![Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin meeting at the Potsdam Conference on July 18, 1945. From left to right, first row: Stalin, Truman, Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. Second row: Truman confidant Harry Vaughan [4], Russian interpreter Charles Bohlen, Truman naval aide James K. Vardaman, Jr., and Charles Griffith Ross (partially obscured) [5].](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a8/Trumanstalin.jpg/350px-Trumanstalin.jpg)
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, Germany, from July 16, 1945 to August 2, 1945. Schloss Cecilienhof is a palace in the northern part of the Neuer Garten park in Potsdam, close to the Jungfernsee lake Also see Potsdam New York (in the USA For the Potsdam Conference see Potsdam Conference. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The three nations were represented by Communist Party General Secretary Joseph Stalin, Prime Minister Winston Churchill[1] and later Clement Attlee[2], and President Harry S Truman. The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ( First Secretary in 1953-1966 was the title synonymous with leader of the Soviet Union after Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The French were not invited to participate. Although Poland made the fourth-largest troop contribution to the Allied war effort, after the Soviets, the British and the Americans, Polish leaders were not invited to participate in the conference even though earlier they had been promised entry. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland
Stalin, Churchill, and Truman—as well as Attlee, who replaced Churchill as Prime Minister[3] after the Labour Party's victory over the Conservatives in the 1945 general election—had gathered to decide how to administer the defeated Nazi Germany, which had agreed to unconditional surrender nine weeks earlier, on May 8 (V-E Day). The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Results |} Total votes cast 24073025 All parties shown Conservative total includes Ulster Unionists Reason for Labour victory Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Unconditional surrender is a surrender without conditions except for those provided by International law. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Victory in Europe Day ( V-E Day or VE Day) was May 7 and May 8, 1945, the dates when the World War II Allies The goals of the conference also included the establishment of post-war order, peace treaties issues, and countering the effects of war.
Contents |
Participants
- Soviet Union, represented by Joseph Stalin. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Stalin arrived at the conference a day late, citing "official business" that required his attention, but in fact may have suffered a minor heart attack. [4]
- United Kingdom, represented by British Prime Minister, Clement Atlee. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 The results of the British election became known during the conference. As a result of the Labour Party victory over the Conservative Party the leadership changed hands. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom.
- United States, represented by the new President Harry S Truman. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It was here where Truman first alluded to Stalin that the Americans had developed the atomic bomb and may use it against Japan, which they later did on August 6th and August 9th. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Joseph Stalin suggested that Truman preside over the conference as the only head of state attending, a recommendation accepted by Churchill. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state
Results
Potsdam Agreement
- Main article the Potsdam Agreement
At the end of the conference, the Three Heads of Government agreed on the following actions:
- Germany:
- Issuance of a statement of aims of the occupation of Germany by the Allies: demilitarization, denazification, democratization, decentralization and decartelization. The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the Forced migration and Ethnic cleansing of German nationals ( Reichsdeutsche) and ethnic The Level of Industry plans for Germany were the effected Allied plans to lower and control German industrial potential after World War II. The Oder-Neisse line (Granica na Odrze i Nysie Łużyckiej Oder-Neiße-Grenze was drawn in the aftermath of World War II as the eastern border of Germany and Demilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army weapons or military vehicles to an agreed minimum Denazification (Entnazifizierung was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society culture press economy judiciary and politics of any Democratization ( British English: Democratisation) is the transition to a more democratic Political regime. __FORCETOC__ Decentralization or Decentralisation (see Spelling differences) is the process of dispersing Decision-making governance closer to the people Decartelization is the transition of a national economy from Monopoly control by groups of large businesses known as Cartels to a Free market economy
- Division of Germany and Austria respectively into four occupation zones (earlier agreed in principle at Yalta), and the similar division of each's capital, Berlin and Vienna, into four zones. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and Codenamed the Argonaut Conference, was the wartime meeting from 4 February Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria.
- Agreement on the prosecution of Nazi war criminals. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German The Nuremberg Trials were a series of trials most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political military and economic leadership of Nazi Germany after
- Reversion of all German annexations in Europe, including Sudetenland, Alsace-Lorraine, Austria and the westernmost parts of Poland
- Germany's eastern border was to be shifted westwards to the Oder-Neisse line, effectively reducing Germany in size by approximately 25% compared to her 1937 borders. Sudetenland ( Czech and Polish: Sudety) is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the western regions of Alsace-Lorraine (Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen generally Elsass - Lothringen) was a territorial entity created by the German Empire in 1871 Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich At the beginning of World War II, significant Polish areas were annexed by Nazi Germany in contrary to Hague Convention IV 1907 and put under German civil The Oder-Neisse line (Granica na Odrze i Nysie Łużyckiej Oder-Neiße-Grenze was drawn in the aftermath of World War II as the eastern border of Germany and The territories east of the new border comprised East Prussia, Silesia, West Prussia, and two thirds of Pomerania. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people West Prussia ( Prusy Zachodnie was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773&ndash1824 and 1878&ndash1918 which was created out of the earlier Polish These areas were mainly agricultural, with the exception of Upper Silesia which was the second largest centre of German heavy industry. Upper Silesia (Horní Slezsko Oberschlesien Latin: Silesia Superior; Górny Śląsk Silesian: Gůrny Ślůnsk) is the southeastern part
- Expulsion of the German populations remaining beyond the new eastern borders of Germany. The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the Forced migration and Ethnic cleansing of German nationals ( Reichsdeutsche) and ethnic
- Agreement on war reparations to the Soviet Union from their zone of occupation in Germany. War reparations refer to the monetary compensation intended to cover damage or injury during a war It was also agreed that 10% of the industrial capacity of the western zones unnecessary for the German peace economy should be transferred to the Soviet Union within 2 years. Stalin proposed and it was accepted that Poland was to be excluded from division of German compensation to be later granted 15% of compensation given to Soviet Union (this has never happened).
- Ensuring that German standards of living did not exceed the European average. The types and amounts of industry to dismantle to achieve this was to be determined later. (see The industrial plans for Germany)
- Destruction of German industrial war-potential through the destruction or control of all industry with military potential. The Level of Industry plans for Germany were the effected Allied plans to lower and control German industrial potential after World War II. To this end, all civilian shipyards and aircraft factories were to be dismantled or otherwise destroyed. Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships These can be Yachts military The aircraft parts industry is defined as companies that focus on the aerospace parts market All production capacity associated with war-potential, such as metals, chemical, machinery etc were to be reduced to a minimum level which was later determined by the Allied Control Commission. Following the termination of hostilities in World War II, the Allied Powers were in control of the defeated Axis countries Manufacturing capacity thus made "surplus" was to be dismantled as reparations or otherwise destroyed. All research and international trade was to be controlled. Research is defined as Human activity based on Intellectual application in the investigation of Matter. International trade is exchange of Capital, Goods, and Services across International borders or Territories. The economy was to be decentralized (decartelization). Decartelization is the transition of a national economy from Monopoly control by groups of large businesses known as Cartels to a Free market economy The economy was also to be reorganized with primary emphasis on agriculture and peaceful domestic industries. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture In early 1946 agreement was reached on the details of the latter: Germany was to be converted into an agricultural and light industry economy. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Light industry is usually less Capital intensive than Heavy industry, and is more Consumer -oriented than Business -oriented (i German exports were to be coal, beer, toys, textiles, etc — to take the place of the heavy industrial products which formed most of Germany's pre-war exports. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to Light industry. [5]
- Poland:
- A Provisional Government of National Unity recognized by all three powers should be created (known as the Lublin Poles). Western betrayal or Yalta betrayal are popular terms in many Central European countries especially in Poland and the Czech Republic which refers The territorial changes of Poland after World War II were very extensive The Provisional Government of National Unity (Polish Tymczasowy Rząd Jedności Narodowej or TRJN was a government formed by a decree of the State National Council Recognition of the Soviet controlled government by the Western Powers effectively meant end of recognition for the existing Polish government in Exile (known as the London Poles). The Government of the Polish Republic in Exile was the government of Poland after the country had been occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union during September–October
- Poles who were serving in the British Army should be free to return to Poland, with no security upon their return to the communist country guaranteed.
- The provisional western border should be the Oder-Neisse line, defined by the Oder and Neisse rivers. The Oder-Neisse line (Granica na Odrze i Nysie Łużyckiej Oder-Neiße-Grenze was drawn in the aftermath of World War II as the eastern border of Germany and Parts of East Prussia and the former Free City of Danzig should be under Polish administration. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part The Free City of Danzig ( German: Freie Stadt Danzig; Polish: Wolne Miasto Gdańsk) was an autonomous Baltic Sea port and However the final delimitation of the western frontier of Poland should await the peace settlement (which would take place at the Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany in 1998)
- The Soviet Union declared it will settle the reparation claims of Poland from its own share of reparations (it never did)
- All other issues were to be answered by the final peace conference to be called as soon as possible. The Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany, (or the Two Plus Four Agreement) was negotiated in 1990 between the Federal Republic of Germany
Potsdam Declaration
- Main article the Potsdam Declaration
In addition to the Potsdam Agreement, on July 26 Churchill, Truman and Chiang Kai-shek (the Soviet Union was not at war with Japan during the Conference) issued the Potsdam Declaration which outlined the terms of surrender for Japan during WWII in Asia. The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender was a statement issued on July 26, 1945 by President of the Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Chiang Kai-shek ( POJ: Chiúⁿ Kài-se̍k Jyutping: zoeng2gaai3sek6 GCB ( October 31, 1887 &ndash For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.
Other issues
The western allies, and especially Churchill, were suspicious of the motives of Stalin, who had already installed communist governments in the central European countries under his influence; the Potsdam conference turned out to be the last conference among the allied leaders. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and
During the conference, Truman mentioned an unspecified "powerful new weapon" to Stalin; Stalin, who had known of its existence long before Truman ever knew, through espionage, encouraged the usage of any weapon that would hasten the end of the war. Towards the end of the conference, Japan was given an ultimatum (threatening "prompt and utter destruction", without mentioning the new bomb), and after rejecting Japan's conditional surrender, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9, 1945 respectively. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's ( is the Capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
Previous Conferences
- the Yalta Conference, February 4 to February 11, 1945
- the Second Quebec Conference, September 12 to September 16, 1944
- the Tehran Conference, November 28 to December 1, 1943
- the Cairo Conference, November 22 to November 26, 1943
- the Casablanca Conference, January 14 to January 24, 1943
See also
External links
- http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-dpl/hd-state/potsdam.htm
- United States Department of State Foreign relations of the United States : diplomatic papers : the Conference of Berlin (the Potsdam Conference) 1945 Volume I Washington, D. The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and Codenamed the Argonaut Conference, was the wartime meeting from 4 February Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Second Quebec Conference (codenamed "OCTAGON" was a high level military conference held during World War II between the British and United States Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Tehran Conference ( Codenamed EUREKA) was the meeting of Joseph Stalin, Franklin D For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Cairo Conference (codenamed "SEXTANT" of November 22 - 26 November 1943 held in Cairo, Egypt, addressed the Allied Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Casablanca Conference (codenamed SYMBOL was held at the Anfa Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, then a French Protectorate, from January 14 to Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. List of World War II conferences of the Allied forces C. : U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945
- United States Department of State Foreign relations of the United States : diplomatic papers : the Conference of Berlin (the Potsdam Conference) 1945 Volume II Washington, D. C. : U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945
- European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany Foreign relations of the United States : diplomatic papers, 1945.
- Cornerstone of Steel, Time Magazine, January 21, 1946
- Cost of Defeat, Time Magazine, April 8, 1946
- Pas de Pagaille! Time Magazine, July 28, 1947
- Agreements of the Berlin (Potsdam) Conference
- Interview with James W. Riddleberger Chief, Division of Central European Affairs, U. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. S. Dept. of State, 1944-47
- "The Myth of Potsdam," in B. Heuser et al, eds. , Myths in History (Providence, RI and Oxford: Berghahn, 1998)
- "The United States, France, and the Question of German Power, 1945-1960," in Stephen Schuker, ed. , Deutschland und Frankreich vom Konflikt zur Aussöhnung: Die Gestaltung der westeuropäischen Sicherheit 1914-1963, Schriften des Historischen Kollegs, Kolloquien 46 (Munich: Oldenbourg, 2000).
- U.S. Economic Policy Towards defeated countries April, 1946.
- Lebensraum
Notes
Bibliography
- Michael Beschloss. The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945 (2002)
- Farquharson, J. E. "Anglo-American Policy on German Reparations from Yalta to Potsdam. " English Historical Review 1997 112(448): 904-926. Issn: 0013-8266 Fulltext: in Jstor
- Gimbel, John. "On the Implementation of the Potsdam Agreement: an Essay on U. S. Postwar German Policy. " Political Science Quarterly 1972 87(2): 242-269. Issn: 0032-3195 Fulltext: in Jstor
- Gormly, James L. From Potsdam to the Cold War: Big Three Diplomacy, 1945-1947. Scholarly Resources, 1990. 242 pp.
- Mee, Charles L. , Jr. Meeting at Potsdam. 1975. 370 pp.
- Thackrah, J. R. "Aspects of American and British Policy Towards Poland from the Yalta to the Potsdam Conferences, 1945. " Polish Review 1976 21(4): 3-34. Issn: 0032-2970
- Zayas, Alfred M. de. Nemesis at Potsdam: The Anglo-Americans and the Expulsion of the Germans, Background, Execution, Consequences. Routledge, 1977. 268 pp.
- Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers. The Conference of Berlin (Potsdam Conference, 1945) 2 vols. Washington D. C. : U. S. Government Printing Office, 1960
Online resources
- Truman and the Potsdam Conference
- Annotated bibliography for the Potsdam Conference from the Alsos Digital Library
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