Why did the relationship between
the ‘Big 3’ begin to break down by
1945?
USARoosevelt
USSRStalin
UKChurchill
Today we will:
Investigate what happened at the Yalta Conference.
Explain why the relationship between the Big 3 powers
broke down.
Recap
Define:
1. Communist
2. Capitalist
3. Cold War
The ‘Big Three’…
• The Big 3– USSR, USA and Great Britain were the
important powers in the world.
• Towards the end of the Second World War they all
had very different aims about what should be
done in Europe.
Yalta Conference
In early February 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA),
Winston Churchill (UK) and Joseph Stalin (USSR) met
in the Black Sea port city of Yalta to discuss the post
war administration of Europe. At the time of the
conference, Allied forces had pushed Nazi Germany
to the brink of collapse, all sides recognised the end
of World War II was imminent but all wanted very
different things…
USSR = Union of
Soviet Socialist
Republics
Watch first
2 mins 50
of video
using
hyperlink
on picture
The USA President Franklin D. Roosevelt
all the countries in Eastern Europe
should be free, democratic
and independent.
This was a solution
which seemed obvious
to the USA as it was
very strong and was in
no danger of being
invaded by anyone.
Great Britain:
P.M. Winston
Churchill
All countries of
Eastern Europe
should be freed from
Nazi rule and have
democracy.
Churchill “offered” a deal by
which countries were divided up
into ‘spheres of influence’ (areas
they had political power over).
The USSR
Joseph Stalin took a very
different view.
Germany - Stalin wanted to make
sure that the Nazis were removed
and that Germany itself could
never damage the USSR again.
Eastern Europe- Wanted these to
be friendly towards the USSR and
act as a buffer zone between the
two countries.
The big issues towards the end of WW2
• What will happen to Poland?
• What will happen to Eastern Europe?
• What will happen to Germany?
• What will happen to Japan? (Japan had attacked the USA
at Pearl Harbour in 1941 which had lead to the USA
joining the war & declaring war on JAPAN).
• Who will be part of the United Nations and rebuild the
world?
• Who will pay reparations (money to repair your country)how much?
Problems with Poland
Stalin wanted Poland to
expand even further West
so there would be a ‘buffer
zone’ between Germany
and the USSR.
UK had entered WW2
in 1939 to defend
Poland but Germany
and the USSR had
gained Polish territory.
Stalin wanted to make
sure Poland
had a pro-Soviet
government.
Buffer zone?
This is a neutral
country
between two
hostile countries
– meant to
prevent them
from going to
war.
The Yalta Negotiating Game!
• You will each get a list of your man’s priorities at the
Yalta Conference. They are listed in order or importance,
and are worth a certain number of points. (The more
points the more difficult the negotiation will be)
• Each issue will be discussed and voted on.
• An issue can only be resolved with a 2-1 vote!
• Try and persuade at least one other leader to agree to
your priorities.
• You can trade your support on an issue – e.g. ‘I will
support you on Poland if you support me on…..”
• Whoever finishes with the most points wins!
This is a game of negotiation and
compromise– You cannot win on every
issue! You must learn to trade on an issue
that is less of a priority for you!
Roosevelt
Churchill
Stalin
 Despite Roosevelt's efforts,
however, Stalin drove a hard
bargain at Yalta.
 Roosevelt's physical weakness as a
dying man and Churchill's political
weakness as head of a dying
empire left Stalin in the strongest
bargaining position of the three.
 The fact that Soviet forces were
much larger than their American
and British allies further
strengthened Stalin's hand.
The end result……
Yalta - February 1945: Germany was not yet defeated, so,
although there were tensions about Poland, the big
three - Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill - managed to
agree to:
1. Split Germany into four
zones of occupation
2. Allow free elections in
Eastern European countries.
3. Russia was invited to join
the United Nations.
4. Russia promised to join the
war against Japan when
Germany was defeated.
What happened really?
Task Time
1. Read the outcome sheet and complete the table
2. Who would be happiest with each outcome?
Finished?
Answer the
questions at the
bottom of the
sheet.
Watch
hyperlink
On
picture
Starter : What really happened at Yalta?
1. Read over the outcome sheet and check that you have
complete the table
2. Make sure you can explain who would be happiest
with each outcome?
Finished?
Answer the
questions at the
bottom of the
sheet.
Watch
hyperlink
On
picture
Today we will:
Investigate what happened at the Potsdam Conference.
Understand the different ideologies and plans between
the USSR and USA
Explain the origins of the Cold War
Brief timeline- End of WW2 1945
• February 4-11: Yalta Conference meeting of FDR,
Churchill, Stalin - the 'Big Three‘
• Soviet Union has control of Eastern Europe. The
Cold War Begins
• 12th April – President Truman elected
• May 8: VE Day - Victory in Europe. Germany
surrenders to the Red Army in Berlin
• July: Potsdam Conference - Germany was
officially partitioned into four zones of
occupation.
Ruined relationships…
In 1945, Harry S Truman became president
of the USA. He hated the Russians
• However the wartime alliance between
the Soviet Union and America was also
wrecked by huge differences in ideology
between the two countries in:
• Politics - America was capitalist, Russia was
communist.
• Lifestyle - America had freedom and a twoparty democracy; Russia had secret police
and a one-party state.
• Aims - America wanted Germany to
recover as a trading partner; Russia wanted
to weaken Germany and create a buffer
zone of friendly states around Russia.
The Russians
only understand
one language how many armies
have you got? I'm
tired of babying
the Soviets.
How to set out your answer
One important difference between the
USA and the USSR was….
This helped to cause tension because….
Pick two
differences
between
America and
Russia.
Explain what
they are and
why they are
helping
cause
tension..
Potsdam Conference
Read your information about the Conference and choose
a set of questions. Option two is more challenging.
How did Potsdam
signal the end of
the ‘Big 3’?
Potsdam - July 1945: Germany had been defeated,
Roosevelt had died and Churchill had lost the 1945
election - so there were open disagreements.
 Clement Atlee was the new PM in UK
 Harry Truman was the new President in USA
After Potsdam:
 Truman came away angry about the size of reparations
and the fact that a communist government was being
set up in Poland.
 Truman did not tell Stalin that he was planning to use
the atomic bomb against Japan.
Secret Telegrams (1946)
Both Truman and Stalin were concerned that the other
might launch an attack, so they asked for secret reports from
their embassies to help understand what their opponent
was thinking.
 The American ambassador in Russia reported that Stalin
had given a speech calling for the destruction of
capitalism and that the USSR was building up its military
power.
 The Russian ambassador in America reported that
Truman desired to dominate the world and that the
American public were being prepared for war with the
USSR.
Exam Practice
Describe what was decided at the Yalta
Conference in 1945? (4)
4 marks mean 4 points. (facts)
Finished?
What is this
image
trying to
demonstrate?
Swap over and Peer Assess
Describe what was decided at the Yalta Conference in
February 1945?[4]
• ‘Germany was to be divided into four zones of occupation.’
• ‘The zones to be controlled by USA, USSR, Britain and
France.’
‘A United Nations Organisation to be set up to keep the
peace.’
• ‘As east European Countries liberated they would be able to
hold free elections to set up
•democratic governments.’
• ‘In Poland free elections were to be held.’
Challenge
Question!
Was the
Cold War
inevitable?
Today we will:
Investigate what happened at the Potsdam Conference.
Understand the different ideologies and plans between
the USSR and USA
Explain the origins of the Cold War
Brief timeline
• February 4-11: Yalta Conference meeting of FDR, Churchill, Stalin - the
'Big Three‘
• Soviet Union has control of Eastern Europe. The Cold War Begins
• May 8: VE Day - Victory in Europe. Germany surrenders to the Red Army
in Berlin
• July: Potsdam Conference - Germany was officially partitioned into four
zones of occupation.
• August 6: The United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima (20 kiloton
bomb 'Little Boy' kills 80,000)
• August 8: Russia declares war on Japan
• August 9: The United States drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki (22 kiloton
'Fat Man' kills 70,000)
• August 14 : Japanese surrender End of World War II
• August 15: Emperor surrender broadcast - VJ Day