The Big Three: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin

🌍Roosevelt's aim was to make the world safe for democracy and create an international environment where democratic societies could flourish.

🇬🇧Churchill's interests included preserving the British Empire, ensuring survival, and making sure the Russians stayed in the war to bleed Germany dry.

🇷🇺Stalin wanted survival initially, then aimed for aggrandizement by reclaiming lost territories and projecting Soviet power across the world.

⚖️The Germany-first policy was adopted to focus resources on defeating Germany, while the Mediterranean strategy and the opening of a western front in Europe were debated.

💡The Big Three's relationships evolved through multiple meetings and exchanges of cables to coordinate strategies and efforts in defeating Nazi Germany.

What were Roosevelt's main aims during World War II?

—Roosevelt's main aims were to make the world safe for democracy and create an international environment where democratic societies could flourish.

What were Churchill's main interests during the war?

—Churchill's main interests included preserving the British Empire, ensuring survival, and making sure the Russians stayed in the war to bleed Germany dry.

What were Stalin's war aims at the beginning of the war?

—Stalin's war aims were initially focused on survival, followed by aggrandizement by reclaiming lost territories and projecting Soviet power across the world.

What was the debate over the Mediterranean strategy?

—There was a debate between the Americans, who wanted to prioritize a direct invasion of Germany, and Churchill, who advocated for a Mediterranean strategy to weaken Germany's allies and secure vital strategic positions.

How did the relationships between the Big Three evolve during the war?

—The relationships between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin evolved through multiple meetings and exchanges of cables, where they coordinated strategies and efforts in defeating Nazi Germany.

00:00The video explores the key interests and aims of the Big Three leaders, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, during World War II and how their relationships evolved.

02:50Roosevelt aimed to make the world safe for democracy and create an international environment where democratic societies could flourish.

08:22Churchill's interests included preserving the British Empire, ensuring survival, and making sure the Russians stayed in the war to bleed Germany dry.

10:50Stalin initially sought survival, followed by aggrandizement by reclaiming lost territories and projecting Soviet power across the world.

11:12The debate over the Mediterranean strategy and the importance of the Germany-first policy.

12:19The relationships between the Big Three leaders evolved through meetings and exchanges of cables to coordinate strategies and efforts in defeating Nazi Germany.