Yalta Conference Secret Agreement

The Yalta Conference Secret Agreement: Uncovering the Truth

The Yalta Conference was held in February 1945, bringing together the so-called Big Three of World War II: Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin. The conference was intended to discuss the division of Europe and the establishment of a post-war world order. However, what many people don`t know is that the Yalta Conference was also the site of a secret agreement, which has been the subject of much speculation and controversy over the years.

The agreement in question was made between Churchill and Stalin, with Roosevelt`s approval. Known as the Percentages Agreement, it determined how much influence each of the Big Three would have in various countries of Europe after the war. Specifically, it divided the European continent into spheres of influence, with the Soviet Union getting the lion`s share.

The Percentages Agreement was made on February 8, 1945, and was later confirmed in a memorandum signed by Churchill and Stalin on February 10. According to the agreement, the Soviet Union would have 90% influence in Romania and 75% influence in Bulgaria and Hungary. In return, the British would have 90% influence in Greece, while the Americans would have 50% influence in Yugoslavia.

So why was this agreement kept secret? The answer is that it contradicted the principles of the Atlantic Charter, a joint statement issued by Churchill and Roosevelt in August 1941, which called for self-determination and the end of spheres of influence. By making this agreement, the Big Three were essentially carving up Europe without regards to the wishes of the people who lived there.

The Percentages Agreement remained secret for more than a decade, until it was leaked to the public in the 1950s. At the time, it caused a great deal of controversy, with many people accusing Churchill of betraying the principles of democracy and self-determination. However, others have argued that the Percentages Agreement was a necessary compromise in order to prevent further bloodshed and instability in Europe after the war.

In any case, the Yalta Conference and the Percentages Agreement remain fascinating and controversial topics to this day. Whether you see it as a betrayal of democratic values or a necessary compromise, there is no denying that the agreement had a significant impact on the post-war world order. As we continue to study the history of World War II, it is important to keep in mind the complex and often messy realities that underlie the grand narratives of victory and defeat.