1. Post-World War II
S. Todd
Post-World War II

2. Yalta Conference February 1945
Meeting between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin (“The Big Three”)
Purpose: To discuss Europe's postwar reorganization
With Soviet troops in most of Eastern Europe, Stalin was in a strong negotiating position
Roosevelt and Churchill tried hard to restrict post-war influence in this area

3. Yalta Conference Poland was the main debating point
-Stalin explained that throughout history Poland had either attacked Russia or had been used as a corridor through which other hostile countries invaded her
-argued that only a strong, pro-Communist government in Poland would be able to guarantee the security of the Soviet Union

4. Yalta Conference
At Yalta, the decision to form a United Nations organization was confirmed
-it was only on this issue that all three leaders were enthusiastically in agreement about
At the time of Yalta, Germany was close to defeat and British and USA troops were advancing from the west and the Red Army from the east

5. Yalta Conference Agreed to divide Germany up amongst the Allies
-however, all three parties agreed that the country that actually took control of Germany would be in the strongest position over the future of this territory
So which country should control Germany????

6. British Goals Elevate the position of France to that of a major power
Prevent Soviet domination of Eastern Europe
Secure a role for Eastern European leaders in London
Protect the British and French empires
Establish a United Nations organization to promote world peace

7. American Goals Secure Soviet support for war against Japan
Establish United Nations organization to promote world peace
Compromise on Eastern Europe- Democratic govern./friendly to USSR
Elevate position of China to that of a major power
Avoid the issue of re-establishing European colonial empires

8. Soviet Goals Retain territory seized in 1940 (esp. Poland)
Establish governments in Eastern Europe friendly to the USSR (what does that mean??)
Secure war reparations to rebuild the Soviet Union
Permanently weaken Germany

9. Results of Yalta
1. The country of Germany would be divided into four zones of occupation: American, British, French and Soviet Union.

11. Results of Yalta
2. The German capital of Berlin would also be similarly divided. Berlin itself would be inside the Soviet zone of occupation. There would be American, British, French and Soviet occupied sectors of Berlin surrounded by Soviet occupied German country side.

12. Results of Yalta
3. The Soviet Union would enter the war against Japan after the defeat of Germany.

13. Results of Yalta
4. Poland’s boundaries would be altered as per the request of Stalin.