• The Potsdam Conference lasted from July 17th to August 2nd 1945.
  
• At the time of the conference Germany was defeated and Japan was losing the war.
  
• Much of Europe and Asia had been devastated by war.
  
• There was a strong feeling that the Big Three and the new United Nations Organisation would have to repair physical things like buildings, businesses etc AND rebuild non-physical things like trust, respect and decent behaviour.
  
• People in Britain, the USA and USSR had high hopes for the Potsdam Conference. They were looking forward to a better world once the war was over and they hoped their leaders would deliver it.