Conference of Potsdam

The Potsdam Conference, held in July 1945 near Berlin, was a meeting between Allied leaders—U.S. President Truman, Soviet Premier Stalin, and British Prime Minister Churchill (later replaced by Attlee). They discussed how to manage defeated Germany after World War II, including its demilitarization, occupation zones, and reparations. They also addressed the future of Eastern Europe and the establishment of post-war peace arrangements. The conference marked a shift in Allied cooperation, especially with tensions emerging between the U.S. and USSR, foreshadowing the Cold War. It was a crucial step in shaping the post-war world order.