Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was the last of the wartime meetings among the leaders of the Allied Powers during World War II. It took place from July 17 to August 2, 1945, at Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, near Berlin, Germany. Here are key aspects of the conference:
Participants
Objectives
The main objectives of the Potsdam Conference were:
Key Decisions
- Division of Germany: Germany was to be divided into four occupation zones controlled by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. Berlin, though within the Soviet zone, was similarly divided.
- Reparations: Germany was to pay reparations, with a significant portion going to the Soviet Union. This was a contentious issue, with the Soviet Union pushing for more reparations in kind, while the Western Allies preferred economic stability over punitive measures.
- Polish-German Border: The conference agreed to shift Poland's western border westward at the expense of Germany, known as the Oder-Neisse Line.
- Expulsion of Germans: Agreement was reached on the expulsion of the German population from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary to Germany.
- Japan: While not the primary focus, the conference also addressed the ongoing war in the Pacific Theater, including the Potsdam Declaration which called for Japan's surrender.
Impact and Legacy
The Potsdam Conference set the stage for the Cold War by formalizing the division of Europe into Eastern and Western spheres of influence. The agreements made at Potsdam were not always implemented as intended, leading to tensions between the Allies, particularly between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. The conference's decisions on Germany were foundational for the eventual creation of East Germany and West Germany.
Sources
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