JOSEF STALIN: LEADER OF THE SOVIET UNION (USSR) Government: Communist Leadership Style: Dictator – killed anyone who disagreed with Communism

Josef Stalin  Wanted to spread Communism to other nations weakened by WWII  Believed Capitalism and Imperialism were evil

Winston Churchill: Leader of Great Britain after WWII Government:  Constitutional Monarchy (Branch of Democracy given that people still vote and the government is developed by a Constitution)

Winston Churchill  Still believed in Imperialism but wanted to protect Eastern Europe from the spread of Communism

Harry Truman  Government:  Constitutional Republic (Additional form of Democracy)  Became President in 1945 after the death of FDR

Harry Truman  Believed in democracy and believed that Communism limited freedoms

Yalta Conference  Meeting between Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin  Took place in Yalta, Ukraine between February 4 – 11,  The final agreement included:  Creation of the United Nations  Details regarding the liberation of Europe  The potential postwar division of Germany

Potsdam Conference  Stalin, Churchill and Truman met in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to negotiate terms for the end of World War II.  Numerous disagreements between the three leaders  Agreed on the following negotiations:  demilitarized and disarmed Germany under four zones of Allied occupation.  all German military and paramilitary forces were to be eliminated; and the production of all military hardware in Germany was forbidden.  repeal of all discriminatory laws from the Nazi era and by the arrest and trial of those Germans deemed to be "war criminals."  President Truman told Stalin about the first nuclear bomb that was to be dropped  Stalin, however, knew about the U.S. nuclear program thanks to the Soviet intelligence network – created even more tension between leaders

What potential problems could this division cause?

The Marshall Plan  The Marshall Plan, also called the European Recovery Plan, was enacted by the US in 1947 as a way to help rebuild Europe after World War II.  Meant to help the badly damaged Europe recover, it was also meant to prevent communism from gaining a stronghold in war torn countries.  West Germany, which was divided from East Germany after the war, received some aid under the Marshall Plan. Great Britain and France received the most aid, over $200 million US Dollars (USD) each.  Other countries receiving funds for reconstruction were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.  Although aid was offered to the Soviet Union, it was refused.