1. The Big Three Conferences of WWII
Purposes and Results…

3. Purpose of the Meetings
Civilian leaders of the Allies meet to discuss “grand strategy” for the war.
A time to “size up” each other and the intentions of each country going forward.
An opportunity to further your specific goals by making them part of the overall strategy of the alliance.
To plan the post war world and how it will be contolled.

4. Major “Big 3” Meetings
Teheran (1943) held in the capital of Iran close to the Soviet border.
Yalta (Feb. 1945) held in the Soviet Union.
Potsdam (July 1945) held in a suburb of Berlin.

5. Teheran First opportunity for the three leaders to meet “face to face”
Churchill and FDR have met numerous times adding fuel to Stalin’s fear of collusion between the western leaders.

6. Results of Teheran
Allied leaders agree to a ‘second front’ in Europe by the spring of 1944.
Stalin meets with FDR and gets his assurance of a ‘cross channel’ invasion in 1944.
Stalin needs to have pressure taken off the eastern front as soon as possible.

7. Yalta Conference
Big 3 meet in Stalin’s Soviet Union to discuss the final defeat of Germany.
Maps that indicate the areas of Allied control are drawn up.
Soviets gain E. Europe
Germany will be divided
Berlin will be divided

8. A failing FDR at Yalta

9. The Division of Europe

10. Potsdam Conference
Allies meet in a suburb of Berlin to finalize the division of Europe
Discuss the surrender of Japan
A shake up of the Big 3
Growing mistrust amongst the Allies
Truman’s secret…

11. Results of the Conferences
Allies made strategic plans for the defeat of the Axis.
The “seeds of the Cold War” were planted at Yalta.
The division of Europe agreed upon at Yalta and Potsdam would remain for decades…
Opened the door to the atomic age.
Ushered in an era of tension between the ‘superpowers’.

12. Hiroshima

13. Nagasaki