How did the wartime conferences shape post-WWII Europe?

The wartime conferences significantly shaped post-WWII Europe by determining political boundaries and establishing the United Nations.

The conferences held during World War II, namely the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam conferences, played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of post-war Europe. These meetings, attended by the leaders of the Allied powers, were instrumental in deciding the fate of the nations involved in the war, and their decisions had far-reaching implications for the future of Europe.

The Tehran Conference in 1943 was the first meeting between the 'Big Three' - Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill. The conference focused on opening a second front against Nazi Germany to alleviate pressure on the Soviet Union. However, it also laid the groundwork for post-war Europe, with the leaders agreeing to maintain the independence and territorial integrity of all nations.

The Yalta Conference in February 1945, held as the war was nearing its end, saw the leaders discuss the reorganisation of Europe. They agreed on the division of Germany into four zones of occupation, each controlled by one of the major Allied powers. They also decided on the 'Declaration of Liberated Europe', which promised free elections and democratic governments in the nations freed from Nazi control. This conference also saw the initial discussions about the formation of the United Nations.

The Potsdam Conference in July-August 1945, held after Germany's surrender, finalised the decisions made at Yalta. The leaders confirmed the division of Germany and Austria into four zones. They also agreed on the prosecution of Nazi war criminals and the demilitarisation and denazification of Germany. The conference also saw the leaders discuss the reparation payments to be made by Germany.

However, the conferences also sowed the seeds of the Cold War. The decisions made, particularly at Yalta and Potsdam, led to tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. The division of Germany and Berlin, the issue of free elections in Eastern Europe, and the disagreement over reparations and economic policies in Germany were all contentious issues that contributed to the onset of the Cold War.

In conclusion, the wartime conferences were instrumental in shaping post-WWII Europe. They determined the political boundaries of Europe, established the United Nations, and set the stage for the Cold War.