Eighty years ago today, on July 17, 1945 (June 9, 1945 in the lunar calendar), the Potsdam Conference was held. File photo of the heads of state of the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain Stalin (front right), Truman (center), and Churchill attending the Potsdam Conference. At the end of World War II, after Germany surrendered, in order to solve a series of problems in handling Germany and post-war Europe, the heads of government of the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom held a meeting in Potsdam near Berlin from July 17 to August 2, 1945. This was the third meeting held by the heads of state of the three countries during the war. Those attending the meeting included Stalin, Truman and Churchill, as well as foreign ministers of the three countries. Roosevelt died of cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, and Truman represented the United States at the conference for the first time. The meeting was in progress during the British election, so Churchill returned home halfway to participate in the general election. After losing the election, the new British Labor Prime Minister Attlee and the new Foreign Minister Bevin attended the final days of the meeting on July 28. The meeting discussed a series of issues such as the German issue, the Polish issue, the Austrian issue, and the conclusion of a peace treaty to admit members of the United Nations. The focus of the meeting was on the German issue. After heated debate, the meeting determined the political and economic principles for the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and France to control and dispose of Germany. The meeting stipulated that Nazism and militarism should be completely eradicated, monopoly organizations should be eliminated, and German political life should be rebuilt on a democratic basis. Regarding the issue of German compensation, it was determined that "the compensation demands put forward by the Soviet Union will be satisfied by confiscating assets in the Soviet-occupied areas in Germany and corresponding German foreign investment." In addition, the Soviet Union could also receive 10% of the industrial facilities demolished in the Western-occupied areas for free and 15% paid in goods as compensation. "The compensation claims of the United States, Britain and other countries entitled to compensation will be met from the occupied areas in the West and corresponding German foreign investment." The meeting also decided to surrender Konigsberg (present-day Kaliningrad) and its adjacent areas in former East Prussia, Germany, to the Soviet Union. When the meeting discussed the Polish issue, the three countries decided to recognize the Provisional Government of National Unity of Poland. Regarding Poland's western border, it was believed that the final delineation should be resolved at the Peace Conference, but "the heads of government of the three countries agreed that before the final delineation of Poland's western border, the eastern territory of former Germany would be under the jurisdiction of the Polish government and would not be regarded as part of the Soviet-occupied area in Germany." The Potsdam Conference also discussed the issue of war against Japan and adopted the Potsdam Proclamation, urging that "the Japanese government immediately declare the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces." Japan's occupation of northeastern China, Taiwan, the Penghu Islands and other places should be returned to China. The announcement was made in the form of a joint declaration among the United States, Britain and China. Later, when the Soviet Union sent troops to fight against Japan, it also officially signed the "Proclamation", so the "Potsdam Proclamation" eventually became the joint declaration of the four countries towards Japan. The Potsdam Conference discussed issues such as Italy and former German dependencies, the Spanish issue, and control of the Black Sea Strait, and reiterated the need to try major war criminals. This meeting was the longest and last meeting held by the heads of state of the three major powers during the war. It was of great significance for winning the final victory in the anti-fascist war, laid the foundation for the establishment of a new post-war order, and had a major impact on the development of post-war international relations. July 17, 1945--Potsdam Conference opens