The Potsdam Conference part II
The meeting of the Allied powers outside Berlin in the spring of 1948 would prove to be the decisive moment for post-war Europe. With the war against the Soviet Union no longer being a grand conflict, but instead it had turned into small skirmishes and a question of removing the last few pockets of resistance, the Allies now had the time and possibility to look forward to a new world and a new Europe.
Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam where the conference between the Allied powers were held
The German mayor of Berlin and de facto leader of the German “government” Konrad Adenauer was not willing to wait any longer. Having insisted upon a solution to the “German Problem” as it had been dubbed by the French, Adenauer had managed to get the Norwegian PM to agree to summon a closed conference of the Big Three and Adenauer where the German would be allowed to explain his plans for a self-govern, post-war Germany. President Truman had been a strong supporter of increased German self-government and during the last months of 1947 it became clear to the world that Washington was leaning towards Adenauer’s position, a free, sovereign Germany.
Also from Oslo the signals had become more and more clear, Nygaardsvold and his government were determined upon getting a solution to the German issues, also the fact that Norway now had the responsibility for an enormous occupation zone in the Soviet Union drained much resources from the German zone, and facing economic troubles if the country was to continue to support both zones it had become more and more necessary for the Norwegians to get a solution to the German issues. For Winston Churchill hearing the thoughts about a free Germany was something the he didn’t fully agree to. Having fought Germany two times during the last 30 years Churchill had great fears about what a could happen if the Germans were allowed to govern themselves once again. Therefore it was the British position that needed to be altered by Adenauer when he meet the Allied three in a secret meeting late the first day of the Potsdam conference.
Adenauer made many valid points about the German situation and he managed to convince Churchill that Adenauer was something new; he was a democratic statesman in Germany. Still Churchill upheld his doubts. Having no interest in a new war also Nygaardsvold was a little feared by the thoughts of a new, strong Germany, but having already insisted that the new German state would get a new constitution and would be very different from the Germany created from Versailles Nygaardsvold although sceptical, thought that something could be arranged. Even Truman feared a new militaristic Germany, but the American president didn’t see the fear as a problem, but instead as a challenge. Insisting that Germany be given a new federal constitution, where the central government wouldn’t be able to become as powerful as it had been under Hitler, Truman also wanted to make sure that referendums were made illegal, a strong federal supreme court would be created to defend the constitution and all right and left wing extremist parties should be banned. Also to make sure that both Germany and Europe would be strong in the future Truman pledged to Churchill and Nygaardsvold that this time the USA wouldn’t withdraw into “splendid isolation” instead Truman would create permanent American bases and garrisons in Germany. But in the end it was the last thing Truman promised the Europeans that made Churchill agree to make sure that the US would keep its promises and to bring Europe and America closer together Truman proposed to keep the alliance together and create a permanent, new alliance. The alliance would be open to membership from all members of the Allies, it would have its headquarters in Europe, but it would be a world organization that would defend Europe and continue the strong links between the USA and Europe, considering the fact that most of the Allied members shared a common link to the Atlantic Ocean, Truman proposed calling the new security organization, the Atlantic Treaty Organization. Considering that facts that the new Germany would be very different from the one of the inter-war period and listening to the American promises in the end Churchill agreed, now it was just a question of convincing the rest of the conference.
The next morning the Germany issue was the main issue of the day. The French horrified by the rumours that Europe might once again see a sovereign and free German state had been trying all morning to get someone in the American delegation to talk and confirm that it was only rumours. But as the morning hours passed by and no one had stated that the rumours were only rumours the French were beginning to walk around fearing the worst. Some were even talking about withdrawing all French support for the war if it turned out that Germany would be given self-government. Churchill hearing about the threats from the French delegation decided that enough was enough and marched straight into the offices of the French PM Daladier and made it very clear what he thought about the French position:
"This is totally unacceptable. You bloody frogs always try to create trouble for the rest of the world. It is bloody well about time you get your garlic ridden noses up and start understanding the realities of the world… The German question will be solved today one way or the other, and you can decided if you want to be a part of the new world, or if you just want to linger in your fantasies about the old!”
Winston Churchill made strong and angry remarks towards the French and their negotiation position. Although Churchill’s words were not very diplomatic there were many who thought they were correct
Daladier shocked by the outburst from the British PM couldn’t get himself to say anything, he just stood there looking shocked at Churchill, until Churchill turned around and marched out. The news about the British outburst was quickly the main subject all around the conference area, fearing that this could mean the end to the conference without anything having been done, President Truman was quick to visit the French delegation and try to get the French back into the conference. What was said by the American during the meeting with the French was never made public, but it soon became clear that it had worked. Three hours later the French were back around the conference table and when the question of German self-government was debated Daladier, although he objected to it, didn’t work against it and in the end even the French agreed seeing as there was nothing else they could. Adenauer had won; Germany would once again become a free, sovereign, self-govern state.
The new German State was moved west, and would become the centre of the Post-War European continent.
The rumours about what was said between the American and French leader in private were many, and as time developed they became more and more imaginative. Still the best clue was probably given by Truman himself many years later when he commented upon the decision to test the Manhattan Project on real targets.
Enough was enough. It had to be done to save the lives of many good American servicemen. It was either them or a question of creating a new lake in the Seine…”
The truth about what was said was however many told to the public as the two leaders had promised never to tell.
After the difficult issue about Germany had been addressed and solved, it was much easier to get the Allies to agree on the next matters on the agenda, the question of the war against the Soviet Union. It was made very clear that all the states would pledge themselves to continue the war until victory had been secured, and in a rare showing of common understanding the French even offered to send 5 new divisions to the east front to aid in the operations currently ongoing in the Far East and east of the Ural mountains.
Then the conference move on to Eastern-European matters. It had already been reached an understanding that Czechoslovakia would get her eastern provinces back, also it was talks about liberating Poland, something Churchill found very satisfying seeing as Poland was the reason the Allies had gone to war with Germany in the first case. Nygaardsvold had recently held talks with his Swedish college, and the Swedes had managed to convince the PM that something needed to be done also with the Baltic States. Addressing the matter at the conference, it was quickly picked up by the Belgian delegation, always one to favour smaller, sovereign states.
When Nygaardsvold then also linked the Finnish question to the Baltic States he got the full backing from the Finnish leader Mannerheim and all the delegations from the smaller members of the Allies agreed. As the Turkish delegate would state, the gallant small northern countries deserved their freedom. Wanting to brand himself as defender of the free world, Truman was also convinced and it was agreed in the afternoon of the 5th day of the conference that a new Eastern-Europe would be the goal, a new Eastern-Europe filled with free, sovereign states. However as Churchill was quick to state, there was little that could be done about Eastern-Europe until the Soviet Union had surrendered and the people were fully free from the communist threat once and for all. Because of this it was decided that the freedom of the Eastern-European nations was to be one of the main goals after the Soviet Union had surrendered and the Allies could take full control of the areas without having to fear communist uprising, riots or disturbance planned by the Soviet authorities. A new Eastern-Europe couldn’t be created until one was 100% certain that the countries would be able to survive for themselves, still true some last minute intervening from Truman it was agreed to liberate Finland, Hungary, Albania and Austria as all these nations were self-sufficient nations that had been under Allied control long enough to establish democratic governments and bright futures as free nations.
The last issues on the conference agenda were Truman’s proposals for the new world organization and the new alliance. Addressing the organization first, all the countries present and several more neutral and friendly countries from all around the world agreed to set up the new world organization. It was agreed that its headquarters should be situated in the USA and the negotiations about the treaty of the organization would begin one month later, Truman would managed to do with his United Nations what Wilson had been unable to do with the League of Nations, create a world organization where the USA would be a full, committed member and one that would help increase security and peace in the world.
The US delegate signing the UN charter with President Harry S. Truman watching
As the conference came to an end after long days and nights in Potsdam, much had been achieved. The most difficult matter had been the German problem, but after hard negotiations and much bad feelings and words, and agreement had been reached. The East-European issues had been talked about, and a new Europe would be created after the war. Also the fact that agreement had been reach on the creation of the United Nations made President Truman especially proud, and as he stated to his Secretary of State Dean Acheson:
”It has been though and hard, but by god we have done it. We have managed to get the world to agree and unite. Let us pray this will show the world that peace and not war is the best way to secure common understanding, friendship and peace!”
