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| Elaborate line of fortifications on France's eastern frontier facing Germany from the Swiss to the Belgian borders. French ideology was divided in the 1930s but all took "false comfort" in the Maginot Line. The German equivalent was referred to as the Siegfreid Line. |
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| Prime Minister of England who was the principal architect of the "Appeasement Policy" of 1937. This involved a noncommittal and appeasing approach to the more legitimate demands of dictators in order to avoid war. At this time in Europe, pacifism was a rampant attitude - largely a reaction to the horrors of WWI and the upheaval of the Depression that kept countries concerned with domestic matters. |
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| insistence on peace, regardless of consequences |
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| US neutrality legislation |
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| 1935-37. Series of laws passed in U.S. forbade loans, munitions and use of American shipping to belligerents in wartime. Some thought the U.S. had been sucked into WW I and legislation could prevent a re-occurrence. This legislation in U.S. gave Fascists in Europe some comfort to continue their activities. |
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| the ring of small anti-communist states on the border of USSR which was est in 1919 and seen as preventing the communist infection from spreading. ran from finland to rumania |
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Held, per the Versailles Peace Treaty, in January of 1935 in order for German residents there to decide future. Been under L of N mandate with coal going to France for 15 years. L of N organized the election. Voted for reunion with Germany.
NOTE: It was followed almost immediately, in March of 1935, by Hitler's repudiation of Versailles Clauses against rearmament. He started openly building up the military. France, England and Italy respond with protests ONLY. |
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| remiltarization of the rhineland |
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| In 1936 Hitler began his process and used as justification the new Franco-Soviet Pact of 1935 whereby Soviets were seeking to come out of isolation and encouraging Popular Fronts. Hitler repudiated Locarno Agreements and reoccupied the Rhineland. Sent troops to the West bank which was supposed to be de-militarized (according to Versailles). The French could have responded effectively at this time but wouldn't without British support and Britain would not risk war at that time. |
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| 1937 nazi agitation flared up in this baltic city which the treaty of versailles had made a "free city" |
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| Headed an elaborate Propaganda Ministry in Hitler's Third Reich. Utilized all media of information and education and operated within Germany and throughout the world. Goebbels used the technique of the big lie. Nazi propagandists operated on the theory that any lie - if stated authoritatively, repeated incessantly, and guarded from critical analysis--will eventually be accepted by most people. |
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| In 1936 he headed a Nazi Four-Year Plan to prepare the German economy for a war. He sought economic self-sufficiency , or AUTARKY, and emphasized the production of armaments over goods for civilians. Goering's slogan was "guns not butter." |
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| Was emperor of Ethiopia in E. Africa. In 1935 Italy went to war with Ethiopia since it wanted desperately to gain colonies. The League of Nations said it was unwarranted aggression and imposed sanctions on Italy - but did not include oil in sanctions list so activities not really too much impeded. British navy showed up in the Mediterranean. There were some sympathies for Mussolini in Italy and some in Britain were really fearful of war. Italy defeated Ethiopia by 1936 and combined with Somaliland and Eritrea, Italy now had an East African Empire. Haile Selassi made pleas at the League of Nations but to no effect. As with Japan's activities in Manchuria, L of N had no powers to intervene. |
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| In 1931 the Spanish monarchy was removed and replaced with a republic which passed "leftish" reforms. This was then replaced by a very conservative govt which became most repressive. For the 1936 elections the parties on the left (Republicans, Socialists, Syndicalists, and Communists) all formed the Spanish Popular Front and went on to win the election. General Franco then led an army of rightists in an insurrection which led to the Spanish Civil War. |
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| Led army group known as Nationalists against Spanish Popular Front after they had won the 1936 elections. The Civil War that followed resulted in 600,000 deaths and extreme cruelties on both sides. After the Nationalist rebels succeeded against the Republicans, Franco became Spain's dictator. Since Italy and Germany had given him support, this was considered a defeat for the cause of democracies. However, Franco did not tie his fate to the Axis powers in WW II and was thus able to survive them in 1945. He continued as dictator of Spain until his death in 1975 after which the Spanish Bourbon dynasty was restored under King Juan Carlos. Spain adopted a liberal constitution in 1976 and made a remarkable transition from dictatorship to pluralistic democracy. |
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| The U.S. extended its Neutrality Legislation to the Spanish Civil War. Britain and France led 27 other nations to agree not to take sides in the conflict. The policy was a fiasco because Germany and Italy supported Franco in his defeat of the democratically elected Republican government under the S.P.F. The U.S.S.R. was the only power to support the Republican govt. The Spanish Civil War became the testing ground for military equipment that supporters on both sides would later use in WW II(planes and tanks, etc.). The Fascist bombings of GUERNICA, Madrid and Barcelona horrified the democratic world. Germany and Italy sent troops to assist Franco; USSR sent advisers and technicians to help the legally elected Republican government. 1,000s of leftist sympathizers of various nationalities volunteered to help the Republican side against the Fascists. THUS SPAIN BECAME THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE CONTENDING IDEOLOGIES OF THE TIME - FASCIST & ANTIFASCIST. Consequence was to bring Germany and Italy closer together - they'd been in opposition over Austria in 1934. |
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| In 1938 Hitler pressured the Austrian chancellor to resign and had him replaced by an Austrian Nazi who invited German troops to move into Austria. A subsequent "plebiscite" resulted in the annexation or Anschluss of Austria to Germany. Hitler thus added the Austrian population of 6 million to Germany. Once again, the Western democracies did nothing. |
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| In 1937 the Japanese used the firing at Japanese troops on the Marco Polo Bridge near Peking as a pretext to the brutal, full-scale invasion of China which then came under Japanese control. The Chinese fought back only from the hinterland. League of Nations ineffectually condemned the action. U.S. didn't invoke neutrality legislation and still made loans to China BUT also was selling metals to Japan. Japan was thus profiting from the heightened level of tension in the Western world. |
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| In 1936 Japan signed this with Germany and it was later ratified by Italy. It was in opposition to Communism but actually proved to be the foundation for diplomatic alliance between these three powers. Each now had allies and pushed their demands for individual success. In 1938 Mussolini was willing to accept the German absorption of Austria which he had resisted in 1934. |
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| In 1936, soon after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini and Hitler came to an understanding - a diplomatic axis around which they hoped world would soon turn. This, in turn, led to ... |
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| There were 3 million Germans living in Czechoslovakia. All adult Sudetans had been born under the Hapsburg Empire. Complained of discrimination. In reality, everyone was a minority in Czechoslovakia since there was no preponderant nationality. But there was good minority legislation, relatively high standard of living and the govt was still democratic in 1938. However, there were difficulties maintaining a multinational state. Had an alliance with France and the USSR and a LITTLE ENTENTE with Romania and Yugoslavia. Had a good army and munitions supply but hese were IN THE SUDETANLANDS. After the Anschluss, Czechoslovakia was in a vise. Nazi agitators in 1938 set off rumors of an invasion. Czechs mobilized and the USSR, France and Britain warned Hitler. Czechs granted regional autonomy to the Sudetanland. |
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| Sept, 1938. Chamberlain, Brit PM, flew to Germany twice since war over Czechoslovakia seemed imminent. Then Hitler invited Chamberlain and Daladier (French President) to conference in Munich with Mussolini. Chamberlain and Daladier ended up putting pressure on the Czechs to accept Hitler's terms. Germany to annexe the Sudetanland and bits of territory going to Hungary and Poland. France repudiated its treaty obligations to Czechoslovakia as did USSR - neither wanted to go to war. Chamberlain returned to England waving a piece of paper and claiming "peace in our time." Side effect of isolating West and Russia from each other. In early 1939 Hitler's forces marched in a took over the rest of Czechoslovakia. West did not respond. |
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| In August of 1939 a Non-Aggression Pact was signed between Hitler and Stalin. A secret protocol stated that USSR would get part of Poland and Baltics as well as Bessarabia. Soviets to stay out of war between Germany and Poland or Germany and Western democracies. This Pact stupefied the world - especially since Communism and Nazism were such ideological opposites. This Pact was also recognized as a signal for impending war... |
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| Lightening warfare as practiced by Germans on Poland - Sept 1, 1939. Britain and France responded on Sept 3 with declaration of war. In Hitler's blitzkrieg 1 million invaded Poland. Included armored divisions and Luftwaffe. Organized resistance ended within a month. Simultaneously, the Russians moved into Eastern Poland and the Baltics. |
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Finns resisted Russian demands on border territory and military access. Russiand attacked in November of 1939. West sympathized with the Finns. Soviets were expelled from the League of Nations (only nation to be). Britain sent equipment and supplies to Finns. Russo-Finnish War ended March, 1940. Finland yielded even more territory but kept independence.
WINTER OF '39-40 QUIET - PHONY WAR/SITZKRIEG. THEN... |
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| Epic evacuation of 330,000 British and French troops from Northern France after defeat of expeditionary force. Germany had opened the Spring offensive of 1940 by invading Norway, Denmark. Then went on to take Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. French expecting re-enactment of Schlieffen but instead Germans moved through Luxembourg and the Ardennes. Went around the Maginot Line which was rendered useless. |
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| Germans occupied northern 2/3 of France. What was left of the Third Republic moved to South. HQ at Vichy and led but a confused parliament with Petain as president and Laval as premier. Signed armistice with Hitler. Was an openly defeatist regime - known as Vichy govt. In effect it collaborated with the Germans. In reality, the Third Republic was dead. Lost its slogan - "liberty, equality and fraternity." A Free French movt under General De Gaulle moved to London from where they helped to organise resistance to German occupation. In France, some collaborated and others secretly helped the resistance. |
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| WINSTON CHURCHILL REPLACED NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN. SAID BRITS FACED "BLOOD, TOIL, TEARS AND SWEAT" IN AN IMPLACABLE WAR AGAINST "A MONSTROUS TYRANNY, NEVER SURPASSED IN DARK, LAMENTABLE CATALOGUE OF HUMAN CRIMES." |
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| Fortress Europe - what was created by these conquered European countries - now under German occupation/garrison. Nazis found sympathizers/collaborateur in every country. |
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| BY THIS TIME AN INTERVENTIONIST BUT THE U.S. WAS SPLIT. FDR SAID LET'S AID THE ALLIES BY USING "MEASURES SHORT OF WAR." THE BAN ON ARMS SALES TO THE ALLIES WAS DROPPED. U.S. BECAME THE ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY |
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| The new face of Europe after Hitler's initial successes in 1940. The Grossdeutsches Reich spread from the French to the Russian border. Austria, the Sudetanland, Bohemia-Moravia, Poland and Alsace-Lorraine were all joined to Hitler's Reich. The Atlantic coast from southern France to northern Norway was under German military occupation. |
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| In June of 1941 Hitler turned on the Soviet Union in a three pronged attack directed at Leningrad, Moscow and the Ukraine. |
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| In June of 1941 Hitler turned on the Soviet Union in a three pronged attack directed at Leningrad, Moscow and the Ukraine. |
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| As Russians retreated eastwards, they destroyed resources rather than let them fall into German hands. In 1942 the line stretched from Leningrad south to close by Moscow to Stalingrad on the River Volga. |
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| : He was the Norweigan prototype for what Germany had in each country in conquered Europe. He had organized the Norweigan Fascist party in 1933 and was Norweigan premier between 1942-45. To be termed a "Quisling" meant one was a Nazi collaborateur/supporter who had facilitated the conquest. |
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| : The deliberate, systematic destruction of a racial, political or ethnic group. At a high level Nazi meeting in Wannsee, January, 1942 the genocide of the Jewish people was planned. |
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| FDR spoke of these in trying to get the U.S. to support the Allies. Spoke about the much valued freedoms of SPEECH, WORSHIP, FREEDOM FROM WANT AND FROM FEAR |
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| In 1941 the U.S. adopted this policy of providing arms, raw material and food to powers at war with the Axis. Was simultaneously introducing conscription and building a 2-Ocean Navy. |
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| 1940 - Summer. Germans unable to win control of air over Britain due to bravery of the RAF (Royal Air Force). Using new radar could detect the wave of German bomber and fighter planes. Defended Britain valiantly. Much destruction of British cities and towns by Luftwaffe but Britain kept on working. Great morale and spirit - boosted by l/ship of Winston Churchill and presence of Royal Family in London. It was after failing to subdue Britain in summer of 1940 that Hitler turned his attention to the East in winter of 1940-1. |
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| British intelligence operation (with Polish help) broke code of German communication device called "Enigma" - used for high level conversations. Germans didn't know the British had done this. Big help to Allied war effort. |
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| The Nazi-Soviet Pact had been similar to Napoleon's alliance with Alexander I, i.e. it was not close but merely temporary convenience. Both had been biding time. Stalin was disputing with Hitler over Eastern Europe. In 1940 Stalin sovietized the Baltic states while Hitler was busy in the West. Baltic Barons were driven out. Stalin also took over Bessarabia from Romania. Hitler wanted Eastern Europe as an agricultural counterpart to industrial Germany. By 1941 Hilter occupied Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, & (with Italy) Greece. Went on towards the USSR. Occupied 3 million men on a 2,000 mile long front. Moved amazingly quickly. Got within 25 miles of Moscow. Great Battle of Moscow. Red Army undertook massive counteroffensive. A bitter winter took its toll. Hitler took over direct command of the military in 1942 and ordered push into southern USSR to reach the oil fields. He mobilized the German economy to fight in this unexpectedly protracted conflict. |
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| : Brits had stomped Italians in N. Africa in 1940-1 but then ROMMEL'S elite AFRIKA KORPS went into action and re-took all the lost territory - driving Brits back to EL ALAMEIN, 70miles from Alexandria. Brits thus had backs to the Suez Canal. Knew they had to make a stand. Couldn't lose that link. Was great concern that the Axis armies might make it south down from Caucausus Mts. and enclose Britain in a vise. Brits able to hold their stand there until later relieved by Operation Torch. |
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| Japanese prime minister during WW II. Japanese had been fighting for territory in China for past 10 years. Expanded in Indochina during early years of war since Vichy govt not objecting. Said wanted to eliminate influence of U.S. and Brit from Asia. Send negotiators to Washington but on Dec 7, 1941 also sent bombers to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Then took Philippines, Guam, Midway, Hong Kong and Malaysia. ALL THIS ORDERED BY TOJO |
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| US and GB declared wa on Japan. Italy and Germany declared war on US |
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| Early in 1943 Japanese troops went overland through the Malaysian jungle and took Singapore(British Naval base). Had been thought to be impregnable - the Gibraltar of the East. The Japanese invasion of S.E. Asia found many ready collaborateurs - Asians sick of European imperialism. |
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| greater east asia co-prosperity sphere |
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| Japanese fostered collaboration by promising this arrangement under Japanese leadership. The uniting factor was the ejection of European whites from a dominant position. |
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| Early in 1942, Hitler appointed Speer in charge of coordinating labor and resources in Germany. He was an organizational genius. In 2 years he tripled the armaments production. |
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YEAR OF DISMAY - JAPANESE & AXIS CLOSE TO SUCCESS - BUT......
DID NOT COORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES. |
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| In 1942 the US and GB pooled their resources. This was the first time two sovereign states had formed so intimate a coalition. In CONTRAST with WW I an overal strategy was in effect from an early date. Decided to focus on Germany first. Australia became the base of operations against the Japanese. US was still rather slow in mobilization. |
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| Naval and air victories won by the allies in Spring of 1942. Summer of 1942 the Americans landed at Guadalcanal(island in Pacific occupied by Japanese) and began island-hopping towards Japan. |
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| This was against the German U-Boats again. With help of American destroyers - reduced them to tolerable proportions. Convoy system made it easier to move the troops and continued supplies over by early 1943. Assault on Germany to be staged from Great Britain and starting with air battle/bombardment. Began with the bombing of German cities. |
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| (On Volga R. - Southern USSR) In 1942 German forces were massing an attack on Stalingrad which was the key to transportation onf the lower Volga River. Stalin said to army to hold it at all costs. Hitler ordered his troops to take it at all costs. Red Army led a counterattack under General Zhukov - crushed the Germans and began a westward drive. Russians on the offensive thereafter. Stalingrad a turning point. NOTE: Soviet Union lost more men at Stalingrad than US lost in whole of WW II - all theaters. |
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| Late in 1942 Eisenhower led amphibious invasion (Operation Torch) of Algeria and Morocco. Tried to get French assistance - appealed to Darlan of the Vichy govt (this very controversial since Vichy govt collaborated with Germany. Darlan was assassinated so Allies working more closely with De Gaulle of the Free French movt. Eisenhower’s men moved Eastward across N. Africa and General Montgomery's men moved Westward from El Alamein thus putting pressure from both sides on ROMMEL'S AFRIKA CORPS which was eventually crushed in Tunisia. Thus the Mediterranean was opened up again and the threat to Egypt and Suez was over by May of 1943. |
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| Located in Poland. Most notorious of German "Death Camps" which were part of "Final Solution" decided on at Wannsee. At its peak, Auschwitz killed 12,000 Jews per day. There were many others: Dachau in southern Germany, Buchenwald in central Germany, Bergen-Belsen in northern Germany, Mauthausen in Austria, Treblinka and Sobibor in Poland, and more. Approximately 6 million Jews(2/3 of Europe's Jewish population) died in this "Holocaust." Some 1.5 million of these victims were children. In addition, many Poles, Russians, slavs and Gypsies were also victims of the death camps. NOTE: Initially prisoners who were healthy enough were used as slave labor to help in the war effort. When a worker became non-productive he/she was killed. Towards the end of the war as the liberating armies were approaching the Nazis began killing surviving in-mates. Many were hastily shipped to the killing camps such as Auschwitz where the facilities could deal with large numbers on a daily basis. (See movie Schindler's List - to be viewed later) |
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| Entrusted by Hitler with administration of the "Final Solution" to the Jewish Question. Head of SS (Gestapo) which oversaw the Death Camps. |
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| Allies won great victory at this battle in the Pacific near the Philippines in October 1944. |
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| Japanese Island, 300 miles from mainland. Captured by American forces just as German forces collapsing in Spring of 1945 in Europe. From newly won bases such as this and Saipan and Iowa Jima and from aircraft carriers in Pacific, the Americans began a campaign of heavy bombing of Japanese mainland. |
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| In the invasion of N. Africa the allies did not received help from N. African French. Appealed to the then Vichy political leader, Darlan, who assisted by assuming control. However, he was assassinated. There then followed some competition for French leadership. A French Liberation Committee was established in Algiers. CHARLES DE GAULLE moved up in status as leader of the Free French. |
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| leader of the Free French. |
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| : July-August of 1943. Brit, Canadian and American forces took Sicily. Mussolini fell and the 21 year old Fascist regime came to an end in Italy. Mussolini tried to form an Italian Social Republic in the northern part of Italy which had not yet been defeated/liberated - but it was nothing more than a puppet of Hitler's. In April of 1945, while Mussolini was trying to flee the invading forces of Allies, he was caught, shot and strung up by anti-Fascist Italians. |
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| After Fascist govt collapsed in 1943 this individual led the new Italian govt and tried to make peace with the Allies. Hitler's army still occupied northern Italy and in October Badoglio's govt declared war on Germany and came to be recognized as a co-belligerant (fighting with) of the Allies. The Front became stuck just South of Rome because many of the allied troops were then moved to Britain to prepare for the invasion. |
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| June 6, 1944. This was a very carefully planned operation under the command of General Eisenhower. False intelligence reports led the Germans to expect the landings to be at Calais. In fact, they came at several locations on the Normandy coast. 130,000 troops landed on D-Day itself with waves more following on subsequent days. Some 1 million arrived in the first month. Paris was liberated by August and by September allied troops had crossed into German territory. |
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| In France, Italy and Belgium members of these movements, which had undertaken espionage and sabotage of the German occupation forces, came out into open resistance of the Germans and collaborateurs with Germans. There was no widespread resistance movement to Hitler in Germany itself though one underground network did attempt to assassinate him in 1944... |
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| Small German underground plotted against Hitler and planted a bomb in his military HQ in Prussia. The plot failed and Hitler took brutal revenge on any he thought associated with the plot. |
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| The planned genocide of the Jewish people in response to the Jewish Question considered at Wannsee Conference in January 1942. The Holocaust gathered in intensity towards the end of the war as Jewish slave laborers became less productive and the war economy began to unravel. |
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| In the Belgian sector of the front in the Ardennes Forest, the Germans, under Hitler's direct orders attempted to break out into an offensive against the allies in December of 1944. They had selected a thinly held American section of the line and appeared to make headway leading to heavy losses and confusion. But allies recovered and continued moving forces eastward into Germany. |
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| Strategy was to maintain a bombing campaign of German cities to help wear down German resistance. The bombing of this city was organized so as to create a massive fire. Some 50,000 civilians were killed there in February of 1945. |
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| rising of the polish underground |
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| . However, the Soviet army did not want the liberation to be by non-Communist peoples and refused the give the uprising any support. It was therefore crushed by the remaining Nazis. The loss of Polish life in WW II was severe. Indeed, they seemed to have been martyred by both sides. In post-war years it was revealed that.. |
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| the early stages of the war when the Nazi forces advanced across Poland towards Russia, the Soviet army had gathered 12,000 offices from the Polish army and massacred and buried them in a forest in Poland as they retreated. |
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| In March 1945 the Allies found an intact bridge over the River Rhine and established a bridgehead there. These were the first troops to cross the Rhine since those of Napoleon. |
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| Was designated as Hitler's successor and went through the surrender process to the Allied forces (after Hitler's suicide in the bunker in Berlin) on May 8th, 1945. |
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| On August 6, 1945 the Americans(then under presidency of Harry Truman) dropped the first Atomic Bomb on this Japanese city which contained the nation's army headquarters and munitions - killing 78,000 people and injuring 50,000 others. Two days later the Soviets declared war on Japan and entered Manchuria. On August 9th a second bomb was dropped on the Japanese industrial and shipbuilding city of Nagasaki. Japan then surrendered unconditionally. The emperor was allowed to remain head of state but a U.S. army of occupation was established. |
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| In 1941 FDR and Churchill met at sea off the coast of Newfoundland to plan strategy and post-war actions. They negotiated in the spirit of the Fourteen Points - sovereign rights, self-government, equal access to world trade and resources, improved standard of living and economic security. They wanted to end the use of force and aggression in international affairs. Thus they proclaimed the ideological basis for peace. |
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| In January of 1943, following allied invasion of N. Africa, FDR and Churchill met in Casablanca in French Morocco. Agreed would accept nothing but unconditional surrender of Axis powers. Intended to avoid ambiguity surrounding armistice of 1918. Criticized later of taking this stance, but probably had little impact on events since the prolonged German resistance was because of Hitler's obstinacy, not the Casablanca Conference. This agreement was also done to reassure the Soviets that the Allies would not make a separate peace with Hitler. |
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| In December 1943, FDR, Churchill and Stalin (for first time) met in the first of two meetings to discuss postwar occupation and demilitarization of Germany, plan postwar international organization and debate war strategy. FDR wanted to postpone postwar political/territorial decisions but Churchill more apprehensive about Russians - recognized Soviet dominance over Eastern Europe and concerned by impact on Balance of Power. Being European, likely that he was simply more sensitive to BoP politics than FDR. Churchill had wanted an invasion through the Mediterranean, FDR said it should be cross-Channel and Stalin promised to pursue and Eastern front simultaneously. THUS SOVIETS HAD AN "IN." |
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In February of 1945 when Allies close to victory FDR, Churchill and Stalin met at Yalta in the Crimea. FDR acted as the "mediator" between Churchill and Stalin. (FDR was suspicious of Churchill's imperialistic ties. )
-Stalin agreed to enter war against Japan after Germany defeated (A-Bomb not yet
complete in Manhattan Project.)
-In return, Soviets would acquire Southern half of Sakhalin Island, Kurile Islands ,
a sphere of influence in Manchuria, and an occupation zone in N. Korea.
-Defeated Germany to be in 4 occupation zones - U.S., Brit, French and Soviet.
-Agreed on voting procedures in Security Council of new United Nations with
five permanent members (US,GB, Fr, Soviets and China - each with veto power).
-Stalin agreed to let some of London Poles(been in exile) into Communist govt of
Poland -( let in but outnumbered and no free elections.)
-Agreed on text of DECLARATION ON LIBERATED EUROPE - postwar govts to be
established on basis of FREE ELECTIONS. (HOWEVER, STALIN WOULD DISREGARD). |
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| declarations on liberated europe |
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post war gov'ts to be established on basis of FREE ELECTIONS
- from yalta conf |
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| All at Yalta agreed to this . Great powers would provide an international police to preserve peace and security. Great Powers would be on the security council and permanent members with veto power. Soviets wanted 16 votes in the General Assembly, 1 for each of 16 Republics but a compromised was reached. There were to be 3 each for Britain (and its Dominions) and Russia (and its Republics). |
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| Russian/Polish or Eastern Boundary of Poland set (as in 1919) at Yalta. Poles compensated in North and West at expense of Germany. |
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| Plan to transform industrial Germany back into 18th century pastoral economy. This plan was conceived in 1944 by an American but discarded at Yalta. It is important as symptomatic of the desire to disarm Germany. |
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July 1945 - after the German collapse - Truman(FDR had died), Attlee(Churchill lost election in midst of conference to Attlee) and Stalin. It was now evident that there were deeper disagreements between the Soviets and the other Allies.
-Did reach agreements on demilitarization, disarmament, de-Nazification and war crimes trials.
-Each power to take reparations from its respective zones of occupation with extra going to the Soviets because of their tremendous losses.
-Four Power Allied Control Council to set policies in Germany - didn't function and
each power set policy in own zone.
-Agreed should sign separate peace treaties with former German satellite states.
-Negotiations to be handled by Foreign Minister of US,GB, Fr., S.U. and China. ->
stormy negotiations -> new age of crisis.
ODER-NEISE BOUNDARY: Also decided at Potsdam *. German territory east of the Oder-Neisse boundary(rivers) was to be given to Poland. Thus Poland extended 100 miles west in compensation for Russian W/ward expansion at Poland's expense. German E. Prussia was divided between Soviets in North and Poland in South. |
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| Also decided at Potsdam *. German territory east of the Oder-Neisse boundary(rivers) was to be given to Poland. Thus Poland extended 100 miles west in compensation for Russian W/ward expansion at Poland's expense. German E. Prussia was divided between Soviets in North and Poland in South. |
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| Had been previously called Konigsberg (old city founded by Teutonic Knights.) Now, according to the Oder-Neisse Boundary decision at Potsdam, this was part of Russian territory and was renamed Kaliningrad. |
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Definition
| and Wroclaw - new Polish cities originally called Stettin and Breslau. Were part of old German state, now Polish. Also, Danzig was transferred from German hands to Polish and became Gdansk. |
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Term
| declaration on liberated europe |
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Definition
| In 1945 at Yalta this declaration stated that Provisional Govts would be set up in liberated areas and to be followed by FREE ELECTIONS promising sovereign rights and self-determination. Actually gave a false sense of agreement since reality was that Stalin would not agree to international supervision of elections and subsequently made sure that East European states formed Soviet-style govts. |
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Term
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Definition
| sudetan germany with Romania and Yugoslavia. |
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