Yalta and Potsdam Conferences Overview

Hi and welcome back to the AQA GCSE History Conflict and Tension between East and West of 1945 to 1972 revision series. This is episode 2 and we're looking at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. In February of 1945 the leaders of the USSR, the USA and Britain being Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill met at Yalta to agree what they should do after the war was over. Agreements in Yalta included that Stalin would join the war against Japan when Germany surrendered. They would divide Germany into zones run by the USSR, the USA, Britain and France. They would hunt down and prosecute Nazi war criminals. They would also join the United Nations organisation and countries of Eastern Europe would hold free elections once the Nazis were gone. However, they also agreed that Eastern Europe should be Soviet's sphere of influence. which is an area where the USSR had some control. The only real disagreement was about Poland. Stalin wanted to move the border of the USSR further into Poland. The USA and Britain did not like this, but felt that they had agreed. At the Potsdam Conference, Britain and the USA had new leaders, Attlee and Truman. Truman was more anti-communist than Roosevelt had been. Stalin armies controlled much of Eastern Europe. Stalin has set up a communist government in Poland and wanted to set up a pro-Soviet government throughout Eastern Europe. Truman saw this as evidence that Stalin wanted to build a Soviet empire. Stalin wanted to cripple Germany, but Truman disagreed. Stalin demanded $10 billion compensation for Germany. The USA developed an atom bomb, which deepened the mistrust between the two sides. The USA developed this weapon in secret, even though it was an ally of the USSR in war. Truman told Stalin about the atom bomb at Potsdam Conference. On the 6th of August of 1945, the USA dropped the first atom bomb on Japan. Some historians believe that this was done partly as a warning towards Stalin. So that's the end of episode 2 of the AQA G60 History, Conflict and Tension Between East and West of 1945-1972 revision series. Next episode we're looking at the Iron Curtain, Martial Aid and the Berlin Brocade. Thank you for watching. and I hope you enjoyed.

They would hunt down and prosecute Nazi war criminals. They would also join the United Nations organisation and countries of Eastern Europe would hold free elections once the Nazis were gone. However, they also agreed that Eastern Europe should be Soviet's sphere of influence.

which is an area where the USSR had some control. The only real disagreement was about Poland. Stalin wanted to move the border of the USSR further into Poland.

The USA and Britain did not like this, but felt that they had agreed. At the Potsdam Conference, Britain and the USA had new leaders, Attlee and Truman. Truman was more anti-communist than Roosevelt had been. Stalin armies controlled much of Eastern Europe.

Stalin has set up a communist government in Poland and wanted to set up a pro-Soviet government throughout Eastern Europe. Truman saw this as evidence that Stalin wanted to build a Soviet empire. Stalin wanted to cripple Germany, but Truman disagreed.

Stalin demanded $10 billion compensation for Germany. The USA developed an atom bomb, which deepened the mistrust between the two sides. The USA developed this weapon in secret, even though it was an ally of the USSR in war.

Truman told Stalin about the atom bomb at Potsdam Conference. On the 6th of August of 1945, the USA dropped the first atom bomb on Japan. Some historians believe that this was done partly as a warning towards Stalin. So that's the end of episode 2 of the AQA G60 History, Conflict and Tension Between East and West of 1945-1972 revision series. Next episode we're looking at the Iron Curtain, Martial Aid and the Berlin Brocade.

Thank you for watching. and I hope you enjoyed.

Transcript for:Yalta and Potsdam Conferences Overview

Transcript for:
Yalta and Potsdam Conferences Overview