Episode 191: The Big Three Conference

On the week of July 24th, 1945 Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and President Truman meet along with several other affiliates to discuss political issues. Because all three of these men were seen as having some of the greatest power in the world at the time the meeting became known as the Big Three Conference.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to World War Two chronicles aweekly tribute to Americas fighting men and women
in commemoration of the Second World War. These programs are narrated by Ed Hrlihy
and are based on the news broadcastsof the war period from the recorded sound
collection of the National Archives in Washington, d C. The US Second Armored

(00:27):
Division stands at attention on Berlin's acclaimedAutobahn as President Truman's party rolls in.
Earlier Truman was greeted by cheering crowdsafter the US cruiser Augusta docked at the
Belgian port of Antwerp. The weekof July twenty fourth, nineteen forty five
marks the start of the Big ThreeConference. President Truman joins Joseph Stalin,

(00:51):
Winston Churchill and other dignitaries in pasta. The Big Three meetings are held in
Kaiserville, Helm's former palace. PresidentTruman is select it as chairman of the
conference. Here, the fate ofGermany and the end of Japanese aggression will
be settled under the flag that flewover the White House when we declared war
on the axis. The President states, our aims, Let's not forget that

(01:14):
we are fighting for peace and forthe welfare of mankind. We're not fighting
for conquests. There's not one pieceof territory, our, one thing of
a monetary nature that we want outof this war. We want peace and
prosperity for the world as a whole. Over the old German barracks in Berlin,

(01:41):
the stars and stripes fly in victory. This historic banner has flown over
much captured territory Casablanca, Algiers Romein Berlin. Let us pray it will
not be long before it flies overTokyo. If that flag was flying,
you would have had plenty of windbehind it. In the China Sea off

(02:04):
Okinawa, units of the American fleetare struck by the worst typhoons so far
in the Pacific War. The bowof the heavy cruisier Pittsburgh was sheared off.
The bow of the Pittsburgh is salvageby a Navy tug, and they
radioed to Guam we have sighted asuburb of Pittsburgh and taken it in tow,
with more than a hundred feet ofher bow missing. The Pittsburgh,

(02:27):
thanks to watertight compartments, got hometo have her wounds healed before she fights
again. I'm in Hurlei. Hejoined me next time for World War Two
Chronicles. World War Two Chronicles wasproduced by the American Veterans Center and Radio
America in cooperation with the National Archives. To listen to more episodes, subscribe

(02:54):
on iTunes, or visit American VeteransCenter dot org. We need your help
to keep the legacy of our WorldWar Two generation alive. Visit American Veterans
Center dot org to make a donationto support World War Two Chronicles and the
ongoing work of the American Veterans Center.