Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met for the first time in Tehran, Iran (November 28-December 1, 1943) to discuss military operations against Germany and begin talks on postwar political issues.
Stalin agreed to pressure German forces while the Western Allies prepared for their invasion. The Soviets also agreed to join the fight against Japan once Germany was defeated.
The postwar occupation of Germany was discussed at length, but all three leaders appeared uncertain as to the specifics of the country's reorganization.
The Tehran Conference, November 29-December 1, 1943.
(a) Declaration of the Three Powers, December 1, 1943
We the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of
Great Britain, and the Premier of the Soviet Union, have met
these four days past, in this, the Capital of our Ally, Iran,
and have shaped and confirmed our common policy.
We express our determination that our nations shall work
together in war and in the peace that will follow.
As to war-our military staffs have joined in our round table
discussions, and we have concerted our plans for the
destruction of the German forces. We have reached complete
agreement as to the scope and timing of the operations to be
undertaken from the east, west and south.
The common understanding which we have here reached
guarantees that victory will be ours.
And as to peace-we are sure that our concord will win an
enduring Peace. We recognize fully the supreme responsibility
resting upon us and all the United Nations to make a peace
which will command the goodwill of the overwhelming mass of
the peoples of the world and banish the scourge and terror of
war for many generations.
With our Diplomatic advisors we have surveyed the problems of
the future. We shall seek the cooperation and active
participation of all nations, large and small, whose peoples
in heart and mind are dedicated, as are our own peoples, to
the elimination of tyranny and slavery, oppression and
intolerance. We will welcome them, as they may choose to
come, into a world family of Democratic Nations.
No power on earth can prevent our destroying the German
armies by land, their U Boats by sea, and their war plants
from the air.
Our attack will be relentless and increasing.
Emerging from these cordial conferences we look with
confidence to the day when all peoples of the world may live
free lives, untouched by tyranny, and according to their
varying desires and their own consciences.
We came here with hope and determination. We leave here,
friends in fact, in spirit and in purpose.
ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL and STALIN
Signed at Tehran, December 1, 1943
(b) Declaration of the Three Powers Regarding Iran, December
1, 1943
The President of the United States, the Premier of the U.S.S.R. and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, having
consulted with each other and with the Prime Minister of
Iran, desire to declare the mutual agreement of their three
Governments regarding their relations with Iran.
The Governments of the United States, the U.S.S.R., and
the United Kingdom recognize the assistance which Iran has
given in the prosecution of the war against the common enemy,
particularly by facilitating the transportation of supplies
from overseas to the Soviet Union.
The Three Governments realize that the war has caused special
economic difficulties for Iran, and they are agreed that they
will continue to make available to the Government of Iran
such economic assistance as may be possible, having regard to
the heavy demands made upon them by their world-wide military
operations, and to the world-wide shortage of transport, raw
materials, and supplies for civilian consumption.
With respect to the post-war period, the Governments of the
United States, the U.S.S.R., and the United Kingdom are in
accord with the Government of Iran that any economic problems
confronting Iran at the close of hostilities should receive
full consideration, along with those of other members of the
United Nations, by conferences or international agencies held
or created to deal with international economic matters.
The Governments of the United States, the U.S.S.R., and
the United Kingdom are at one with the Government of Iran in
their desire for the maintenance of the independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran They count upon
the participation of Iran, together with all other peace-
loving nations, in the establishment of international peace,
security and prosperity after the war, in accordance with the
principles of the Atlantic Charter, to which all four
Governments have subscribed.
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL J. STALIN FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
(c) Military Conclusions of the Tehran Conference
The Conference:-
(1) Agreed that the Partisans in Yugoslavia should be
supported by supplies and equipment to the greatest possible
extent, and also by commando operations:
(2) Agreed that, from the military point of view, it was most
desirable that Turkey should come into the war on the side of
the Allies before the end of the year:
(3) Took note of Marshal Stalin's statement that if Turkey
found herself at war with Germany, and as a result Bulgaria
declared war on Turkey or attacked her, the Soviet would
immediately be at war with Bulgaria. The Conference further
took note that this fact could be explicitly stated in the
forthcoming negotiations to bring Turkey into the war:
(4) Took note that Operation OVERLORD would be launched
during May 1944, in conjunction with an operation against
Southern France. The latter operation would be undertaken in
as great a strength as availability of landing-craft
permitted. The Conference further took note of Marshal
Stalin's statement that the Soviet forces would launch an
offensive at about the same time with the object of
preventing the German forces from transferring from the
Eastern to the Western Front:
(5) Agreed that the military staffs of the Three Powers
should henceforward keep in close touch with each other in
regard to the impending operations in Europe. In particular
it was agreed that a cover plan to mystify and mislead the
enemy as regards these operations should be concerted between
the staffs concerned.
(signed)
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
JOSEPH V. STALIN
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL
TEHRAN, December 1, 1943.
Source: A Decade of American Foreign Policy : Basic
Documents, 1941-49 Prepared at the request of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations By the Staff of the Committee
and the Department of State. Washington, DC : Government
Printing Office, 1950