Potsdam
Early on Churchill overcomes a certain fear and respect for Stalins expansion desires. He foresees the expansion of the Soviet influence in Europe and tries for a long time to convince the Americans of an invasion of the Balkans. I vain. With the end of the Nazi regime approaching he intensifies in several letters to Harry S. Truman, who is heir to the deceased Theodore Roosevelt as a President of the United States, the request for another meeting of the great three, to hold Stalin at bay. Truman also realizes the substantial change of tone and the frosty relationship amongst each other. He himself is infuriated about various rude actions of the Russians and has also given voice loudly to Molotov. In return Molotov is shocked by Truman's choice of words:” No one has ever talked to me like this!" Truman consequently: „Keep your promises and one will speak with you in another voice". The lend and lease law is terminated abruptly and the quarrel continues at the at a foundation meeting of the United Nations.
Churchill forces the issue and finally the meeting with the task to discuss and to come to an agreement about the political future of Europe is confirmed for July 1945. The preparations for the meeting are enormous. Since Berlin has no conference facility due to the destructions available, castle Cecilienhof in Potsdam is chosen. The castle is built between1913 - 1917 by Wilhelm II for Crown Prince Wilhelm of Hohenzollern and named after Princess Royal Cecilie. When the emperor has resigned, the Crown Prince also leaves the castle to return, however, in 1923 only to abandon it in 1945 definitely. For the meeting enormous efforts are expended. At first three lobbies are created, then the three day rooms of the three delegations according to their request. The U.S. area is held in blue, the Churchill in pink and the Russian one in white. The actual meeting takes place in the biggest hall at a round, polished table. The entourage of the three participating nations is accomodated in Babelsberg, the former UFA movie site.
Stalins journey is safeguarded under virtually absurd circumstances. Since the red Tsar arrives by train, the entire distance is safeguarded by members of the NKWD (Narodnyj Komissariat Wnutrennych Del -- office of people commissioner for internal affairs). 17,000 NKWD members and 1,515 regular troops are positioned along the 1,923 km long way. 6 - 15 man per train kilometre! Truman and Churchill arrive already on July 15th. Both use the opportunity to visit Berlin. Truman takes the salute of the 2nd U.S. Armoured Division which is arrayed at the Avus. Churchill, who just arrives from a strenuous election campaign in England, visits the Chancellery of the Reich and the Fuehrer bunker. Churchill about his trip: „The Berliners knew nothing about our visit. A crowd stood only in front of the Reichs Chancellery, this one joyfully applauded except for an older man who disparagingly shook the head."
Truman has come with the knowledge to Potsdam to be able to have the most terrible of all weapons, the atomic bomb, soon. The first test on July 16th in the desert of New Mexico under the eyes of Oppenheimer and General Groves was a success. Correspondingly self-assured Truman negotiates during the following meeting although he hates the negotiation tactics of the Russians like a plague. Stalin who is informed about the possession of a new weapon by Truman acts almost uninterestedly. He is informed about the consequences of the atomic bomb by his spy Klaus Fuchs well very well. A further and not expected surprise is the defeat of Churchill in the British House of Commons elections. He flies optimistically to London on July 24th. But of no avail. The Conservatives lose 193 seats and the power. Terrible for Churchill are also the election results in his own district. A polit clown whose programme promises the one-day-week for workers gets 10 000 votes. He himself gets 27 000. The British have got weary of the war and their war leader. In his place Clement Attlee returns to Potsdam as Prime Minister.
The result of the meeting, a minimal consent about Germany's position in post-war Europe, is published on August 2nd, 1945. This document emphasizes the responsibility of the Germans as a totality for the national socialist crimes. The question of the unity remains open. The results of the agreement of Jalta are specified (demilitarization, allied control council). Amongst others, agreement is reached at the following principles: Dissolution of the NSDAP, condemnation of the war criminals, democratization, decentralization of the German economy (e.g. IG colours) ban on German war production, abandonment of Königsberg and northern East Prussia to Russia (subject to a definite peace agreement), loss of the areas east of the Oder-Neisse line to Poland, "ordered transportation" (expulsion) of the German population. This Potsdam agreement gets decisive for the allied post-war politics in Germany and is causally responsible for future conflict lines between the superpowers.