The WWII Conferences (Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam)

The Tehran Conference
Tehran, Iran; November 28–December 1, 1943

The leaders of the Big Three (FDR, Churchill, Stalin) met to discuss the opening of a "second front" in western Europe. Stalin wanted the opening of a second front in Europe in order to lessen his burdens to fight and maintain the eastern front against Germany. However, both Roosevelt and Churchill were hesitant about committing their ground troops to fight as they feared the same consequences and losses faced during the First World War.

Discussion was also focused on the matter of dividing the territories in Europe. Stalin wanted to keep Eastern Europe as a Soviet sphere of influence, which was agreed upon. Stalin was given a part of Eastern Poland, and Poland was granted a part of Germany in exchange. The Poles weren’t informed or had any say in the decision as they weren't present at the conference. The three leaders were uncertain about how to deal with Germany, Poland, and possibly the creation of a postwar international organization.

The Yalta Conference
Yalta, Crimea; February 1945

This was the second conference between the three leaders: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. They met as the war was winding down, and the Allies seemed to be in position for victory. It was here that they agreed upon demanding unconditional surrender from Germany as well as the four zones of occupation within the country. It was decided that the four zones of Germany would be controlled by the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and France.

During this conference, Stalin also agreed to hold free elections in Eastern Europe to allow each country to decide whether or not they wanted a communist leadership. However, this promise would later be broken during the early stages of the Cold War. He also agreed to enter the Pacific war to support the United States against Japan. A meeting was scheduled for April in San Francisco to create the United Nations.

The Potsdam Conference
Potsdam, Germany; July 17–August 2, 1945

This was the last conference between the Big Three. The leaders present were Stalin, newly elected President Truman, and Churchill (who was later replaced by Clement Attlee). Here, an "unconditional surrender" declaration was drafted for Germany and Japan. Most of the discussion focused around the conditions of postwar Europe, such as the German economy and industry, Soviet expansion of borders, and others. Reparations for Germany were also figured out, and it was agreed that the Western zone of Germany would exchange for raw materials from the East as payment.

Truman went into this conference with knowledge of the first successful atomic bomb test, so even though he continued to solicit Stalin's help in the War in the Pacific, he knew that regardless of whether or not Stalin agreed to help, the bomb would give American unprecedented power in defeated Japan and also controlling the Pacific sphere.

Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Tehran-Conference
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/potsdam-conference
http://schoolshistory.org.uk/topics/world-history/cold-war-1945-1972/tehran-yalta-and-potsdam-conferences/