Figure 1.--. |
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The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. The Conference was held from July 17 to August 2, 1945. It was a conference of the Big Three (the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States). The participants proved to be quite different than those at the other major World War II conferences, incliding Yalta held a few months earlier. Stalin still represented the Soviet Union. Fresident Roosevelt had died after Yalta and was replaced by the new president--Harry Truman. Churchill was at the beginning session was replace as prime minister by Clement Attlee, who had replaced him after a general election. The Conference was held after the NAZI surrender (May 1945). The primary order of business was how to administer occupied Germany as well as the post-War order, peace treaties, and the huge problems created by the War. The primary importance concerning the Pacific War was that Stalin secretly pledged to enter the War by August 15. President Truman informed Stalin of the atmoic bomb. Because of Soviet espionage, he already knew. The Conference issued a declaration demanding that Japan immediately surrender or face "prompt and utter destruction". The Japanese did not respond. Some Japanese officials actually thought the Potsdam Declaration showed the success of their policy of bleeding the Americans. Although the Potsdam Declaration called for unconditional surrender, there was language providing for Japan eventually rehoining the community of nations. Also and perhaps more impotantly, the Soviet Union did not sign the Declaration.
The Potsdam Conference was held at the Cecilienhof in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin.
The Conference was held from July 17 to August 2, 1945. It was a conference of the Big Three (the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States).
The participants proved to be quite different than those at the other major World War II conferences, incliding Yalta held a few months earlier. Stalin still represented the Soviet Union. Fresident Roosevelt had died after Yalta and was replaced by the new president--Harry Truman. Churchill was at the beginning session was replace as prime minister by Clement Attlee, who had replaced him after a general election.
The Conference was held after the NAZI surrender (May 1945). Japan had not yet surrendered although by the time of the Conference, the United Stateshad completed the comquest of Okinawa.
The Big Three discussed both the European and Pacific situation.
The primary order of business was how to administer occupied Germany as well as the post-War order, peace treaties, and the huge problems created by the War.
The primary importance of Potsdam concerning the Pacific War. Truman asked Stalin about his pledge to enter the War. Stalin secretly pledged to enter the War by August 15. President Truman while at Potsdam received word that the test of the A-bomb at Alamagordo had been successful. He informed Stalin of the atmoic bomb. Because of Soviet espionage, he already knew.
The Americans and British issued a declaration demanding that Japan immediately surrender or face "prompt and utter destruction" (July 26). The Japanese did not respond. Some Japanese officials actually thought the Potsdam Declaration showed the success of their policy of bleeding the Americans. Although the Potsdam Declaration called for unconditional surrender, there was language providing for Japan eventually rehoining the community of nations. THis language caused some Japanese officials to see a weakening of the American will. Also and perhaps more impotantly to the Japanese, the Soviet Union did not sign the Declaration. Foreign Minister Suzuki decided to ignore it. He decided to wait for a response from the Soviets.
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