Conference of Potsdam

The Conférence of Potsdam was organized by the allied powers (the the United States represented by Harry Truman, the the USSR by Joseph Stalin, and the the United Kingdom by Winston Churchill then Clement Attlee) to fix the fate of the enemy nations. It began the July 17th and finished the August 2nd 1945 in the town of Potsdam.

It was held before even the end of the Second world war to fix the fate of the enemies of the allied forces. Indeed, at this time, the allied forces knew that the victory was imminent because Germany had capitulated for two months, and that Japan had undergone territorial and military heavy losses.

The declaration of Potsdam is promulgated and signed by the the United States, the the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, the July 26th 1945.

Former conferences

Potsdam was preceded by many other conferences, of which in particular:

the Conference of Teheran as from November 1943
the Conference of Casablanca in January 1943
the Conference of Yalta in February 1945

Decisions concerning overcome

Germany

Separation of Germany and Austria;
Each one of these two territories must be divided into 4 zones of occupation;
Displacement towards the west of the border of Germany with Poland, is a loss from approximately 25% of its territory of which high Silesia, second industrial center of the country;
Expulsion of Eastern Europe of the populations ethniquement German;
Disarmament;
Denazification: destruction of all that refers to the Nazism (program, propaganda, laws Nazis);
Judgment of the war criminals.

Japan

Territory limited to the four principal islands; some small islands will be perhaps granted thereafter;
Losses of the conquered territories: Korea; Taiwan
complete Rendering of the armed forces.
Introduction of freedom of expression, thought, religion.

Decisions concerning Poland

Creation of a Provisional government of National unit, recognized by the three powers. The Western border will be temporarily determined by the Ligne Oder-Neisse. The ex free Ville of Dantzig will be placed under Polish administration.

Other information

The allies of the west, especially Winston Churchill, had suspicions concerning the real motivations of Stalin. He had already installed Communist governments in the Eastern European countries under his influence. Potsdam is the last conference of the Allies joining together the three Large ones.

Potsdam and the ultimatum in Japan

detailed Articles: atomic Bombardments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Occupation of Japan

During the conference, Truman informed Stalin of the new weapon of the United States which had been tested hardly a few hours before the beginning of the conference. Stalin knew already the existence of the nuclear bomb by his spies within the Projet Manhattan. At the end of the conference, on July 26th, an ultimatum was meant with the Empire of Japan in the name of the United States, of Great Britain, of China and the USSR. Japan is summoned to go without condition without what it will undergo a rapid and serious destruction. This ultimatum did not mention however the new weapon. The Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki, declared in the name of his nation that he intended to be unaware of ( mokusatsu ) this warning. An atomic bomb then was released on Hiroshima on August 6th, then one second the 9 on Nagasaki, after a second ultimatum of president Truman.

September 2nd, gives it geopolitical had changed with the two atomic explosions, Mc Arthur refusing the principle of a joint occupation of Japan with the Soviets.

See too

External bonds

This document comprises 13 points.
Extracts from the Agreements
Potsdam 17 juil- August 2nd, 1945

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