's control over eastern europe concerned truman as he believed stalin was spreading communism

  he also wanted to keep his red army in eastern europe as protection against future threats
• outcome of potsdam

  The Nazi Party was banned.

  War criminals were to be prosecuted.

  
  

  Germany was to be reduced in size.

  
  

  Germany would be divided into four occupied zones controlled by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union.

  
  

  Berlin would also be divided into four occupied zones controlled by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union.

  
  

  All economic decisions about Germany must be agreed to by all four powers in the Allied Control Council.

  
  

  A Council of Foreign Ministers was set up to organise the rebuilding of Europe.

  
  

  It was decided the Soviet Union would receive 25% of the industrial output from the other three occupied zones.
• How did Stalin react to the USA's atomic bomb test?

  He was very angry not to be informed
• What was Truman's stance towards communism?

  He was very anti-communist
• When did the Potsdam Conference take place?

  July-August 1945
• What was the main purpose of the Potsdam Conference?

  To finalize agreements on post-war Europe
• What significant change occurred between the Yalta and Potsdam conferences?

  Stalin removed non-communists from Poland
• Where did the Potsdam Conference take place?

  Potsdam, Germany
• Why were the USA and Britain unhappy at Potsdam?

  Stalin did not allow free elections in Eastern Europe
• What was Truman's motivation at Potsdam?

  To ensure peace and prevent communism
• What did Clement Attlee want for Central/Eastern Europe?

  Free and fair elections after the war
• What was Stalin's motivation at Potsdam?

  To ensure USSR remained powerful in Eastern Europe
• How would Germany and Berlin be controlled after Potsdam?

  By the USSR, UK, USA, and France
• What reparations were decided for Germany at Potsdam?

  Germany would pay reparations in kind to Russia
• What was the arrangement for industrial goods between Germany and the USSR?

  25% of industrial goods from Western zones to USSR
• What was the fate of the Nazi Party after Potsdam?

  The Nazi Party was to be banned
• What was decided regarding war criminals at Potsdam?

  War criminals were to be put on trial
• How were Poland's boundaries set at Potsdam?

  Over the temporary Oder-Neisse line
• How did the atomic bomb affect US-Soviet relations after Potsdam?

  It increased tensions and decreased trust
• What did Stalin want regarding reparations from Germany?

  He wanted harsher reparations against Germany
• Why was Truman concerned about the USSR's control over Eastern Europe?

  He believed Stalin was spreading communism
• What was the outcome regarding economic decisions about Germany?

  All decisions must be agreed by four powers
• What was established to organize the rebuilding of Europe?

  A Council of Foreign Ministers was set up
• What percentage of industrial output would the USSR receive from Germany?

  25% of industrial output from other zones