Potsdam Conference vs. Yalta Conference

Attribute	Potsdam Conference	Yalta Conference
Date	July 17 - August 2, 1945	February 4 - 11, 1945
Location	Potsdam, Germany	Yalta, Crimea
Attendees	Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin	Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin
Purpose	Discuss post-war Europe, Germany's future, and the establishment of peace	Plan for the post-war world, including the division of Germany and the establishment of the United Nations

Background

The Potsdam Conference and Yalta Conference were two significant meetings held during World War II to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe. The Yalta Conference took place in February 1945 in the Soviet Union, while the Potsdam Conference was held in July and August of the same year in Germany. Both conferences were attended by the leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill respectively.

Agenda

At the Yalta Conference, the main agenda was to discuss the re-establishment of the nations conquered and destroyed by Germany, as well as the post-war occupation of Germany itself. The leaders also discussed the establishment of the United Nations and the division of Germany into four zones of occupation. On the other hand, the Potsdam Conference focused on the implementation of the agreements reached at Yalta, including the demilitarization and denazification of Germany, as well as the issue of war reparations.

Decisions

One of the key decisions made at the Yalta Conference was the division of Germany into four zones of occupation, with each zone controlled by one of the Allied powers - the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. The leaders also agreed to hold war crimes trials for Nazi leaders and to allow the Soviet Union to annex parts of Poland. At the Potsdam Conference, the leaders reaffirmed the division of Germany and agreed to put into effect the Potsdam Agreement, which outlined the terms of Germany's surrender and occupation.

Leadership

At the Yalta Conference, the leaders present were Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill. However, Roosevelt passed away shortly after the conference, and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman. Truman, Stalin, and Churchill (later replaced by Clement Attlee) attended the Potsdam Conference. The change in leadership from Roosevelt to Truman had an impact on the dynamics of the conference, as Truman took a more hardline stance towards the Soviet Union compared to Roosevelt.

Post-War Europe

Both the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences played a significant role in shaping the post-war landscape of Europe. The decisions made at these conferences laid the groundwork for the division of Germany and the beginning of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the Western powers. The conferences also set the stage for the establishment of the United Nations and the reorganization of Europe in the aftermath of World War II.

Legacy

The Yalta Conference is often remembered for the agreements made between the Allied powers, as well as the tensions that would later arise between the Soviet Union and the Western powers. The Potsdam Conference, on the other hand, is seen as a continuation of the discussions held at Yalta, with a focus on implementing the decisions made at the earlier conference. Both conferences are considered pivotal moments in the history of post-war Europe and the beginning of the Cold War.