World War II Treaties

World War II Treaties (Jigsaw)

Goals of the Wartime Conferences:

-          Russia, America, and Britain are the “Big Three”

-          Russia required a buffer zone between it and the “west”

-          America wanted a world of free trade to avoid post-war depression.  Did not want to team up against Russia.

-          Britain wanted to team up against Russia with America and remove Russia from negotiations

The Atlantic Charter:  August, 1941 between Britain and the United States.  It was intended as the blueprint for the postwar world after World War II and turned out to be the foundation for many of the international agreements that currently shape the world. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT), the post-war independence of British and French possessions, and much more are derived from the Atlantic Charter.
Main points of the Charter:

-          Neither country shall seek gains from the war, territorial or other

-          There will be respect of the rights of all peoples to choose the form of government they desire; independence and self-government will be given back to those countries who had these taken away from them

-          There will be free access to the high seas

-          Improved labour standards, economic adjustment, and social security around the world will be encouraged

Tehran Conference:

-          1943 between the “Big Three”

-          Not all topics were agreed upon

-          Churchill wanted a second front in the Balkans to relieve pressure on the USSR.  This was rejected, but they were promised a second front in 1944

-          Could not agree on Poland’s boundaries

-          All agreed Germany would be divided

-          Percentage Agreements:

o   USSR had control of Romania and Bulgaria

o   Britain had control over Greece

o   Yugoslavia and Hungary were split

Yalta Agreement:

-          Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin negotiate on the USSR’s involvement in 1945

-          Terms were

o   Germany’s division amongst the Allies

o   Poland’s boundaries were altered

o   Poland would have free choice of its government

o   USSR would enter the war against Japan

o   USSR would receive

§  Rights in Manchuria

§  Parts of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands

§  Territorial privileges in the Far East

Potsdam:

-          July 1945

-          Stalin (USSR), Clement Atlee (GB), Harry S. Truman (US)

-          Demobilization had begun

-          Russian troops occupied much of eastern Europe

-          Mistrust between Stalin and the western powers existed

-          Settlements:

o   Germany was to pay reparations and be demilitarized

o   Russian troops supervise Japan’s surrender

o   Final boundaries for occupation zones were established