The third and final meeting between the USA, Britain and the Soviet Union to discuss Nazi Germany and the future of Europe.
When was the Potsdam Conference?
Between July and August 1945
Who attended the conference and why did they change?
President Harry Truman (Roosevelt died April 1945)
Prime Minister Clement Attlee (Churchill lost election in July)
Premier Joseph Stalin
What disagreements were there?
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.
What decisions were made?
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.
What decisions were made?
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.
