1.6 The Yalta Confrence

Question 1

When and where was the Yalta conference

Answer 1

Yalta (Crimea), 4-11 feb 1945

Question 2

What was a problematic issue that needed to be resolved at Yalta

Answer 2

Issue of soviet influence throughout Eastern Europe

Question 3

What aims did the superpowers share

Answer 3

• peace in Europe
• a Germany that would never again threaten peace

Question 4

Churchill

Answer 4

• aware of Stalin’s ambitions to expand his territory and influence Europe
• percentage agreement reflected determination in looking after British interests and limiting soviet expansion
• understood Britain was best served with a close relationship to the USA
• struggled to understand Stalin’s point of view (anti-communist), did not want to compromise too much w/ USSR

Question 5

Stalin

Answer 5

• war devastated USSR (millions dead, towns, industry and agriculture destroyed)
• main aim was to ensure this would never happen again
• many of his ministers and advisors were distrustful of west, but Stalin understood need for cooperation
• built good relationship with other leaders despite ideological differences and was prepared to negotiate

Question 6

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Answer 6

• committed to working with ussr to rebuild europe
• believed that only europe built on american capitalist principles could prevent future war
• some historians thought he mistunderstood stalin’s aims (thought they wanted the same thing)

Question 7

how was germany divided at yalta

Answer 7

• divided into four zones (ussr, america, france, britain)
• cooperation between the countries but everyone would be responsible for their own zone
• berlin fell into soviet zone so it was also divided into 4

Question 8

what tensions emerged at yalta

Answer 8

• poland was to lose some eastern territory to ussr and gain some to the west from germany
• big three disaggreed on who should hold power
• soviets: determined to keep their influence with a communist government
• west: wanted old polish government to return and run the country

Question 9

what did the west accept about soviet territory

Answer 9

that it should include countries in the Balkans, but the future of some eastern european countries remained uncertain

Question 10

what were the key agreements at yalta

Answer 10

• germany and berlin divided into four zones (USA, Britain, USSR and France)
• liberated countries of western and central europe would be allowed to hold free elections
• the UN would be formed to ensure future international cooperation
• an official document agreeing these points, the Declaration of Liberated Europe, was signed

Question 11

what was the name of the official document for the agreements at yalta called

Answer 11

the Declaration of Liberated Europe was signed

Question 12

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Answer 12

• wholly committed to working with USSR, got on well with Stalin
• thought only Europe built on American capitalist principles could prevent a future war
• some historians suggest he misunderstood Stalin’s aims and thought they wanted the same thing