The document is a detailed summary of everything that occurred in Berlin from . It includes the Yalta Conference, Potsdam Conference, Berlin Blockade, United States vs USSR, Berlin Wall Construction, Iron Curtain, NATO, and the Warsaw Pact.
Differences over Germany caused the first crisis of the Cold War. Nowhere
were the underlying tensions of the Cold War so close to the surface as in
Berlin (former capital of Germany), which lay deep within the soviet zone.
Yalta conference: It was the second wartime meeting of the of British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet premier Joseph Stalin and US President
Franklin D. Roosevelt. The three leaders decided to demand Germany’s
unconditional surrender and began plans for post-war world. The main
objective of the conference was the re-establishment of the nations conquered
and destroyed by Germany. Roosevelt felt confident that Yalta had been
successful because Stalin had agreed to enter the Pacific War against Japan.
The Big 3 of the USA, USSR and UK met at Potsdam to ultimately negotiate
terms for the end of World War II. The agreed to meet following the surrender
of Germany. They met to continue their discussions that had been started at
Yalta earlier on in the year. They were all committed to fighting a joint war in
The Pacific but the lack of common enemy in Europe lead to difficulties
reaching consensus concerning postwar reconstruction on the European
continent.
Although – allied leaders had agreed at Potsdam that Germany would remain
united, they introduced different political and economic systems in their zones.
It was a conference between the three heads of the governments of the USSR,
USA and the UK. Stalin, Churchill and Truman gathered to decide how to
administer Germany.
At Yalta however, the Soviets pressed for heavy postwar reparations from
Germany, half of which would go to the Soviet Union.
At Potsdam they came to an agreement that there was to be a complete
disarmament and demilitarisatrion of Germany.
1948-49: Berlin Blockade and Airlift:
, Successes at Yalta Conference:
The Yalta conference foreshadowed the Cold War. The USSR, USA and
UK presidents had to discuss strategies of the Allied War effort against
Germany and Japan.
The 3 leaders planned to demand Germany’s unconditional surrender.
Germany then eventually surrendered and as a result brought to an end
the European conflict in World War II. This is because European
countries were a part of the Axis powers who were fighting against the
Aliied Powers. The USA only entered when the Nazi’s bombed Pearl
Harbour.
Success at Potsdam conference:
Most pressing issue was the postwar fate of Germany.
Soviets wanted a unified but disarmed Germany.
In the end, it was agreed that Germany would be divided into four parts
and each major nation would get a quarter each with France also
receiving a quarter.
Potsdam was the last postwar conference of the Big Three.
Berlin Blockade:
It was an attempt in 1948 by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of France, USA
and Great Britain from travelling to their sectors of Berlin.
The relationship between the Soviet Union and the West had
deteriorated steadily, as reflected in disputes at the United Nations,
Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech in March 1946, growing
emphasis in U.S. foreign policy on containment of Russian expansion,
Soviet hostility toward the Marshall Plan, and growing Western
commitment to establishing a separate capitalist West Germany.
Soviet guards on the East Germany border began to limit the access of
Western troops into Germany. The western powers announced their intention
to proceed with the creation of West Germany. The soviets then stopped all
surface travel between West Germany and Berlin.
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