Empire 259. Eastern Europe & “The Great Betrayal” (Ep 4)
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May 28, 2025 Delve into the origins of the United Nations and uncover how deals made in 1945 shape today's geopolitics. Explore the fraught dynamics at the Yalta Conference, especially the impact of a leader's declining health on negotiations. Discover the complexities of Poland's territorial shifts post-World War II and the contrasting negotiation styles of Churchill and Stalin. Get insights into the power struggles that influenced the formation of the UN and the lasting effects on global alliances.
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Dividing Germany into Zones
- The Big Three divided Germany into three zones of occupation with Berlin also split into thirds despite being in the Soviet zone.
- Churchill opposed Soviet overreach in Berlin, fearing instability and injustice from the arrangement.
Churchill Worries over Greece
- Churchill was in a dark mood due to worrying news from Greece and losses to communists there.
- British forces were fighting in the Greek Civil War, struggling to contain communist advance.
Leaders Faced War's Reality
- The leaders toured battle sites like Sebastopol during Yalta, seeing reminders of war's terrible cost.
- Finding a human skeleton was a stark reminder of the suffering behind negotiations.
