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The end of World War II and the division of Europe
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Who were the three most powerful Allied countries in World War II, also known as the 'Big Three'?
February 1945. World War II is nearing an end. The Allied powers are confident of victory. Leading the three most powerful Allied countries are United States President, Roosevelt, British Prime Minister, Churchill, and Soviet leader, Stalin. From the 4th to the 11th of February, the “Big Three” meet near Yalta, Crimea, to discuss how Europe will look after the war.
Roosevelt wants the Soviet Union to participate in a newly formed international peacekeeping organisation, the United Nations. And he wants Soviet support in the ongoing war in the Pacific against Japan. Churchill wants free and fair elections leading to democratic governments in Central and Eastern Europe, especially Poland. Stalin, on the other hand, wants Soviet control, a “sphere of influence”, in Central and Eastern Europe, starting with Poland. This, Stalin feels, will provide a buffer zone between his communist regime and the western capitalist world.
Clearly, there are some conflicting interests… Nevertheless, the negotiations are friendly and cooperative. The leaders agree that Nazi Germany must surrender unconditionally. Then it will be divided into four different zones controlled by the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. Poland will be reorganised under a temporary communist government. Stalin promises to allow free elections there soon.
The Soviet Union will join the United Nations. It will have the same special power as Great Britain and the United States to reject, or veto, anything the organisation plans to do. And the Soviet Union will enter the Pacific War against Japan within two or three months of Germany’s surrender. Everyone is happy with the plans. Or so it seems… Soon after the conference, it becomes clear that Stalin has no intention of keeping his promises about political freedom in Poland.
Soviet troops squash opposition to the communist government. Stalin is lining up a sure victory for the communists in upcoming elections, and securing Poland as the first state in his Soviet sphere of influence. On the 7th of May, 1945, Germany surrenders. Two months later, just one day before the Big Three are due to meet again, U.S. scientists secretly test the world’s first atomic bomb.
The test is a success. The United States is now capable of destroying vast areas of land in seconds. The Big Three meet again from the 17th of July to the 2nd of August in Potsdam, Germany. This time, new U.S. President, Truman, replaces Roosevelt, and part way through the conference, new British Prime Minister, Attlee, replaces Churchill.
The leaders confirm plans to disarm and demilitarize Germany, and divide it into the four occupation zones outlined at Yalta. They disagree, though, on where exactly the borders of the zones should be. What’s more, Stalin remains resistant to free elections in Eastern Europe. Tensions run high. Truman, especially, is determined not to give in to Stalin.
A few days into the conference, Truman draws Stalin aside. He tells him the United States has developed a “new weapon of unusual destructive force” to use on Japan if they don’t surrender. Truman hopes the revelation will alarm Stalin, and make him back down in negotiations. But Stalin is not surprised. Soviet spies have informed him in detail of the United States’ atomic weapons program.
As per the Yalta agreement, the Soviet Union is about to enter the Pacific War. They are set to invade Japan on the 15th of August. But on the 6th and 9th of August, the United States drops two atomic bombs on Japan. More than 100,000 people are killed instantly. This deadly show of nuclear strength sends a clear message to Stalin and the world: Any remaining efforts at cooperation with the Soviet Union are over.