Origins of the Cold War

Wartime Conferences

Question

What role did 1945 Yalta Conference and 1945 Potsdam Conference play in contributing to the Cold War?

Yalta Conference was a win for the Russians
Stalin asked for $20 billion – a LOT of money
- Churchill was against this, but Roosevelt was somewhat emphathetic and concerned
- money as an issue was a sticking point → money in the form of compensation, money in the form of resources
Stalin was transporting what he could take from Germany back to Russia
- it was important for security… or something
the USA was also seeking security
- historical example played pivotal role in their 4 aims
- they avoided economic collapse through the free market
- both Russia and the US sought economic security
  - economic and political concerns merge with ideological concerns (global market)
- some say it was due to economic expansionism (can be twisted to argue ideology)
  - intellectual flexibility to switch
- Truman was a different beast altogether – a “highly insecure man” who knew the buck stopped at his desk, and refused to be the president who appeased the communists
  - he thus took on a very strong role and attitude against communism

the atomic bomb
different policies across territories
most dominant country with a monopoly on the atomic bomb → increased Stalin’s fear and suspicion, bomb highlighted Stalin’s insecurities

what Stalin was doing in Eastern Germany
Stalin’s actions challenged the 1941 Atlantic Charte
- 1941 Atlantic Charter”: agreement between Churchill and Roosevelt in principle
Future of Poland was a key area of contention
- Stalin had physical presence and leverage, because he drove the Nazis away
- no matter how the Allies begged, Stalin held all the cards and the people of Poland trusted him more