Yalta, Potsdam and the collapse of the Grand Alliance

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Historical Perspectives

Orthodox -> Blames USSR (USSR devious & determined) Revisionism -> Blames USA (communism in Europe deprived USA)

The Grand Alliance

In June 1941 Germany invaded the USSR. In Dec 1941, after Japans attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbour, Germany declared War on the USA. This created the 'Grand Alliance'. Germany & Russia had formed a non-aggression pact in Aug 1939 (even though Nazism & ideological communism were direct opposites). In Aug 1942 Roosevelt & Churchill had signed the Atlantic Charter & thereby committed the Western powers to a post-war world based on self-determination, peace & prosperity & democracy. In Jan 1942 these principals were reinforced through the Declaration of the United Nations. The USSR was one of the signatories.

The Yalta Conference, 4-11th Feb 1945

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