The Aftermath of World War II: The Conferences, Trials, & Emergence of the Cold War World History Mr. Meester 14-5

Vocabulary Nuremberg/Tokyo Trials Yalta Conference Potsdam Conference United Nations

Casualties During the War Military Dead Military Wounded Civilian Dead Allied Forces Britain France United States Russia China 389,000 211,000 292,000 7,500,000 500,000 475,000 400,000 671,000 14,102,000 1,700,000 65,000 108,000 1,700 15,000,000 1,000,000 Axis Forces Germany Japan Italy 2,850,000 1,576,000 77,500 7,250,000 120,000 5,000,000 300,000 100,000 Total Causalities 13,395,500 25,218,000 21,574,700

War Crimes Trials Nazi leaders were tried for “crimes against humanity” at Nuremberg following the war. 22 people were tried; 12 were executed, 3 got life, 4 went to prison, & 3 were acquitted Similar trials occurred in Tokyo to deal with the question of Japanese war crimes 28 were charged, 2 died during the trial, 7 were executed, 16 got life, & the rest short prison terms No trials were held against the Allied Powers

The Cold War Started due to the ideological differences between the USSR and the U.S. Developed at the Allied war conferences held during the last year of WWII. Vs.

The Yalta Conference Meeting occurred in southern Russia in February of 1945. Each Allied Power head of state attended; Franklin D. Roosevelt (US), Joseph Stalin (USSR), & Winston Churchill (UK) Germany was all but defeated, but Japan still remained. The US wanted help with the invasion. (A-Bomb wasn’t working yet)

The Big Three Leaders Churchill Roosevelt Stalin

The Issues Stalin distrusted his allies & what they would do after the war. He wanted to keep Eastern Europe. This would give the USSR a buffer against future aggression. Churchill & Roosevelt wanted free elections. Give the people the right to choose their government.

Yalta continued The Allies agreed to temporarily divide Germany into 4 zones Governed by the US, British, French, & Soviets. The Yalta Conference would also lead to the development of the United Nations. US agrees to let Soviets have Eastern Europe in exchange for help in Japan.

What happened to Germany? Germany was forced to pay over $20 billion in reparations. The division of Germany was meant to restore stability and prevent another Nazi like takeover. It became permanent due to mistrust between the Soviets and the West. This created 2 new counties East Germany (communist) & West Germany (democratic).

Division of Germany Orange: Britain Blue: France Green: U.S. Pink: USSR

The Conference at Potsdam It took place in Potsdam, Germany in July, 1945. The war was over in Europe. President Roosevelt had died, President Truman took his place Demanded free elections in Eastern Europe. Truman knew the US had the A-Bomb Wouldn’t need Soviet help defeating Japan.

Potsdam continued Stalin wouldn’t back down. He wanted the protection of a Communist Eastern Europe. The West believed this was part of a Soviet plan to make all of the world communist. The USSR thought that America wanted to expand capitalism worldwide. Only months after the end of the world’s deadliest conflict, the globe was bitterly divided again. The Cold War had started.