WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk Potsdam: Origins Of The Cold War
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Jul 7, 2025 
Historian Giles Milton, known for his expertise on the Potsdam Conference and author of 'The Stalin Affair', joins James Holland and Al Murray for an insightful discussion. They dissect how President Truman positioned America as a global leader post-WWII and explore Stalin's manipulative tactics that ultimately catalyzed the Cold War. The transition of power from Churchill to Attlee at the conference and the fraught diplomatic landscapes amongst the superpowers emerge as pivotal themes, revealing the delicate alliances that shaped modern history.
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Stalin's Master Negotiation Skill
- Stalin was a malevolent negotiator who was completely underestimated by Western leaders.\n- He was highly informed, strategic, and able to outmaneuver Roosevelt and Churchill consistently.
The Iconic Red Flag Photo
- Soviet photographer Evgeny Kaldai staged the iconic photo of the Red Army flag over the Reichstag using a tailor-made flag.\n- Stalin used this propaganda symbol to assert Soviet dominance, implying the Red Army alone captured Berlin.
Why Western Allies Halted At Berlin
- Western Allies chose not to advance on Berlin to save lives, allowing the Soviets to take the city.\n- This decision had large consequences but was a strategic choice rather than inability to capture Berlin.
