The second of three strategic meetings between the USA, Britain and the Soviet Union to discuss winning the war and post-war Europe.
When was the Yalta conference held?
February 1945
What decisions were made at Yalta?
The superpowers agreed on the Declaration of Liberated Europe which guaranteed all countries freed from Nazi control the right to hold democratic and free elections.
Nazi Germany and Berlin would be divided into four zones, to be controlled by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union.
Germany would be reduced in size, demilitarised and have to pay reparations
What decisions were made at Yalta?
After the war was over, Nazi war criminals would be tried and the Nazi Party banned.
Poland would fall under the Soviet sphere of influence and run under a democratically elected government.
Eastern Europe would have free elections.
The USSR would declare war on Japan3 months after Nazi Germany was defeated.
The United Nations was created.
What were the tensions at Yalta?
The USSR wanted Germany to pay high reparations; Britain and the USA disagreed.
Britain and the USA wanted Germany to recover, whereas the USSR wanted to keep Germany weak.
Stalin wanted the Polish-German border to be much further to the west and desired a 'friendly' Polish government. Britain and the USA were worried this would mean Poland would be controlled by the USSR.
