The Yalta conference was seen as a big positive for the
citizens of European nations, and the general response to the decisions indicated
optimism for the future of the continent. From an American perspective, the
partnership between Roosevelt and Stalin seemed to promise that the “wartime
cooperation” would continue into the post-war period. However, this hope was
soon to be extinguished due to passing of Roosevelt on April 12, 1945. His
death brought Harry S. Truman into power, and the change in leadership presented
a personality clash between the U.S president and the Russian Premier. Because
of Truman’s inability to work easily with Stalin, many Americans began to doubt
Roosevelt’s prior work on their agreements at Yalta which led to uncertainty
about the future of Europe. Some U.S dignitaries even said that “the reason why
China resorted to Communism was because of Yalta”.
Because German had been divided into four areas and had been punished for its war crimes, Stalin kept his word and sent his armies into war against Japan only two days after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The support given to the Allies by Soviet troops sped up the surrender of Japanese forces but this could not stop the war extending another two years. Again, this angered the allies and resulted in further distrust of Stalin by U.S patriots. But due to his commitment Stalin was granted a large influence of the newly appointed Polish government as promised at Yalta, and he took advantage of the situation and seized authority over their elections. Historian Christopher Andrew believed that Stalin out-negotiated both Churchill and Roosevelt at Yalta in terms of the Polish issue, stating “The problem which occupied most time at Yalta was the future of Poland. Having already conceded Soviet dominance of Poland at Tehran, Roosevelt and Churchill made a belated attempt to secure the restoration of Polish parliamentary democracy and a guarantee of free elections”.
And it was the controversy that hung over the Polish status which led to the falling out of U.S and U.S.S.R and that mistrust is what is believed to have sparked the crisis that was known to be the Cold War in the years shortly following this incident. Stalin’s control over Poland which included an established Communist government was viewed as a power-play to boost the popularity of Russia’s methods and to ensure that other nations saw Communism as a step forward. But Churchill and Roosevelt did not conceive this idea as positive, and rather took it as an opportunity to undermine Poland in an attempt to put his own beliefs on a pedestal. Roosevelt could not reverse the Russian leader’s presence in Poland however, and this provoked many into saying that he had failed in his duties to bring free elections to the nation which “forced the two into battle”.
However, not all of the consequences of the Yalta conference were controversial. The formation of the United Nations on the 24th of October 1945 was possibly the greatest achievement of the meeting. Although the declaration of the U.N had occurred three years earlier, the inclusion of the U.S.S.R was immense for the popularity of the agreement as far as the Communists view. But, like other agreements that emerged from Yalta this also weakened due to the tensions of the Cold War. However, the fact that the organisation stands strong to this day is a testament to its original stability when formed after the conference.
Because German had been divided into four areas and had been punished for its war crimes, Stalin kept his word and sent his armies into war against Japan only two days after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The support given to the Allies by Soviet troops sped up the surrender of Japanese forces but this could not stop the war extending another two years. Again, this angered the allies and resulted in further distrust of Stalin by U.S patriots. But due to his commitment Stalin was granted a large influence of the newly appointed Polish government as promised at Yalta, and he took advantage of the situation and seized authority over their elections. Historian Christopher Andrew believed that Stalin out-negotiated both Churchill and Roosevelt at Yalta in terms of the Polish issue, stating “The problem which occupied most time at Yalta was the future of Poland. Having already conceded Soviet dominance of Poland at Tehran, Roosevelt and Churchill made a belated attempt to secure the restoration of Polish parliamentary democracy and a guarantee of free elections”.
And it was the controversy that hung over the Polish status which led to the falling out of U.S and U.S.S.R and that mistrust is what is believed to have sparked the crisis that was known to be the Cold War in the years shortly following this incident. Stalin’s control over Poland which included an established Communist government was viewed as a power-play to boost the popularity of Russia’s methods and to ensure that other nations saw Communism as a step forward. But Churchill and Roosevelt did not conceive this idea as positive, and rather took it as an opportunity to undermine Poland in an attempt to put his own beliefs on a pedestal. Roosevelt could not reverse the Russian leader’s presence in Poland however, and this provoked many into saying that he had failed in his duties to bring free elections to the nation which “forced the two into battle”.
However, not all of the consequences of the Yalta conference were controversial. The formation of the United Nations on the 24th of October 1945 was possibly the greatest achievement of the meeting. Although the declaration of the U.N had occurred three years earlier, the inclusion of the U.S.S.R was immense for the popularity of the agreement as far as the Communists view. But, like other agreements that emerged from Yalta this also weakened due to the tensions of the Cold War. However, the fact that the organisation stands strong to this day is a testament to its original stability when formed after the conference.