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World politics, 1945-1989

Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Harry S. Truman Shaking Hands at the Potsdam Conference

In a triple handshake, President Harry S. Truman (center) holds the hands of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (left) and Soviet leader Josef Stalin (right) at Cecilienhof Palace during the Potsdam Conference. Others in the background are unidentified. Similar to 58-797, which is in color.

Last meeting of the Potsdam Conference

Last meeting of the Potsdam Conference in Potsdam, Germany. President Harry S. Truman is on the right, opposite the United States flag on the table. Seated to the right of President Truman are Secretary of State James Byrnes, Admiral William Leahy, and Soviet Ambassador to the United States Andrei Gromyko. Soviet Prime Minister Josef Stalin is at the top, in the white uniform. Seated on the left of Stalin is Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. British Prime Minister Clement Attlee is seated in the left corner, opposite the British flag on the table.

Stalin, President Truman, and others during the Potsdam Conference

Soviet Prime Minister Joseph Stalin (foreground, left) and President Harry S. Truman (foreground, right) during the Potsdam conference. Behind them are: V. N. Pavlov, Russian interpreter; Captain James K. Vardaman (partly obscured by Pavlov); Andrei Gromyko, Soviet Ambassador to the United States; and Charles Ross, Presidential Press Secretary (behind Gromyko).

President Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin at Potsdam

Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin meeting at Potsdam. From left to right, row 1 : Joseph Stalin, Harry S. Truman, Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko, Secretary of State James Byrnes, and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. Second row: General Harry Vaughan, interpreter Charles Bohlen, interpreter V. N. Pavlov (mostly obscured by Truman), Captain James K. Vardaman, and Charles Ross (partially obscured).

Conference table at the Potsdam Conference

General view of the conference table at the Potsdam Conference. This photograph is autographed on the border by Admiral Leahy, Charles Bohlen, Joseph E. Davies, President Truman, and Winston Churchill. Photos 72-4673 and 67-7587 show Winston Churchill signing this photo. This is one of four original prints in existence, photographed in color by a United States Army Signal Corps photographer using a hand-held camera. The original autographed photograph, measuring 20x24, is in the Museum collection.