Define the following terms: Yalta Conference

Question

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The Answer is The Yalta Conference was a pivotal meeting during World War II between the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. Held from February 4 to 11, 1945, in the city of Yalta, Crimea, the conference brought together U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin.

The primary purpose of the Yalta Conference was to discuss the reorganization of post-war Europe following the anticipated defeat of Nazi Germany. The leaders sought to address issues related to the occupation of Germany, the borders of post-war European countries, and the establishment of the United Nations, an international organization aimed at maintaining peace and security.

Key agreements made at the Yalta Conference included:

1. The division of Germany into four occupation zones, each controlled by one of the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and France.

2. The agreement that Berlin, the German capital, would also be divided into four occupation zones.

3. The confirmation of the establishment of the United Nations, with the agreement that a conference to set up the organization would be held in San Francisco in April 1945.

4. The agreement that the Soviet Union would enter the war against Japan within three months of Germany's surrender, in return for territorial concessions in Asia, including the southern part of Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands.

5. The declaration of liberated Europe, which outlined a vision for democratic governments with free elections in all liberated countries and territories.

6. The discussion of the post-war treatment of Germany, including demilitarization, denazification, and reparations.

The Yalta Conference set the stage for the geopolitical landscape of the post-war world, but it also sowed the seeds of future tensions that would eventually lead to the Cold War. The agreements made at Yalta, particularly those concerning the fate of Eastern European countries, were subject to different interpretations by the Soviets and the Western Allies, leading to disputes and mistrust as the war came to an end.

Define the Following Terms: Yalta Conference