Potsdam Conference - 1995 Mint Imperforate Issue
July 17, 1945 During summit meetings held in the suburbs of Berlin, the Grand Alliance of the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union forged the future face of Europe. De-Nazification was to occur by forming a local German government under foreign military rule. Germany was then divided into four parts and occupied by the U.S., England, Russia and France. Financial reparations owed to occupying powers by Germany would be paid by their respective occupied zones. Also at the Potsdam summit, plans were made for a trial to deliver quick and just punishment to Nazi war criminals and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin reaffirmed his promise to join the war against Japan. While the conference was largely a success, it marked the start of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States that would last almost half a century.