The Council would draft significant peace treaties with the former allies of Germany.Īccording to historians, the conference at Potsdam was rather memorable because of the conversation that took place between Truman and Stalin. Moreover, Hungarians, Poles, and Czechs suspended more deportations temporarily.Īside from settling various matters related to Poland and Germany, the negotiators agreed on the formation of a special council that would receive authority on behalf of China, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the United States. Instead, they declared that the transfers must be affected in a humane and orderly manner. The same fate happened to Germans in various territories that were residing in other nations.Īlthough the negotiators at the conference were aware of this situation, they did not take any action. Following the changes in the Polish-Soviet border, Poland obtained a large portion of German territory, and it began to deport German residents that were in question. ControversiesĪ significant matter that was addressed at the conference was the revision of the Polish-Soviet-German borders, as well as the expulsion of millions of Germans from disputed territories. However, the need to reconstitute the German government was postponed, and the Allied Control Commission would head the country for an indefinite period.
It was also necessary to encourage political parties in administering Germany at the state and local levels.
POTSDAM CONFERENCE FREE
In addition, all Germans that were responsible for massive damages and loss of lives were to be arrested and deemed as war criminals.ĭuring the conference at Potsdam, it was also discussed that there was a need to purge the educational and judicial systems of Germany so it would be free of authoritarian influences. With all these conditions, the society of Germany was needed to be remade along the democratic lines by abolishing discriminatory laws that were created during the Nazi Era. Moreover, Germany’s production of military hardware was greatly forbidden. There was also a necessity to eliminate the military and paramilitary German forces. Furthermore, all aspects of the German industry that may be used for military purposes must be dismantled. Based on the protocol of the Potsdam Conference, there was a need for a total demilitarization and disarmament of Germany. For instance, they confirmed the status of the disarmed and demilitarized Germany under the four zones that were occupied by the Allied forces. The leaders of the Allied Powers managed to come to terms at the conference after numerous disagreements. Numerous scholars agree that the massive reparations that handicapped the financial and economic status of Germany fueled the rise to power of the Nazis. With the huge reparation payments assigned to Germany after World War I, more problems were created and led to World War II. Although Roosevelt acceded to these demands, Harry Truman was resolute to mitigate the case of Germany by obliging the occupying countries to precise reparations from their own occupation zones.īyrnes and Truman encouraged such position because of the desire to prevent such situation from being repeated, which was believed to have been caused by the Versailles Treaty.
During the Yalta Conference, the Soviet Union pressed for massive postwar reparations intended from Germany, and half of these were assigned to Soviet Union. The main issue discussed at Potsdam was the concerns of how the Allies would handle Germany. While the Allies maintained their commitment to fight a joint war in Pacific regions, the absence of a common enemy led to challenges in attaining the consensus with regard to the postwar reconstruction throughout Europe. After Germany’s defeat and surrender on May 8, 1945, the Allied leaders have decided to meet at Potsdam to settle the discussions at Yalta. When Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin met during the Yalta Conference, they agreed to discuss the postwar borders throughout Europe. It lasted from July 17 until August 2, 1945, and it followed the Yalta Conference that took place in February, 1945. This conference was held in Potsdam, Germany so these leaders could negotiate significant terms after the end of World War II. The Potsdam Conference was attended by the leaders of three nations including the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.
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