Diplomacy and the Post-war World in 1945 — Timeline
10 documented historical milestones concerning diplomacy and the post-war world in 1945.
Dated historical records
Entries below follow the dates recorded in the WWII CHRONOS archive. Each linked title opens the original historical entry, including its source reference.
- — Yalta Conference — The leaders of the Soviet Union, the United States and Britain discuss the end of the war and post-war Europe.
- — Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt — The US president dies during the final campaigns of the Second World War.
- — Meeting on the Elbe — American and Soviet troops meet near Torgau.
- — San Francisco Conference Opens — Delegates begin discussing the Charter of the United Nations.
- — German Surrender Signed at Reims — By spring 1945, German forces were losing control across Europe. The leadership of the Third Reich could no longer continue the war on two fronts.
- — UN Charter Signed — Delegates at the San Francisco Conference sign the Charter of the United Nations.
- — Trinity Nuclear Test — The United States conducts the world's first detonation of a nuclear device in New Mexico.
- — Potsdam Conference — The Allied leaders discuss the post-war settlement.
- — United Nations Formally Established — The Charter of the United Nations enters into force.
- — Nuremberg Trials Begin — The International Military Tribunal opens proceedings against major Nazi leaders.
For wider context, explore the interactive historical timeline and compare events across theaters.