Why did the wartime alliance between the USA and USSR begin to break down in 1945?

Learning objective – to be able to identify the key issues discussed at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences in 1945.

I can describe the agreements and disagreements at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

Grade D

I can explain the agreements and disagreements at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

Grade B

I can evaluate the impact of the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

Grade A

Who were the ‘Big Three’?

Winston ChurchillPrime Minister of UK

since 1940

Franklin D. RooseveltPresident of USA since

1933

Josef StalinDictator of USSR since

1924

Why did the Allies meet at Yalta in February 1945?

It was clear at the beginning of 1945 that Germany was nearing defeat in the Second World War.

The Allied leaders decided to meet at Yalta in the Ukraine to plan what was going to happen in Europe once the war had ended.

What was agreed at the Yalta Conference?

How to defeat Germany and Japan

Division of Germany and Austria

Creation of the United Nations

Liberated countries from Nazi rule would

hold free and fair elections

Hunt down war criminals

What was not agreed at the Yalta Conference?

Stalin wanted the Polish border to move

westwards with a friendly government installed. This meant

USSR would gain 30% of former Polish territory

FDR and Churchill did not like this fearing USSR expansion in

Europe. They recognised that there

was little they could do as the Red Army was

already in Poland.

There was no agreement on the

amount of reparations the Allies thought

Germany should pay.

Borders of Poland

What changed between the Yalta and Potsdam conferences?

Germany was defeated in May 1945, but there were significant changes in international relations which impacted upon the Potsdam Conference in July-August 1945.

The Red Army occupied most of eastern Europe.

Roosevelt dies and was replaced with Harry Truman who was more hardline against Communism.

USA successfully detonates a nuclear bomb and Stalin only finds out at the start of the Potsdam Conference.

In the middle of the Potsdam Conference, Churchill is voted out of office and is replaced by Clement Attlee.

What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference?

Germany would be divided along the lines

agreed at Yalta.Poland’s border would

move westwards

Treatment of the Nazis

Germany would pay reparations of which most would go to the

USSR

What was not agreed at the Potsdam Conference?

How to deal with the rebuilding of Germany Disagreement with

USSR occupying most of eastern Europe

USSR wanted a share in the occupation of the

defeat of Japan

Disagreed with the amount of reparations

Germany must pay

What did Europe look like after the Potsdam Conference?

Who was to blame for the failure of the wartime conferences?USSR’s fault USA’s fault Both sides

It was cold and harsh in its dealings at the conferences. It refused to set

up free and fair elections in eastern

Europe. It wanted to

spread Communism

beyond its borders.

It failed to understand the

suffering of USSR in the Second World

War.USA failed to

understand USSR’s position of wanting to create a buffer zone in eastern

Europe.

Lack of mutual trust.

Overreaction from both sides. From Potsdam, both sides took a more aggressive stance towards

each other.

Home learning task You Tube - Cold War 01/24 full length documentary - Comrades 1917-1945

Watch the above documentary on You Tube and make notes on the following –

Events surrounding Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.Explanations why relations changed between the allies.

PlenaryThis word cloud is in the shape of Stalin. Choose three words, and explain why each word is significant in this lesson.