World War II: The Grand Alliance

The Grand Alliance

• Formed in 1941 to defeat Nazi Germany, consisting of Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union
• Leaders of these countries met three times: Tehran (1943), Yalta (1945), and Potsdam (1945)

Countries Involved

• Britain: a democracy led by Churchill, at war with Germany since 1939
• USA: a democracy led by Roosevelt, at war with Germany and Japan since December 1941
• Soviet Union: a communist one-party state led by Stalin, at war with Germany since 1941

Tehran Conference (November-December 1943)

• The USA and Britain agreed to open up a second front by invading Nazi-occupied Europe

Yalta Conference (February 1945)

• Germany, when defeated, would be reduced in size, divided, and demilitarized
• Germany would have to pay reparations
• The Soviet Union would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated
• Europe would be rebuilt along the lines of the Atlantic Charter
• Countries would have democratic elections
• The UN (United Nations) would be set up
• Poland would be in the 'Soviet sphere of influence' but run on a broader democratic basis

Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)

• A Council of Foreign Ministers was set up to organize the rebuilding of Europe
• The Nazi Party was banned and war criminals were to be prosecuted
• Germany was to be reduced in size and divided into four zones of occupation run by Britain, France, the USA, and the Soviet Union
• Berlin was also to be divided up into zones of occupation
• The Soviet Union was to receive 25% of the output from the other three occupied zones