Abstract

The supplementary protocol of the Yalta Conference, which was signed by the foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, called for the establishment of a committee to deliberate on Germany’s long-term “dismemberment.” The Allies had different positions on this issue. The protocol also called for the establishment of a French occupation zone, which was to be comprised of portions of the British and American zones. Additionally, France was invited to become a member of the Allied Control Council. Although Great Britain wished to alter the already agreed-upon border between the Western zones and the Soviet occupation zone – to the disadvantage of the latter – this proposed change proved impossible to push through. Germany’s reparations were spelled out in detail: the initial amount was set at 20 billion dollars, to be paid through the confiscation of German assets and the dismantling of armaments factories, the delivery of goods, and the use of German labor for the benefit of the Allies. Half of the reparations were to go to the Soviet Union.

Excerpts from the Protocol of the Proceedings of the Yalta (Crimea) Conference (February 11, 1945)

Source

The Crimea Conference of the Heads of the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which took place from the 4th to 11th February, came to the following conclusions.

[…]

III. Dismemberment of Germany

It was agreed that Article 12 (a) of the Surrender Terms for Germany should be amended to read as follows:

The United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall possess supreme authority with respect to Germany. In the exercise of such authority they will take such steps, including the complete disarmament, demilitarisation and dismemberment of Germany as they deem requisite for future peace and security.

The study of the procedure for the dismemberment of Germany was referred to a Committee, consisting of Mr. Eden (Chairman), Mr. Winant and Mr. Gousev. This body would consider the desirability of associating with it a French representative.

IV. Zone of Occupation for the French and Control Council for Germany

It was agreed that a zone in Germany, to be occupied by the French Forces, should be allocated to France. This zone would be formed out of the British and American zones and its extent would be settled by the British and Americans in consultation with the French Provisional Government.

It was also agreed that the French Provisional Government should be invited to become a member of the Allied Control Council for Germany.

V. Reparation

The following Protocol has been approved:

PROTOCOL

Conversations between the Heads of the Three Governments at the Crimea Conference on the Question of Reparation in Kind from Germany

The Heads of the three Governments have agreed as follows:—

1. Germany must pay in kind for the losses caused by her to the Allied nations in the course of the war. Reparations are to be received in the first instance by those countries which have borne the main burden of the war, have suffered the heaviest losses and have organised victory over the enemy.

2. Reparation in kind is to be exacted from Germany in three following forms:

(a) Removals within two years from the surrender of Germany or the cessation of organised resistance from the national wealth of Germany located on the territory of Germany herself as well as outside her territory (equipment, machine-tools, ships, rolling-stock, German investments abroad, shares of industrial, transport and other enterprises in Germany &c.), these removals to be carried out chiefly for purpose of destroying the war potential of Germany.

(b) Annual deliveries of goods from current production for a period to be fixed.

3. For the working out on the above principles of a detailed plan for exaction of reparation from Germany an Allied Reparation Commission will be set up in Moscow. It will consist of three representatives—one from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, one from the United Kingdom and one from the United States of America.

4. With regard to the fixing of the total sum of the reparation as well as the distribution of it among the countries which suffered from the German aggression the Soviet and American delegations agreed as follows:

The Moscow Reparation Commission should take in its initial studies as a basis for discussion the suggestion of the Soviet Government that the total sum of the reparation in accordance with the points (a) and (b) of the paragraph 2 should be 20 billion dollars and that 50 percent of it should go to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The British delegation was of the opinion that pending consideration of the reparation question by the Moscow Reparation Commission no figures of reparation should be mentioned.

The above Soviet-American proposal has been passed to the Moscow Reparation Commission as one of the proposals to be considered by the Commission.

VI. Major War Criminals

The Conference agreed that the question of the major war criminals should be the subject of enquiry by the three Foreign Secretaries for report in due course after the close of the Conference.

[…]

E. R. Stettinus, Jr.

V. Molotov

Anthony Eden

Source: Extracts from the Protocol of the Proceedings of the Crimea (Yalta) Conference, (February 11, 1945), Cmd. 7088 (1947); reprinted in Beata Ruhm von Oppen, ed., Documents on Germany under Occupation, 1945–1954. London and New York: Oxford University Press, 1955, pp. 7–8.

Recommended Citation

Excerpts from the Protocol of the Proceedings of the Yalta (Crimea) Conference (February 11, 1945), published in: German History in Documents and Images, <https://germanhistorydocs.org/en/occupation-and-the-emergence-of-two-states-1945-1961/ghdi:document-2296> [April 24, 2024].