Potsdam gave the Potsdam Declaration its name during the final weeks of World War II. The declaration was issued during the Potsdam Conference, held in the German city of Potsdam from July 17 to August 2, 1945.
Potsdam was in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany, near Berlin. The conference brought together the three leading Allied powers to plan the postwar order and discuss Germany’s administration after its defeat. The United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union were represented by Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill or Clement Attlee, and Joseph Stalin.
The separate declaration concerning Japan was issued on July 26 by the United States, United Kingdom, and China. The Soviet Union did not initially sign it because it had not yet declared war on Japan. The declaration nevertheless reflected discussions among the Allies about Japan’s surrender.
The name can cause confusion because the conference concerned Europe broadly, while the declaration focused on Japan. Potsdam was the conference’s location and the place-name used in the declaration’s title.