Yalta Conference

Resource: New World Encyclopedia.

Held in February 1945, the Yalta Conference brought together the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union to draw up the terms for the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and to discuss the reorganization of post-war Europe.

By this time:

• German resistance was collapsing..
  
• The Soviet Army was already physically in control of most of Eastern Europe
  
• Hitler had moved into his underground bunker and would commit suicide 2 months later

Leaders at the conference:

• Winston Churchill: Prime Minister, United Kingdom
  
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt: President, United States
  
• Joseph Stalin: Ruler, Soviet Union

Each of the three powers brought their own agenda to the Yalta Conference:

• Roosevelt was lobbying for Soviet support in the Pacific theater and the planned invasion of the Empire of Japan. He also hoped to create a United Nations before World War II ended.
  
• Churchill was pressing for free elections and democratic institutions in Eastern Europe, specifically in Poland.
  
• Stalin was attempting to establish a Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe which he deemed essential to Soviet national security.

Major Points from the Meeting

• There was an agreement that the priority would be the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.
  
• Germany would undergo demilitarization and denazification.
  
• A "Committee on Dismemberment of Germany" was to be set up. The purpose was to decide whether Germany was to be divided into several nations, and if so, what borders and inter-relationships the new German states were to have.
  
• An Allied Reparation Council was created and would located in Moscow.
  
• Roosevelt obtained a commitment by Stalin to participate in the United Nations once it was agreed that each of the five permanent members of the Security Council would have veto power.
  
• Stalin agreed to enter the fight against the Empire of Japan within 90 days after the defeat of Germany. The Soviet Union would receive the southern part of Sakhalin and the Kurile islands after the defeat of Japan.
  
• Millions of Soviets across Europe were forced to return to the Soviet Union under Stalin's Communist rule.
  
• The status of Poland was discussed, but was complicated by the fact that Poland was at this time under the control of the Red Army. It was agreed to reorganize the Provisionary Polish Government that had been set up by the Red Army through the inclusion of other groups such as the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity and to have democratic elections. This effectively excluded the legitimate Polish government-in-exile that had evacuated in 1939.