The Cold War: The Potsdam Conference 1945 - Truman, Attlee and Stalin - Episode 3

Summary

The Potsdam Conference, held from July 17 to August 1, 1945, marked a crucial moment in post-WWII diplomacy. With key leaders Truman, Stalin, and Attlee, the conference addressed Germany's disarmament, reparations, and territorial divisions. Truman's confrontational stance toward the Soviets, fueled by the atomic bomb test, contrasted with Stalin's desire for a security buffer in Eastern Europe. The Allies' differing views on Soviet expansion and Germany's future deepened tensions, setting the stage for the Cold War. Despite some agreements, the conference failed to establish a lasting cooperative relationship between the East and West.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Potsdam Conference took place from July 17 to August 1, 1945, after the end of WWII in Europe but before the end of the war with Japan.
• 😀 The conference was attended by leaders from the Allied powers: Harry Truman (USA), Joseph Stalin (USSR), and Clement Attlee (UK), following significant political changes since the previous conferences.
• 😀 Harry Truman replaced Franklin D. Roosevelt after his death and adopted a more confrontational stance towards the Soviet Union, unlike Roosevelt's cooperative approach.
• 😀 Clement Attlee replaced Winston Churchill after the British elections in July 1945. Attlee shared similar views to Churchill regarding Soviet expansion and the importance of the US-UK alliance.
• 😀 The successful detonation of the first atomic bomb by the US on July 16, 1945, before the conference, affected relations, with Truman believing it would secure Soviet cooperation, but it made Stalin more anxious about Soviet security.
• 😀 The USSR sought reparations from Germany and was given the right to take reparations from its zone, along with 25% of reparations from the Western zones.
• 😀 Germany was to be disarmed, denazified, and politically decentralized, with Nazi influences removed from public offices and education systems across the country.
• 😀 The conference failed to establish a foundation for peaceful East-West relations, contributing to the eventual division of Germany and the Cold War.
• 😀 Truman pushed for a post-war world based on self-determination, free trade, and international cooperation, advocating for the creation of the IMF and World Bank.
• 😀 Stalin prioritized Soviet security and dominance in Eastern Europe, installing pro-Soviet communist governments in liberated countries and maintaining a strong Red Army presence.
• 😀 Attlee was focused on rebuilding Britain post-war, while recognizing the importance of US support in defending Western Germany from potential Soviet threats.

Q & A

What was the Potsdam Conference and when did it take place?

The Potsdam Conference was a meeting between the Allied powers held from July 17 to August 1, 1945, in Potsdam, Germany. It took place after the end of World War II in Europe but while the war with Japan was still ongoing.

How did leadership changes impact the Potsdam Conference?

There were significant leadership changes before and during the Potsdam Conference. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in 1945 and was replaced by Harry Truman, who was more confrontational with the Soviet Union. In Britain, Winston Churchill was replaced by Clement Attlee after the Labour Party won the election, though Attlee shared similar views with Churchill on the Soviet threat.

What was the significance of the atomic bomb during the Potsdam Conference?

The atomic bomb played a crucial role in the Potsdam Conference. The U.S. successfully tested the bomb just before the conference, which gave Truman confidence. He believed the bomb would secure Soviet loyalty to the agreements made earlier, but instead, it made Stalin more anxious about Soviet security.

How did Truman's approach to the Soviet Union differ from Roosevelt's?

Truman was less trusting of the Soviet Union than Roosevelt. While Roosevelt had maintained a cooperative relationship with Stalin, Truman viewed the USSR as a threat and was less willing to make concessions, especially regarding Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

What decisions were made regarding Germany at the Potsdam Conference?

At Potsdam, Germany was to be disarmed, demilitarized, and undergo denazification. This included removing Nazi Party members from public office and eradicating Nazi influences in education. The country was divided into four occupation zones, and reparations were demanded, particularly from the Soviet zone.

How were reparations handled at the Potsdam Conference?

The Soviet Union demanded $10 billion in reparations from Germany. However, the U.S. and Britain agreed that Germany's economic recovery was important for Western Europe’s stability, so the Soviets were allowed to take reparations from their own zone, as well as 25% from the Western zones.

What was Stalin's approach to Eastern Europe at the Potsdam Conference?

Stalin aimed to establish a security buffer for the Soviet Union by exerting control over Eastern Europe. He wanted to ensure that communist governments were set up in the liberated territories and saw the Red Army’s presence as crucial to the security of the USSR.

What were Truman's goals for the post-war world, and how did they contrast with Stalin’s?

Truman envisioned a post-war world based on self-determination, economic cooperation, and international institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. In contrast, Stalin saw the U.S. and the Allies as rivals and wanted to maintain Soviet control over Eastern Europe as a means of securing the USSR’s dominance.

How did Attlee's views on foreign policy differ from those of Truman and Stalin?

Attlee, though more focused on rebuilding Britain, shared similar views to Truman regarding the need to counter Soviet influence in Europe. He believed in maintaining a strong alliance with the U.S. to protect Western Europe from potential Soviet expansion.

What was the long-term impact of the Potsdam Conference on East-West relations?

The Potsdam Conference failed to establish a non-confrontational relationship between the East and the West. While agreements were made regarding Germany’s post-war settlement, the differences between the Allies and the Soviet Union contributed to the division of Europe and the beginning of the Cold War.