The Grand Alliance of World War II
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1. Who?

• The Big Three leaders:
  • Winston Churchill (GB) replaced by Clement Attlee
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA) – later Harry S. Truman
  • Joseph Stalin (USSR)

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2. What?

• A wartime alliance between the USA, Britain, and the Soviet Union during WWII.
• Formed to coordinate military strategy against the Axis Powers (especially Nazi Germany) despite ideological differences (capitalism vs communism).

3. When?

• Formed in 1941 after Germany invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941) and the USA entered the war (December 1941).
• Active until 1945, when Germany was defeated and tensions rose leading to the Cold War.

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4. Where?​

• Coordinated through major conferences:
  • Tehran (1943) – plan for a second front in Europe.
  • Yalta (Feb 1945) – post-war plans for Germany and Europe.
  • Potsdam (July 1945) – post-Germany surrender, rising tensions.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

5. Why?

• Immediate goal: Defeat Nazi Germany and its allies.
• Longer-term goal: Plan the post-war world order.
• Cooperation was tactical, not ideological—once the common enemy was gone, mistrust resurfaced and led to the Cold War.