Final answer:
The Potsdam Conference resulted in the division of Germany and Berlin into four zones controlled by the Allied powers and set the framework for post-war reconstruction in Europe. It also issued an ultimatum to Japan, which initially refused, leading to the atomic bombs being dropped. The conference influenced the political structure of postwar Europe and set the stage for the Cold War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general outcome of the Potsdam Conference, which was indeed described as a "very bad tempered conference", involved crucial decisions regarding the post-war reconstruction of Europe. Between July 17 and August 2, 1945, new U.S. President Harry Truman, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who replaced Winston Churchill during the conference, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met in Potsdam, Germany. They discussed the fate of Europe after the fall of Nazi Germany.
The leaders agreed on the division of Germany and Berlin into four occupational zones controlled by the American, British, French, and Soviet forces. Additionally, the conference addressed the need to dismantle Germany's heavy industry to prevent future militarization. The Potsdam Conference also issued an ultimatum to Japan to surrender or face complete and utter destruction, which Japan initially refused, leading to the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki shortly thereafter.
Furthermore, the conference attempted to apply the doctrine of self-determination to divide Europe into individual nations. However, ethnic and political strife, especially in Eastern Europe, complicated these efforts. The totalitarian governments that arose in these regions, often influenced by Stalin's authoritarian regime, led to criticism that the appeasement of Stalin at Potsdam paved the way for Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. Despite the friction among the leaders and the complex issues at stake, the Potsdam Conference shaped the geopolitical landscape of postwar Europe and set the stage for the Cold War.