Malta Conference (1945)

The Malta Conference, officially codenamed "Argonaut," was a strategic meeting held between February 2 and February 12, 1945, on the island of Malta. It brought together the principal Allied leaders of World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with their respective military and diplomatic staffs. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, was not present.

The conference’s primary purpose was to plan the final strategy of the Allied forces for the defeat of Nazi Germany and to discuss postwar reorganization of Europe. Key discussions included:

• Unconditional Surrender of Germany: Reaffirmation of the demand for the unconditional surrender of Germany.
• Postwar Germany: Discussions surrounding the zones of occupation in Germany and the control mechanisms for the defeated nation.
• Soviet Entry into the Pacific War: Continued efforts to secure the Soviet Union's commitment to enter the war against Japan after the defeat of Germany. Roosevelt sought Soviet assistance to shorten the Pacific War and reduce American casualties.
• Poland and Eastern Europe: Debate and negotiation over the future of Poland, particularly its borders and government. This reflected the growing tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union regarding Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.
• United Nations: Discussions on the structure and voting procedures of the proposed United Nations organization, including the Security Council's veto power.
• Liberated Europe: Agreement on the principles for the liberation and self-determination of the people of Europe, as outlined in the Declaration on Liberated Europe. However, differing interpretations of these principles contributed to future Cold War tensions.
• War Crimes: Planning for the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

The Malta Conference served as a prelude to the more significant Yalta Conference, held immediately afterward. It allowed Roosevelt and Churchill to coordinate their positions before meeting with Stalin at Yalta, contributing to a unified Allied front in negotiations. The decisions made at Malta, particularly regarding the future of Eastern Europe, had long-lasting consequences for the postwar world order and the emerging Cold War.