The Peace Conferences, 1943-1945 (Edexcel GCSE History)

The Impact of Peace Conferences - Summary

The Grand Alliance met three times between 1943 and 1945. First at Tehran, then Yalta and finally at Potsdam.

At Tehran, the focus was on how to defeat the Axis powers and win the Second World War. Although there were some disagreements over how best to achieve this, the Big Three all went away from the conference relatively happy with what had been agreed. More importantly, Roosevelt and Stalin had seen eye to eye on most of the points discussed, which strengthened the relationship between the USA and Soviet Union.

The same members of the Grand Alliance met again at Yalta. This time, however, the war against Germany was all but won. Discussion about post-war Europe took priority, such as the foundations of the United Nations and the future of Germany. Stalin also agreed to allow free elections in Eastern Europe after the war.

At Potsdam, Roosevelt and Churchill had been replaced by Truman and Attlee respectively. Their personalities differed greatly to their predecessors, which made it more difficult for them to get on with Stalin. There were far more disagreements at Potsdam about post-war Europe, and tensions were made worse after knowledge about the US creation of the atomic bomb had been made public.

Agreements Made at Tehran, 1943

• The Grand Alliance first met at Tehran - a city in Iran - during the Second World War

Aims of the ‘Big Three’ at Tehran

A list of the agreements made by the Grand Alliance at the Tehran Conference

Tehran’s Impact on the USA and Russia’s Relationship

• The conference at Tehran had a positive impact on the relationship between the USA and Soviet Union:

  • Stalin had been concerned about the Soviet Union fighting Germany alone in the East and was pleased that a second front beginning in northern France had been agreed

  • Roosevelt had supported Stalin in attacking Germany from the West and not from the Balkans as Churchill had wanted

  • Stalin had agreed to support the USA in its war against Japan

• The conference at Tehran had a negative impact on the relationship between the USA and UK:

  • Roosevelt was sometimes more worried that British colonialism was a greater threat to world peace than the Soviet Union

  • Churchill was disappointed that Roosevelt had sided with Stalin in opening a ‘second front’ in northern France

The Yalta Conference

• The Grand Alliance met two years later at Yalta - a city in the Soviet Union - during the final few months of the Second World War

Aims of the ‘Big Three’ at Yalta

A list of the agreements made by the Grand Alliance at the Yalta Conference

Yalta’s Impact on America and Russia’s Relationship

• The conference at Yalta had a positive impact on the relationship between the USA and Soviet Union:

  • The Soviet Union declared war against Japan in August 1945

  • The Soviet Union would be awarded half of the $20 billion reparations

  • Roosevelt was pleased that the three main states of the USSR -  Russia, Ukraine and Belarus - had agreed to join the United Nations 

  • Roosevelt was pleased free elections had been agreed to take place in Eastern Europe

• The conference at Yalta had a negative impact on the relationship between the Soviet Union and UK:

  • Stalin wanted a pro-communist government to be elected in Poland whereas Churchill supported the non-communist London Poles

The Potsdam Conference, 1945

• The Grand Alliance met only a few months later at Potsdam - a city in Germany - during the end of the Second World War

• A number of events had happened between the conferences at Yalta and Potsdam:

  • Roosevelt had died and was replaced by Harry S. Truman

    • Truman adopted a tougher approach to Stalin

  • Churchill had been replaced by Clement Attlee following a general election

  • Germany had surrendered in May 1945

  • The USA had developed a new, devastating weapon - the atomic bomb

  • The United Nations had been established, with 51 members

Aims of the ‘Big Three’ at Potsdam

A list of the agreements made by the Grand Alliance at the Potsdam Conference

Potsdam’s Impact on America and the Soviet Union’s Relationship

• The conference at Potsdam had a negative impact on the relationship between the USA and Soviet Union:

  • Truman had mentioned to Stalin that the USA had successfully tested the atomic bomb through the Trinity test, which increased tensions between both countries

  • Stalin wanted harsher reparations against Germany, while Truman wanted to protect the German economy

  • Truman was concerned with the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe and the spread of communism

  • Stalin wanted to keep his Red Army in Eastern Europe as protection against future threats