Potsdam Conference, 1945
On July 16, 1945 the leaders of the US (President Truman), The Soviet Union (Joseph Stalin), and Great Britain (Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Atlee) met in Potsdam, Germany to discuss post-war arrangements.
A major of result of the conference was the Potsdam Agreement which divided Germany up into four pieces which were to be ruled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France and their respective military leaders. They also formed the Allied Council Control to collectively decide on matters regarding Germany as a whole. They leaders agreed on new rule systems for Germany, worked to restore the country and abolish Nazi ideals. The other major result of this conference was a joint declaration between the US, Great Britain, and China, who were the main powers fighting Japan at the time. The declaration was known as the Potsdam Declaration. The declaration called for the immediate surrender of Japan, or else "prompt and utter destruction" was insured. "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction." -Potsdam Declaration, 1945 Emperor Hirohito declared the surrendering of Japan shortly after the Potsdam declaration. |