Embedded Files
The Tehran Conference:
Allied Strategy: In November 1943, the Big Three (Great Britain, the U.S., and the Soviet Union) met in Tehran. They decided the Soviet Union would focus on Eastern Europe while Britain and the U.S. would concentrate on Western Europe. They also agreed to shift some Polish territory to the Soviet Union, compensated by Poland gaining territory from Germany.
The Yalta Conference:
Disagreements on Post-War Plans: By February 1945, with Germany near defeat, the Big Three met at Yalta.
Roosevelt's Goals: Wanted free elections in Eastern Europe and Soviet help against Japan.
Stalin's Demands: Sought influence over Eastern Europe as a buffer zone and control over Japanese-claimed islands, Chinese ports, and a Manchurian railroad in exchange for helping defeat Japan.
Outcome: Soviets pledged to fight Japan but gave only vague assurances on Eastern European elections.
The Potsdam Conference:
Final Meeting: In July 1945, the Big Three met in Potsdam. Harry Truman represented the U.S. after Roosevelt's death, and Clement Attlee replaced Churchill.
Truman's Stance: Insisted on free elections in Eastern Europe, but Stalin refused.
Result: Soviet control solidified in East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, setting the stage for the Cold War.
Shifting Balance of Power:
Devastation in Europe: The war caused 40-60 million deaths, extensive destruction, and mass displacements. Eastern and Central Europe suffered the most, with the Soviet Union, Poland, and Germany losing 10-20% of their populations.
U.S. and Soviet Rise: The U.S. emerged as the most powerful country with minimal damage and a strong industrial base, while the Soviet Union, despite heavy losses, developed atomic weapons by 1949, challenging U.S. supremacy.
Advances During the War:
Technological Developments: Military research led to innovations like air pressure systems, refrigeration, stronger plywood, plastics, and penicillin, which saved thousands of lives and were later adapted for civilian use.
The Start of the Cold War
Tensions and Conflict:
U.S.-Soviet Rivalry: Despite high war costs, neither superpower wanted direct conflict, leading to a Cold War characterized by propaganda, secret operations, and an arms race.
Hydrogen Bombs: By the early 1950s, both superpowers developed hydrogen bombs, intensifying the arms race and leading to President Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex.
Breakdown of Empires
Post-War Decolonization:
Colonial Weakness: World War II weakened colonial powers, reducing their ability to resist independence movements.
Self-Determination: Anti-colonial movements grew, fueled by weakened colonial powers and Cold War dynamics.
Superpower Support: The U.S. and Soviet Union provided support to anti-colonial activists, accelerating the dismantling of colonial empires.
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