Countdown to the Cold War

Yalta Conference February of 1945, just before WWII was over, the leaders of the allied powers met in the Soviet Union at Yalta. The Big 3: Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin.

Yalta Conference They begin to plan for the end of the war, creating a design to divide Germany into 4 zones temporarily after the war. America, Britain, France and Soviet Union would each occupy a zone. Poland would be granted land from Germany but would lose land to the U.S.S.R. Agreed that Stalin would oversee the creation of new governments in Eastern Europe at the end of the war.

Roosevelt to Truman In April of 1945 President Roosevelt dies after 4 terms in office. He is replaced by Harry S. Truman. Truman made it clear that he would be "tough" on the Soviet Union and that he strongly opposed communism.

Potsdam When: In the final days of WWII through late July to August 2, 1945. Who: The "new" Big 3: Truman, Attlee (UK), and Stalin. Where: Potsdam, Germany Why: The goal of the conference was to decide how to administer punishment to the defeated Nazi Germany and decide the future of war torn Europe

Agree to Disagree Germany was divided into 4 zones as was Berlin. The United Nations is set up with 50 Nations. Tension between Stalin and Truman grows as Truman hides the information about the atomic bomb.

Germany after Potsdam in 1945

Berlin after Potsdam 1945

Stalin Steps Up With WWII, Yalta, and Potsdam setting up the U.S. and U.S.S.R as the two world superpowers, Stalin begins creating a buffer zone in Europe. He wants to spread communism throughout the area. He creates, what Churchill calls the "Iron Curtain". “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” – Winston Churchill

Iron Curtain 1 year after the Potsdam Agreement, Stalin supported the creation of pro-communist governments in Eastern Europe. He creates a buffer zone of communist friendly nations to avoid future invasion from the West. Soon Europe was divided by an imaginary line called the Iron Curtain

IRON CURTAIN Soviet Satellites

East v. West Eastern Europe was now made up of Soviet dominated communist Satellite Nations. Western Europe, including three zones of Germany, was made up of democratic nations. Satellite Nation: a smaller country that is economically and politically dependent on a more powerful nation.