When was the Potsdam Conference held?

The Potsdam Conference was held from July 17 to August 2, 1945. This conference was crucial in shaping the post-World War II order, as it brought together the leaders of the Allied powers—primarily the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union—to discuss the administration of Germany, which had surrendered in May of that year, as well as other issues related to the rebuilding of Europe and the future of Japan.

The timing of the conference in July and August is significant because it followed the Yalta Conference in February 1945, where the Allied leaders made initial plans for postwar Europe. By July, the war in Europe had ended, but tensions among the Allies were beginning to surface, especially between the Western powers and the Soviet Union, setting the stage for the Cold War.

Other choices, such as February 1945, refer to the earlier Yalta Conference rather than the later Potsdam meeting, while June and September 1945 do not correspond to the dates of the Potsdam Conference, with September being well after the conference occurred and referring to the events surrounding the final surrender of Japan.