Potsdam hosted the Allied leaders’ conference where the Potsdam Declaration was issued in 1945. The meeting took place from July 17 to August 2 at Cecilienhof Palace in the German city of Potsdam.
Harry Truman represented the United States, Joseph Stalin represented the Soviet Union, and Winston Churchill began the conference for Britain before Clement Attlee replaced him after the British election. The leaders discussed Germany’s occupation, borders, reparations, and the war against Japan.
On July 26, the United States, Britain, and China published the declaration calling for Japan’s surrender. Although the Soviet Union had not yet declared war on Japan when the declaration was issued, it later accepted its terms and entered the conflict on August 8.