Glenn Flickinger marks the 80th anniversary of the Yalta Conference with a conversation with experts and historians. Yalta was held from February 4 to 11, 1945, and it was a pivotal meeting during World War II between the Allied leaders: Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. Taking place in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea, the conference aimed to address the post-war reorganization of Europe and establish a framework for lasting peace.
By early 1945, the defeat of Nazi Germany was imminent. Allied forces were advancing on multiple fronts, with the Red Army pushing through Eastern Europe and the Western Allies moving toward Germany from the west. The conference’s primary objectives were to ensure coordinated military strategy in the final stages of the war, decide on the political future of liberated countries, and establish mechanisms to prevent future conflicts.
The leaders agreed to divide Germany into four occupation zones controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and, later, France. Berlin, situated in the Soviet zone, would also be split into four sectors. Stalin sought to secure Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, which was a contentious issue. The Allies agreed that Poland’s borders would be shifted westward, with the Soviet Union annexing eastern Polish territories. In return, Stalin promised free elections in Poland and other Eastern European countries, though this commitment was later undermined. Plans for the establishment of the United Nations (UN) were finalized, with agreements on the structure of the UN Security Council, including veto power for its five permanent members: the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Stalin also pledged that the Soviet Union would enter the war against Japan within three months of Germany’s surrender. In exchange, the Soviet Union was promised territorial gains, including southern Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and influence in Manchuria. Additionally, the conference produced a declaration committing the Allies to support democratic institutions and free elections in liberated nations, though the interpretation and implementation of this agreement varied, particularly in Eastern Europe.
The Yalta Conference laid the groundwork for the post-war geopolitical order, but it also sowed the seeds of the Cold War. The division of Germany and Berlin set the stage for the eventual establishment of East and West Germany. The Allied Control Council was created to administer Germany jointly, but growing tensions between the Soviet Union and Western Allies led to increasing division. Stalin’s influence over Eastern Europe grew rapidly after the conference. Despite promises of free elections, communist governments were installed in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and other countries, creating a Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc. The resolution of the Polish question was a source of lasting tension. The Western Allies’ acceptance of Soviet demands alienated the Polish government-in-exile in London and led to widespread dissatisfaction among Poles.
The creation of the United Nations was a significant achievement, providing a forum for international diplomacy and conflict resolution. However, the Security Council’s veto system reflected the power dynamics of the major Allied nations and limited the organization’s ability to act decisively during the Cold War. The differing visions of the United States and the Soviet Union for post-war Europe became evident at Yalta. While the United States and the United Kingdom emphasized self-determination and democratic governance, the Soviet Union prioritized security through territorial expansion and the establishment of friendly regimes in its sphere of influence. These conflicting priorities contributed to the ideological divide that defined the Cold War.
The Yalta Conference has been criticized for its perceived concessions to Stalin, particularly regarding Poland and Eastern Europe. Critics argue that Roosevelt and Churchill underestimated Stalin’s ambitions or were in a weak negotiating position due to the Red Army’s dominance in Eastern Europe. Others contend that the agreements reflected the realities of power on the ground and that the Allies had limited leverage to influence Soviet actions. Despite its controversies, the conference was a landmark in shaping the modern world. It demonstrated the complexities of coalition diplomacy and the challenges of balancing competing interests in a time of global upheaval. The agreements reached at Yalta influenced the political landscape of Europe for decades and highlighted the difficulties of securing lasting peace in the aftermath of war.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!
