The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences

1.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

2.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
In February 1945 it was clear that Germany was losing the
war in Europe, so the Allied leaders met Yalta to discuss
what would happen to Europe after Germany’s defeat. This
was the first time that THE BIG THREE had met up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy7xp5egLqQ
Watch the news footage from the time of the conference.
How does the mood of the conference seem?
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

3.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
This cartoon reflects
assurance/hope in Britain at the
time that the 'Big Three' was
happy, united ... and succeeding in
destroying Hitler and fascism.
Statement of
inquiry:
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
The world is shown as poorly (with
war and fascism) - but getting
better.
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin are
shown as caring doctors, overseeing
the world's recovery.
The message of the cartoon is a
propaganda message that all is well,
and the British people can trust the
'Big Three' to restore the
happiness of the world.
What is the message of this 1945 cartoon? Does it support the
video?
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

4.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Global Context
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
The war against Hitler had undoubtedly united Roosevelt, Stalin and
Churchill and at the Yalta conference they appeared to get on well.
But what was going on behind the scenes?
In the hallway (at Yalta) we stopped before a map of the world
on which the Soviet Union was coloured in red. Stalin waved his
hand over the Soviet Union and exclaimed, ‘They (Roosevelt and
Churchill) will never accept the idea that so great a space
should be red, never, never!
Russian diplomat Milovan Djilas writing about Yalta in 1948
What does
this extract
tell us about
what was
happening at
Yalta?
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

5.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
1. Copy out a diagram similar to this in your books. Use the sources on the
sheet to summarise what each of the leaders thought of each other
2. How do the sources affect your impression of the Yalta conference?
Extension: How far do you trust each source to tell you what the leaders
actually thought of each other. Rank each source out of 10 for reliability
and explain your ranking
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

6.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Extension : Which leader would have been most
pleased with the final agreements
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

7.

8.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Discuss with at your tables everything you can
remember about the Yalta Conference
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

9.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
This cartoon is critical of the
generosity of the terms of the
Yalta agreement for the
Soviet Union.
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
The negotiations are depicted
as a game of poker which
Stalin is winning easily. he has
already cleaned up on Europe,
and is just about to seize
China and India.
John Bull is shown as dopey
and surprised, Uncle Sam as
bemused and indecisive. The
message of the cartoon is that
1) What is the message of the cartoon? Use details from
Stalin has made fools of them.
the source and your own knowledge
Use the information on p.80 to support your answer
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

10.

11.

12.

Unit Title: Who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War?
Statement of
inquiry:
The aggressive
actions of the
leaders of the
Soviet Union
led to the
breakdown in
relations
between the
post war
alliance of the
USA, Britain
and the USSR
Lesson title: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
Why was there such a breakdown in relations at
Potsdam?
Around the class there are a number of different reasons why
relations broke down at Potsdam. Continue from last lesson:
1) You must look at each sheet and write down in your book
the explanation why this factor lead to the leaders falling
out
2) You must then rank each factor out of 10 in terms of how
significant you think they were in the breakdown in
relations.
3) What was the biggest factor in the breakdown of the
wartime alliance at Potsdam? Explain your answer through
analysis– link to other factors. How does this support or
contradict our statement of inquiry?
Global Context
Orientation in Space and Time
Key concept:
Global
Interactions

13.

A
President Truman - USA
• Truman had been
President of the USA for
96 days (3 months) since
President Roosevelt’s
Death.
• He is less liberal than
Roosevelt and less
experienced in
International Affairs.
• He is someone who
believes in Democracy,
free speech and free
elections.
• He deeply distrusts Stalin.

14.

B
Josef Stalin - USSR
• Leader of the Soviet
Union since 1922.
• He believes in
centralised, strong
control under one man.
• He fears future attacks
on the Soviet Union
especially from
Germany his priority is
to maintain control of
the occupied eastern
territories West of the
USSR and in the Baltics.

15.

C
The Atomic Bomb
Part way through the
conference Truman informs
Stalin that he USA have
successfully tested the
Atomic Bomb but have yet
to use it.
Truman believes he can
now win the war against
Japan without Soviet help
and that having the bomb
will make the USSR agree to
US demands.
The Soviets still have the
largest Army the world has
ever seen and Stalin knows
about the bomb from spies.

16.

D
How to treat Germany
The USA and Britain
wanted to rebuild
Germany to make it
a strong democracy.
GERMANY
The USSR wanted to
punish Germany,
keep it weak and
make it pay for the
war.
To Fraternise, or not to Fraternise

17.

E
Reparations
The USA and Britain
occupy all the wealthy
and Industrial areas of
Germany.
The Soviets occupy the
Eastern part of
Germany and Berlin but
it was all destroyed.
Stalin felt that the
USSR’s sacrifice in WW2
(20 million) was not
being recognised in the
peace.

18.

F
Free Elections and Buffer Zone
Despite promising free elections for Eastern European Countries at
Yalta, Stalin was unwilling to have free or US friendly countries on
his borders. He needed a ‘buffer zone’.

19.

G
Soviet Occupation of Eastern Europe
Soviet occupation of Eastern
Europe and Germany is brutal
(estimated over 2 million
German women raped in the
occupied territories between
1945 and 1947).
Germans are ethnically
cleansed from Soviet held
territories increasing fears
about Soviet occupation.
Some of the 3.5 million German soldiers and ethnic
Germans transported to prison camps in the USSR
during and after the war of which only 20,000
returned with the last 10,000 being released in 1955
Despite the stories many
people see the Red Army as
liberators fuelling communist
organisations in areas not
held by the Soviets (Greece,
France etc) and making the
US and GB feel threatened.

20.

H
The War Against Japan
America is focussed on winning the war against Japan. It initially
needs the USSRs help but this changes at Potsdam. Truman does
not want to share the Pacific/Asia region with USSR and is not
willing to compromise.

21.

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