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 Churchill
Prime Minister of UK
since 1940
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of USA since
1933
Josef Stalin
Dictator 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.
How to defeat Germany
and Japan
Hunt down war
criminals
Division of Germany
and Austria
What was agreed at the Yalta
Conference?
Creation of the United
Nations
Liberated countries
from Nazi rule would
hold free and fair
elections
Stalin wanted the Polish
border to move
westwards with a
friendly government
installed. This meant
USSR would gain 30% of
former Polish territory
Borders of Poland
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.
What was not agreed at the Yalta
Conference?
There was no
agreement on the
amount of reparations
the Allies thought
Germany should pay.
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.
Germany would be
divided along the lines
agreed at Yalta.
Germany would pay
reparations of which
most would go to the
USSR
Poland’s border would
move westwards
What was agreed at the Potsdam
Conference?
Treatment of the Nazis
How to deal with the
rebuilding of Germany
Disagreed with the
amount of reparations
Germany must pay
Disagreement with
USSR occupying most of
eastern Europe
What was not agreed at the
Potsdam Conference?
USSR wanted a share in
the occupation of the
defeat of Japan
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
It was cold and
It failed to
harsh in its dealings
understand the
at the conferences. suffering of USSR in
It refused to set
the Second World
up free and fair
War.
elections in eastern
USA failed to
Europe.
understand USSR’s
It wanted to
position of wanting
spread
to create a buffer
Communism
zone in eastern
beyond its borders.
Europe.
Both sides
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.
Plenary
This word cloud is in the
shape of Stalin. Choose
three words, and explain
why
each
word
is
significant in this lesson.