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The Yalta Conference: end of one war, beginning of another
Published: 04 February, 2010, 08:39
Edited: 13 February, 2010, 18:56
The Big Three, British Prime minister Winston Churchill, US president Franklin Roosevelt and Soviet leader Stalin (From LtoR) pose together in Yalta in the Crimea during WW2, 04 February 1945 (AFP Photo)
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On this day, February 4, 65 years ago the Allies, in their fight against Nazi Germany, met in Yalta to decide the shape of the post-World War II landscape.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and leader of the Soviet Union Josef Stalin – collectively known as the “Big Three” – were united in their wish to save future generations from the horrors of war. Unfortunately, more than six decades later, it seems their efforts are not equally appreciated.
In February of 1945, most of Eastern Europe was already liberated from Nazi occupation by the Soviet army, while British and American troops had fought their way into Belgium from the West. The Nazis' defeat was just a matter of time. In a few months the Second World War would come to an end.
As such, the Big Three met in Yalta, the capital of Crimea in the Soviet Union, to discuss Europe’s post-war reorganization.
As a result of the conference, Germany – the country that initiated both World Wars – was demilitarized and split into four zones. Each zone was controlled by the three powers, along with France. In addition, Berlin was obliged to pay $20 billion in reparations for the damage it caused.
Not to allow a terrible repetition of history, the sides promoted the creation of the United Nations as a force to help prevent war. Taking over from the League of Nations, it was to guarantee peace and prosperity for generations to come.
“I always admire how harmonious that conference was. The Allies seemed to act as one. There were many important and just agreements signed, new border lines drawn. It seemed that the world would recover soon and never repeat its mistakes,” says Georgy Kumanyov from the Center of Russia's Military History. “But this wasn't to be. Just as the Allies were writing the final pages of one war, another – the Cold War – was around the corner.”
Today, walking along London’s Bond Street, one can see a statue of two bronze gentlemen sitting on a bench talking to each other and smiling. They are Roosevelt and Churchill, and the monument, called “Allies”, commemorates 50 years of peace.
However, the former Soviet leader is nowhere to be seen, despite the pivotal role the Soviet Union played. When questioned on the matter, Londoners are unanimous in their opinion: a bronze Stalin should not be sitting alongside Roosevelt and Churchill.
“No, because he was a tyrant,” said one passerby. “Despite the so-called union in World War II, I don't think it's sufficient to justify [Stalin] sitting here in the statue,” believes another.
Despite the end of the Cold War, the Soviet legacy remains a divisive historical issue.
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4 comments
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Thomas Can you tell me how many people were killed in the United States civil war? Can you tell me how many non-British citizens were killed under Churchill's watch throughout the British Empire, starting from India? Can you tell me how many people have been killed in many parts of the world by the United States after WWII (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, incited civil wars in numerous countries, ignoring many of the minor ones)? Can you tell me how many non-Russian citizens did Stalin kill? The USSR was going through a revolutionary period. Most of those killed by Stalin conspired against the Communist Party led by Stalin or were suspected collaborators with the enemies of the country, both following the World War I and preceding and following WWII. It was a fight for survival between the revolution and the reaction. Now, don't get me wrong. I will never claim that unnecessary atrocities were not committed. That's only expected. But think a million times before calling anybody evil, unless you want to expose your total ignorance. Stalin died over fifty years ago. He belongs to history and his work will be judged in time. Leave him alone, you and your friendly ideologues. Your bigoted expletive will get you nowhere. Take your hidden agenda to a more modern issue.
Count Cash, Then we'll leave it at that then. We could go into whether or not your representations of other leaders are accurate or on par with your claims, but that's another discussion for another time. I would agree that there are those who attempt to vilify Russia along with Stalin, and that's precisely one of the points I'm trying to make. I think the more his persona is denounced in Russia rather than "rehabilitated" the less people will equate the Russian people with Stalin. I'll also agree that the West has done a terrible job of acknowledging Russia and the Soviet Union's heroic role in WW2. But I believe in any country, let the honor be given to the brave who fought and died. People marching in Victory Day parades holding up pictures of Stalin always sadden me. Better that they held up pictures of soldiers, mothers, and children, those truly worthy of honor. So to refer to the original story, maybe it would be better if they built a monument showing soldiers from all of the allied standing together. To me that would be the most honorable.
The Yalta Conference was the continuance of the war of the capitalists against communism. There is still going on this war up to this day. Bert Brecht: The capitalist don´t want war, they MUST have war.It is their innermost soul: the profit! Yalta was just a judgement how weakend has been turned the USSR by WWII by the Western Allies.