The End of

World War II

Conferences
and
Cold War
 End of the War in Europe
 May 7, 1945—Germany surrendered
 US, England, Russia met to
reconstruct Europe after the war:
–Yalta
Conference
(Feb 1945)
–Potsdam
Conference
(July, Aug
1945)
 Yalta Conference
 “Big Three” (Churchill of England,
Roosevelt of USA, Stalin of
USSR) met to discuss Europe
after WW2
 This is FDR’s
last meeting
(died in April)
 Yalta Conference
6Topics Discussed:
–Want unconditional surrender of
Axis Powers (Germany, Italy,
Japan)
–League of Nations was
ineffective—US, England,
Russia, France, China
should form United Nations
(international organization to keep
peace after war)
 Yalta Conference
 TopicsDiscussed:
–Russia would declare war on
Japan (& help USA invade
Japan) after Germany
surrendered
–Divide Austria, Germany &
capital Berlin into 4 occupied
zones (controlled US, England,
France, & USSR)
 Yalta Conference
 TopicsDiscussed:
–Roosevelt & Churchill were
afraid Stalin would make
Eastern Europe communist after
war; they wanted Self
Determination (right to choose
democracy or communist) for
Eastern European Countries:
Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Romania, & Bulgaria
 Yalta Conference
 Stalinagreed to self-determination if
he could have part of Poland;
Poland—should have
 free elections
 Potsdam Conference
(Stalin, Truman, Churchill)
 Potsdam Conference
 After German surrender, Stalin began
pressuring Eastern European countries to
become communist
 Truman unhappy with these new pro-Soviet
governments; Demanded Stalin allow free
elections as he agreed to at Yalta
 Stalin refused to allow freely elected
governments in Eastern Europe; feared they
would be anti-Soviet
 Beginning of the Cold War
 When the World War 2 finally ended,
2 superpowers remained: US & USSR
 USA—capitalist &
democratic; USSR—
communist
 Different beliefs led to
Cold War; fight for VS
control of European
countries & supremacy
throughout the world
 What happened with Japan?
 Japan had to surrender unconditionally.
 MacArthur took over the rebuilding process of
Japan
 The U.S. forcibly wrote their constitution.
 The Constitution stated Japan could not rebuild
its Navy, Airforce, and Army.
 The Emperors power was taken away. He was
more of a figurehead. (Ex: Queen Elizabeth)
 The power will come from parliament.
After the Holocaust
 As Jews returned home they realized
that their homes had been taken over.
 Many citizens were still anti-Semitic.
 Citizens believed the Jews would come
back and try to take over.
 They also believed Jews would make
rituals against them.
 Many survivors moved Westward and
lived in displacement camp.
Cont.
 Immigration to other countries was
limited. Including the United States.
 The Jews wanted to move to Palestine,
present day Israel.
 Britain was in control of Palestine and
restricted Jews from moving there.
 Palestine was an Arab nation.
The creation of Israel
 Britain’s mandate over Palestine ended in
1948
 The U.N. made Palestine into Israel, it would
be divided into Jewish and Arab sections.
 Both the Jews and Arabs believe that Israel is
a Holy land that was granted to them by God.
 The creation of Israel caused many problems
between both of them.
 Those problems still exist, there is a never
ending war between them.
Where is Israel?