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war and social upheaval: World War II -- Allied conferences Potsdam
World War II: Allied Conferences--Potsdam (July-August 1945)
Figure 1.--The major issue to be settled at Potsdam was finalizing details on the occupation of Germany. Issues like reparations and ensuring the Germans would not start another War dominated the discussions. At the time it was not clear to any of the participants that the Cold War had begun. Stalin had already launched it, but was hoping that America would not participate and would withdrw from Europe as it had after World War I. The greatest surprise to all the participnts would have been that the German people would decide the outcome. The Cold War can be said to have begun in Berlin and through all the twist of turns of the ensuing four decades end in Berlin (November 1989). The choice was an overwealong rejection of Communist totaltarianism and embrace of dmocracy and enbrace of market economics. And what Stalin would have never understood, it was the East Germans who experienced over 40 years of living in the wirker's pradise that rejected Communism.
The Potsdam Conference was unlike Yalta not a war conference. It was held in a suburb of a defeated and prostrate Germany. It was a post-War settlement conference to decide issues concerning primarily the occupation and Germany's future. President Truman left Washington heading for Potsdam (July 6). Some accounts described Truman as dreading the Conference. It was essentially was Truman's transition from a senator with only minor influence and experience to one of the central characters in 'high-takes' international diplomacy. And he brought to Potsdam none of the confidence that President Roosevelt had brought to Tehran and Yalta. [Bechloss in the Conquerors, pp. 252-53.] With Germany defeated, how to deal with the Soviets was one of President Truman's primary concerns. He was not favorably disposed toward the Communist Soviet Union while still a senator. And Soviet behavior before and after V-E Day had disturbed him. At the time, dealing with Stalin and the Soviets was very much on Truman's mind. Trouble with the Soviets in occupied Germany were increasing. It was at the Potsdam Conference that Truman told Stalin about the bomb. [Beschloss, p.66.] It was thought that an atomic bomb would greatly strengthen America's bargaining position. At the time the President left Washington, he knew that a test was being prepared at Alamogordo. Thus he anxiously awaited news as he traveled toward Potsdam. The Trinity Test was successfully conducted (July 16). The Conference opened the next day (July 17). In the middle of the discussions, Secretary Stimson brought the President an irgent cable informing him that that the Alamogordo Trinity test had been 'successful beyond the most optimistic expectations of everyone' (July 21)." (We have noted some references to July 19.) This meant that the United States would be able to end the Pacific War without Soviet assistance and gave the President increased confidence in dealing with Stalin. Churchill noted a new 'boldness' in stanfing up to the Soviets on issues concerning the Germans. [Beschloss, p. 259.] Truman 3 days after learning of the Trinty test, quietly told Stalin about the bomb, but provided few details. Stalin's reaction has been endlessly assessed by historians. Unknown to Truman was that because Soviet intelligence services had penetrated the Manhattan Project, Stalin already knew a great deal. America, Britain, and China issued the Potsdam Declaration demanding Japan's unconditional surrender and outlining the terms (July 26). For Truman the failure of the Japanese to respond made up his mind to go ahead with dropping the bomb. He hoped that one bomb would be enough to force a surrender. Truman gave Secretary Stimson a handwritten order to 'release when ready but not sooner than August 2' (July 31, 1945).
Potsdam: Berlin Suburb
Potsdam is a city on the border of Berlin. Several royal palaces were built there. , The Potsdam Conference was held at the Cecilienhof in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. The Cecilienhof was a palace built during World War I. One wonders why Kaiser Wilhelm II was building a new palace at the time. Construction began before world War I, but cntinued even after the war began. It would be the last palace built by the Hohenzollerns. The Marmorpalais was the traditional Potsdam residence of the Hohenzollern crown prince. The Kaiser and Crowm Prince decided that the Marmorpalais was not adequate for the Imperial crown prince. The Kaiser ordered the establishment of a fund for constructing the new palace at Potsdam (1912).
Conference
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 Potsdam Conference was unlike Yalta not a war conference. It was held in a suburb of a defeated and prostrate Germany. It was a post-War settlement conference to decide issues concerning primarily the occupation and Germany's future.
Participants
The participants proved to be quite different than those at the other major World War II conferences, including Yalta held a few months earlier. Stalin still represented the Soviet Union. And he fully expected to eventually dominate all of Germny. President Roosevelt had died after Yalta and was replaced by the new, untested president--Harry Truman. Stalin considered him a light weight. President Truman left Washington heading for Potsdam (July 6). Some accounts described Truman as dreading the Conference. It was essentially Truman's transition from a senator with only minor influence and experience to one of the central characters in 'high-stakes' international diplomacy. And he brought to Potsdam none of the confidence that President Roosevelt had brought to Tehran and Yalta. [Bechloss in the Conquerors, pp. 252-53.] Churchill after the beginning session replaced as prime minister by Labour leader Clement Attlee, whose party won a massive vivtory in them 1945 general election.
War Situation
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 bloody comquest of Okinawa. The Americans after securing Okinawa had begun preparation for the invasion of the Japanese Home Islands--Operation Downfall. It would begin with the invasion of the southern-most island,--Kyushu. The whole purpse of seizing Okinawa was for bases to provided needed support for the invasion of Kyushu -- the southern-most island. Downfall would be a massive operatiom. It would begin with Operation Olympic and scheduled for November 1945. Men and equipent were being moved to the Pacific in preapartion. It would be the largest amphibious invasion in history. American planners were folloewing Japamese movement of forces into Kyushu. Gen. Marshal and others were following these developments, om part through Magic decrypts and were disturbed by the disquiying intelligence reports of possible casualties. rubg
Issues
The Big Three discussed both the European and Pacific situation. The occupation of Germany and European issues were the porimary matters of discussion.
Europe
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. With Germany defeated, how to deal with the Soviets was one of President Truman's primary concerns. He was not favorably disposed toward the Communist Soviet Union while still a senator. And Soviet behavior before and after V-E Day had disturbed him. At the time, dealing with Stalin and the Soviets was very much on Truman's mind. Trouble with the Soviets in occupied Germany was already increasing. France was one of the issues. The Americans and British wanted France to participte in the occupation. Stalin objected maintaining that France had played no role in the victory, but relented as lomg as the French occupation zome would be cut out of the American and British zones.
Pacific
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. This had been a primary goal of Presidnt Roosevelt. President Truman was less interested in Soviet participation. He was hopeful that the atomic bomb would force Japan to surrender without the Soviets. And he was not anxious to face the same problems with the Soviets in Japan that were developing in occupied Germany. 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.
Trinity Test (July 16)
It was at the Potsdam Conference that Truman told Stalin about the bomb. [Beschloss, p.66.] It was thought that an atomic bomb would greatly strengthen America's bargaining position. At the time the President left Washington, he knew that a test was being prepared at Alamogordo. Thus he anxiously awaited news as he traveled toward Potsdam. The Trinity Test was successfully conducted (July 16). The Conference opened the next day (July 17). In the middle of the discussions, Secretary Stimson brought the President an urgent cable informing him that that the Alamogordo Trinity test had been 'successful beyond the most optimistic expectations of everyone' (July 21)." [Beschloss, p. 258.] (We have noted some references to July 19.) This meant that the United States would almost surely be able to end the Pacific War without Soviet assistance and gave the President increased confidence in dealing with Stalin. Churchill noted a new 'boldness' in stanfing up to the Soviets on issues concerning the Germans. [Beschloss, p. 259.] Truman 3 days after learning of the Trinty test, quietly told Stalin about the bomb, but provided few details. [Beschloss, p. 266.] Stalin's reaction has been endlessly assessed by historians. Unknown to Truman was that because Soviet intelligence services had penetrated the Manhattan Project, Stalin already knew a great deal. America, Britain, and China issued the Potsdam Declaration demanding Japan's unconditional surrender and outlining the terms (July 26). For Truman the failure of the Japanese to respond made up his mind to go ahead with dropping the bomb. He hoped that one bomb would be enough to force a surrender. Truman gave Secretary Stimson a handwritten order to 'release when ready but not sooner than August 2' (July 31, 1945).
Potsdam Declaration (July 26, 1945)
The Allies and the Soviets at Potsdam settled issues concernung the occupation of Germany. The war in the Pacific with Japan, hoewver, continued. Okinawa after bitter fighting was secured. And the mericans with V=British help were preparing to invde Khyhsum the southern-most Home Island. The whole reason Okinawa was invaded was to secure a supoort base for the invasion. United States President Harry Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China jointly issued a declaration at Potsdam demanding that Japan immediately surrender or face 'prompt and utter destruction' (July 26). The Soviet Union which was not a war with Japan was not a party to the declaration. It set the terms of unconditional surrender for Japan. There were provisions about disarmament, occupation, and territorial sovereignty, but did not touch upon the the Emperor. Some historians criticise the Allies for that, but neither did the Japanese make any effort to indicste that they were prepared to surrender if the Emperor's status was gurabteed. 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 rejoining the community of nations. The Americans wanted to nvoid n invsasion because of the huge number of casualties beung poredicted, but were preoaring for the invassion.
Japanese Response
The wording of the Potsdam Declaration caused some Japanese officials to see a weakening of the American will. The part about Japan rejoining the community of nations in particular caught the eye of officials. Even after 3 years of relentles war. the Japanese were still clinging on to the idea that American will was breaking. And perhaps more imporantly to the Japanese, the Soviet Union did not sign the Declaration. The Japanese were still purtsuing the illusion that the Soviets woud help them end the War. As a result, Prime-Minister Suzuki decided to just wait for the Soviets to respnd to his iniatives, despite discouraging reports from Ambassador Sato in Moscow. At a press conference he used the term 'mokusatsu' (July 28). One historian suggests that there are multiple meanings. [Toll] The Americans took the meaning to be -- take no notice of / treat with silent contempt (July 28). Presiden Truman as a result believed that the Japanese rejected the Deckaration and ewere going to fight it out. He as also informed of the Japanese moving of men and equionent into Kyhshu. Japanese forces were beloeved to have total some 900,000 men. And the U.S. Army estimated athe casualties may total 1 million men. The sucessful Alamagordo Trinity Test of the atomic bomb provided him with an option.
Sources
Beschloss, Michael. The Conqueroes (Simon &Schuster: New York, 2002), 377p.
