Explore the origins of the Cold War through the pivotal Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, and understand the tensions that arose between the superpowers.
The Yalta Conference took place in February 1945. Important leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met. They discussed how to end World War II and what to do with Europe after the war. Decisions were made about dividing Germany into different zones. They also agreed to help free countries in Europe.
The Potsdam Conference happened in July 1945. The leaders included Harry S. Truman, Churchill, and Stalin. They met again to talk about Germany and Europe’s future. Tensions were high because the war in Europe had ended, but disagreements grew. Truman wanted a strong Germany, while Stalin wanted to keep it weak.
At Potsdam, it became clear that the Allies had different goals. The U.S. wanted democracy, while the Soviet Union wanted control over Eastern Europe. This difference led to the start of the Cold War. The world began to split into two sides: the Western allies and the Soviet bloc. The decisions made at these conferences set the stage for future conflicts.