Moving to the new world order

1.

Moving to
the New World Order
Part 3: 1945 Potsdam Conference

2.

Background
• Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945
• Germany defeated and signed capitulation act on May 8, 1945
• Western Europe controlled by France-USA-UK forces (including part of
Germany west of river Elbe)
• Eastern Europe controlled by USSR forces (including part of Germany
east of river Elbe)
• Japan is still at war

3.

4.

The Potsdam Conference
• Held on July 17 – August 2, 1945 in Potsdam, Germany
• The third and final meeting of the “Big Three”

5.

The “Big Three” Reshuffle
• US President Franklin Roosevelt died in
April 1945 -> in Potsdam the USA was
presented by the new President –
Harry Truman
• UK prime-minister Winston Churchill
lost British general election in July
1945 -> he visited the conference for
three days and then handed his duties
over the next prime-minister –
Clement Attlee

6.

What Was Discussed?
• How long would Germany remain occupied?
• What to do with German military industry?
• What amount of reparations should be placed on Germany?
• How and where to organize a trial of Nazi activists?

7.

Suggestions
Joseph Stalin (USSR)
Clement Attlee (UK)
Harry Truman (USA)
How long would Germany
remain occupied?
Forever
10-15 years
5 years
What to do with German
military industry?
Dismantle it and send to
Soviet Union
Dismantle it without
further actions
Reinstate it as a civilian
industry
What amount of
reparations should be
placed on Germany?
500 billion USD
500 billion USD
300 billion USD
How and where to organize
a trial of Nazi activists?
Moscow, public trial
Nuremberg, public trial
Nuremberg, public trial

8.

“To what extent do you
agree…”
How to answer?

9.

The Core
• “To what extent (or ‘how far’)…” type of question is
generally prompting you to explain how much you
agree with the idea being posed. It is not – as is
sometimes thought by students – asking whether you
outright agree or disagree with the idea.

10.

The Core
• IMPORTANT:
Do NOT answer:
“I agree”
“I totally agree”
“I disagree”

11.

The Core
• IMPORTANT:
The answer should be:
Positive
Neutral
• “I mostly agree” • “I partially agree”
• “I agree to a great • “I agree to a certain
extent”
extent”
Negative
• “I hardly agree”
• “I agree to a small
extent”

12.

The Structure
• Introduction: Briefly answer the question (“I mostly agree with the
statement…”)
• Body Part 1: Why the statement is true? (“I mostly agree because
of….[supporting arguments]…”)
• Body Part 2: Why the statement is NOT entirely true? (“On the other
hand, I cannot absolutely agree with that because….[supporting
arguments]…”)
• Conclusion: Reaffirm your position and recap the arguments (“In
conclusion, we may see that on the one hand this statement
is…because [recapping arguments]. But, on the other hand, it
is…because [recapping arguments]. This is why I mostly agree with it,
but not entirely”)

13.

To what extent do you agree with the statements?
• Stalin’s demands were too harsh and excessive
• Stalin’s voice should’ve been taken into account
at first place
• Position of the USA regarding the “mild”
punishment for Germany was the right one