President Truman and (the Challenge of) the Potsdam Conference 1945
Abstract
This monograph examines how well U.S. President Harry S. Truman was prepared for the Potsdam Conference (17 July to 2 August 1945), which is seen as a crucial turning point in modern history. A review of his preparation before the conference and his actions during the conference reveals whether Truman had a strategy with achievable objectives. The monograph argues that Truman did have a strategy for the Potsdam Conference, which was coordinated with Roosevelt's former advisors, the Department of State, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Nevertheless, this strategy diverged from Roosevelt's original intent. In the end, Truman's goals were not achieved in their entirety, as the new President found himself confronted by the challenges of international policy and had to adapt his strategy during the conference for various reasons. The method used to analyze Truman's strategy at the Potsdam Conference is drawn from contemporary Army design methodology, as outlined in Joint Publication 5-0, Joint Operation Planning. Results show that there wasn't even one comprehensive document that could have given Truman a clear understanding of what he needed to accomplish at the conference. The monograph shows that the preparation papers were a conglomeration of documents containing a mix of background information, objectives, and ideas. Using Army design methodology, the monograph emulates a strategy that could have been formulated by Truman's advisors in 1945. Using this strategy, the monograph evaluates the events of the Potsdam conference day-by-day, and assesses why there were adjustments in Truman's strategy during the course of the conference. The monograph also assesses whether Truman had an opportunity at Potsdam to prevent the Cold War from starting.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA584192
Entities
People
- Uwe F. Jansohn
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College