World War II Conferences
World War II ConferencesA series of conferences were held to
determine the goals/issues of the war, and also to deal with the
anticipated Post-War circumstances. www.buschistory.netTopic
21-2
The Atlantic Conference August 12-14 1941Participants FDR and
Winston ChurchillDecisions: Atlantic Charter Signed became the
basis for the U.N.No Territorial ExpansionNo territorial changes
w/o consent of inhabitantsSelf Determination, Mutual
CooperationDisarming of aggressors
Casablanca Conference January 12-23, 1943Participants - FDR and
Winston Churchill (Stalin declines to attend)Decisions:Accept
nothing less than unconditional surrender of the Axis
Powers+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++(Note - This will ultimately
lead to extending the war).
Moscow Conference - October 1943 Participants - FDR, Winston
Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek, Josef StalinDecisions:Affirm the basis
of the United Nations (Atlantic Charter)Unconditional Surrender
reaffirmedall matters relating to the surrender and disarmament of
that enemy will be acted upon jointly
Moscow Conference - October 1943 continued.Germany Those
responsible for war crimes will be sent to the countries in which
the crime occurred to be judged according to the laws of that
nation. Italy - All institutions and organizations created by the
Fascist regime shall be suppressed. All Fascist or pro-Fascist
elements shall be removed from the administration and from
institutions and organizations of a public character
Cairo Conference November 22-26, 1943 Participants - FDR,
Winston Churchill, Chiang Kai-shekDecisionsKorea to be independent
at wars end. Taiwan to be returned to China from Japan
Teheran Conference November 28-December 1, 1943Participants -
FDR, Winston Churchill, Josef StalinDecisions: Open a Second
Battlefront in Europe. Soviets to enter the war against Japan after
the defeat of Germany. Discussed demilitarization and occupation of
Germany
Yalta Conference February 4-11, 1945Participants - FDR, Winston
Churchill, Josef StalinDecisions:Germany to be disarmed and divided
into 4 occupation zones. Veto power to be given to the Big 5
nations at the UN. Soviet Union to get 3 seats in the General
Assembly in exchange for entering the war against Japan 2-3 months
after Germany surrenders. USSR pledges to hold free elections in
Eastern Europe.War Crimes trials to be held after the war
Potsdam Conference July 17 August 2, 1945Participants - Harry
Truman, Josef Stalin, Clement Atlee/ Winston ChurchillDecisions:
Unconditional surrender by Japan or face prompt and utter
destruction. Set up a council to administer GermanySet up machinery
to negotiate peace treatiesTransfer of German people out of
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland into GermanyStalin announces
that there will be no elections in Eastern Europe
Yalta 1945
Potsdam 1945
The Result?The Allies win the warHard feelings and scheming play
a big partUnconditional Surrender edict extends the warIgnoring
Japans surrender attempt:allows the US to demonstrate the Atomic
BombUS and USSR to set up their post war positions as Super
Powers.FDRs death empowers Stalin at Potsdam.
