Notes On Cold War w/ Quotes, Timeline & More

Resource Description

Pre-1945 Meetings

1. June 1941: the Atlantic Declaration – Roosevelt and Churchill met to discuss the post-war world. At this point, Britain was fighting alone against Germany (America wanted to remain neutral). They agreed that after the war:

• UK and USA would not aim to make any territorial gains (everyone should have self-determination).

• Any transfer of territory should have the consent of the people involved.

• Freedom of trade.

2. November 1943: the Big Three leaders met in Tehran (Iran), currently controlled by Britain.

• USA agreed to open a second front against Germany in the Summer.

3. October 1944: Churchill met Stalin in Moscow. Churchill wrote the percentages agreement (“naughty document”) on a piece of paper, which Stalin simply ticked. Roosevelt strongly disapproved as it went against the Atlantic Declaration. Churchill accepted that USSR would dominate Europe and so wanted to make some kind of agreement with Stalin.

1945 Summit Conferences Yalta

– February 1945:

• Roosevelt was very ill (dies 2 months later). Wanted democracy to be introduced in Eastern Poland, but he trusted Stalin and wanted to ensure good relations remained between USA and USSR.

• Churchill very concerned about future of Poland and Eastern Europe – Britain had gone to war in 1939 to protect Poland and did not want to abandon it to Soviet control. Did not trust Stalin and wanted to ensure that Stalin did not impose Communism on territory taken by the Red Army.

• Stalin obsessed with security of USSR. Wanted to retain Polish territory he had gained in 1939 (part of Nazi-Soviet Pact). Wanted to ensure a friendly Polish government (bufferzone against Germany – had been invaded twice in past 50 years).

Why was Poland such a Big Issue at Yalta? • Largest country in Eastern Europe, so its post-war settlement likely to set a pattern for rest of Europe, but leaders disagreed.

• 2 different groups wanted to form a new government, and Stalin had very different relationship with both:

1. ‘London Poles’ (government in exile) were very hostile towards USSR, especially after discovery of Katyn massacre (see below).

2. ‘Lublin Poles’ – composed mainly of Communists (Stalin trusted them).