Final answer:
The Yalta Conference in February 1945, involving leaders from the UK, the US, and the Soviet Union, aimed to decide the post-war fate of Europe, including Germany's unconditional surrender and division. Controversial decisions on Eastern Europe and Poland contributed to future tensions leading to the Cold War.
Step-by-step explanation:
In February 1945, the state of Europe was marked by the final stages of World War II with the Big Three—Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin—coming together at the Yalta Conference. The conference aimed to establish plans for post-war Europe, addressing key issues such as the unconditional surrender of Germany, the fate of Eastern European countries, and the division of Germany into four occupation zones. The agreements made during this significant meeting had ramifications for the future geopolitical landscape, including the establishment of the United Nations, agreeing to Soviet participation against Japan in the Pacific, and the contentious matter of establishing free elections and self-government in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland. Stalin's agreement followed by later retraction to allow free elections in Eastern Europe and demands for reparations from Germany increased tensions and sowed the seeds for the upcoming Cold War.