Tehran Conference: A Pivotal Wartime Meeting

The Tehran Conference of November 1943 represented a crucial meeting between the Allied powers during World War II, bringing together President Roosevelt (USA), Premier Stalin (USSR), and Prime Minister Churchill (UK). This historic gathering resulted in several significant agreements that would shape both the war effort and post-war world order.

Definition: The Grand Alliance refers to the wartime coalition between the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain during World War II.

The conference produced several key agreements. The Western Allies committed to opening a second front in France by 1944, while the Soviet Union pledged to declare war on Japan following Germany's defeat. The leaders also agreed to establish the United Nations and approved territorial concessions, including the transfer of Polish territory to the USSR.

Highlight: The agreement to open a second front in France was particularly crucial as it helped relieve pressure on Soviet forces fighting on the Eastern Front.

Example: The Tehran Conference Cold War agreements demonstrated both cooperation and tension between the Allies, as evidenced by Churchill's preference for a Greek invasion route to prevent Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.

Quote: "Stalin had completely different war aims than FDR or Churchill," highlighting the underlying tensions that would later contribute to the Cold War.

Vocabulary: Second Front - A major new combat zone opened to divide enemy forces and relieve pressure on existing battlefronts.