Peacemaking after World War II

Yalta Conference

Yalta● Yalta is a city on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula surrounded by

the Black Sea.● It is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, which was theorized to

have been founded by Greek conquerors who were looking for a safe shore to land on.

The Break-DownWHAT: Yalta Conference/Crimea Conference (codenamed the Argonaut Conference). Preceded by Tehran conference/followed by Potsdam conference.

WHY: Called for the purpose of discussing Europe’s postwar reorganization.

WHEN: February 4-11, 1945. (The anniversary of this was just last week)

WHO: United States (Franklin D Roosevelt), United Kingdom (Winston Churchill), Soviet Union (Joseph Stalin) THE BIG 3

WHERE: Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea, USSRHappened to be the summer home of the lastRussian Tsar. fun fact: stalin proposed this locationbecause he was afraid of flying.

"[i]t was not a question of what we would let the Russians do, but what we could get the Russians to do."

KEY POINTS/AGREEMENTS:Germany

● Agreement to the priority of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. ● The leaders agreed to require Germany’s unconditional surrender and to set

up in the conquered nation four zones of occupation to be run by their three countries and France.

● Stalin agreed that France would have a fourth occupation zone in Germany, but it would have to be formed out of the American and British zones.

● Germany would undergo demilitarization and denazification.● German reparations were partly to be in the form of forced labour.● Creation of a reparation council which would be located in the Soviet Union.● Nazi war criminals were to be found and put on trial● A "Committee on Dismemberment of Germany" was to be set up. Its purpose

was to decide whether Germany was to be divided into six nations

Examples of partition plans

Poland

● The Polish eastern border would follow the Curzon Line, and Poland would receive territorial compensation in the west from Germany.

● Citizens of the Soviet Union and of Yugoslavia were to be handed over to their respective countries, regardless of their consent.

● Stalin also agreed to permit free elections in Eastern Europe

General

● Roosevelt obtained a commitment by Stalin to participate in the UN● At the time, most of these agreements were kept secret.● They scheduled another meeting for April in San Francisco to create the United

Nations. ● Stalin was promised the return of lands lost to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War of

1904-1905. ● Stalin promised to enter the Asian war against Japan.

Nobody left Yalta completely satisfied.

● There was no definite determination of financial aid for Russia● Many issues pertaining to Germany were deferred for further

discussion● As for the United Nations, Stalin wanted all 16 Soviet republics

represented in the General Assembly, but settled for three (the Soviet Union as a whole, Belorussia, and the Ukraine)

● The Soviets did agree to join in the war against Japan 90 days after Hitler’s Germany was defeated

ok this is all great but, how does this relate to the Cold War?● It was over the issue of the postwar status of Poland that the animosity and mistrust

between the United States and the Soviet Union that would characterize the Cold War were most apparent.

● Soviet troops were already in control of Poland, a pro-communist provisional government had already been established, and Stalin was adamant that Russia’s interests in that nation be recognized (remember that sphere?)

● The United States and Great Britain believed that the London-based non-communist Polish government-in-exile was most representative of the Polish people.

● The final agreement merely declared that a “more broadly based” government should be established in Poland.

● Free elections to determine Poland’s future were called for sometime in the future. ● Many U.S. officials were disgusted with the agreement, which they believed condemned

Poland to a communist future. ● Roosevelt, however, felt that he could do no more at the moment, since the Soviet army

was occupying Poland.

TO SUM IT ALL UP….

What do historians have to say about this?

● Many critics of Roosevelt’s foreign policy accused him of “selling out” at the meeting and naively letting Stalin have his way.

● It seems doubtful, however, that Roosevelt had much choice.● He was able to secure Russian participation in the war against Japan (Russia

declared war on Japan on August 8, 1945), established the basic principles of the United Nations, and did as much as possible to settle the Poland issue.

● With World War II still raging, his primary interest was in maintaining the Grand Alliance.

● He believed that troublesome political issues could be postponed and solved after the war.

● Unfortunately, Roosevelt never got that chance—almost exactly two months after the end of the conference, Roosevelt suffered a stroke and died.

● rip

Yalta Conference

Personalities and Expectations

FDR’s Personality Going into the Conference

● FDR was the least outspoken and prominent due to his illness.● However, he was a firm believer that Stalin had good intentions and that they

had a special friendship.● Both Churchill and the US government warned him about Stalin.● FDR was advised of how many potential deaths would occur when invading

Japan, therefore he needed Russian acceptance and aid at whatever the cost.

“I just have a hunch, that Stalin doesn't want anything but security for his country, and I think that if I give him everything I possibly can and ask nothing from him in return, ... he wouldn't try to annex anything and will work with for a world of democracy and peace.” - FDR right before the conference

Churchill’s Personality Going into the Conference

● Churchill was skeptical (actually borderline sure) that Stalin planned to establish a Soviet empire in western Europe.

● He warned FDR about getting too close to Stalin.● He was predisposed to disagree with Stalin on almost everything.● He and FDR agreed on most things previously, therefore they were more

united than Stalin was with any of them.

Poor Neville Chamberlain believed he could trust Hitler. He was wrong. But I don’t think I’m wrong about Stalin-Churchill After the Conference

Stalin's Personality Going into the Conference

● Stalin was in the best position going into the conference.● His armies were sweeping towards Berlin.● He told FDR and Churchill he was sick, so the conference was held in the

USSR.● He had spies known as ““the Cambridge Five" who provided him with as many

foreign documents that he needed.● He also had a spy in the US named Alger Hiss who actually managed to

become an American delegate.

What FDR and Churchill Wanted

● Again, Roosevelt wanted to have Russian aid in attacking Japan.● FDR had decided not to focus on European settlement.● Therefore, it was up to Churchill to discuss and argue with Stalin about

Germany, war reparations, and Japan.● FDR also wanted Russia to join the UN● Churchill aimed to.achieve a democratic unification of European settlements,

especially in Poland.

What Stalin Wanted

● Stalin wanted Russian influence to be present all over Europe.● He also mainly wanted to focus on Poland and what to do with its new borders,

government, and people. ● He may have baited Churchill into winning many negotiations.● He also wanted to dismember Germany.● He decided to be relatively reasonable with the two other parties.