Teheran Conference
After months of negotiation, The Big Three finally meet at Tehran, November 29, 1943
The military press scrables for a good shot of the Big Three at Tehran, November 29, 1943
The first page of the minutes of the first-ever meeting between Roosevelt and Stalin, November 28, 1943
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin celebrating Churchill's 69th birthday at the British Legation in Tehran, November 30, 1943
Minutes of the dinner held at the British Legation in Tehran on November 30,1943, celebrating Winston Churchill's 69th Birthday
A confident Stalin walks towards the Russian mission with Winston Churchill looking on December 1, 1943
A sketch of the United Nations as envisioned by FDR, signed and dated by the president at the Tehran Conference, November 30, 1943
Stalin to FDR, December 20, 1943, acknowledging an earlier thank you note sent by FDR and looking forward to the "common victory."
In November of 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin came together in Tehran. The Tehran conference was the first time the three leaders met face-to face. Stalin’s main objective was to come to an agreement on the opening a second front to relieve the pressure on the Red Army. Roosevelt agreed on the need for a Second Front, but was more concerned with ensuring international cooperation post-war, and it was at Tehran where he first introduced Stalin to the idea of the United Nations. The three leaders also discussed the possible break-up of Germany after the war, and much to the relief of the Americans, it was at Tehran where Stalin agreed in principle that the Soviet Union would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated. The most contentious issue the three men discussed at Tehran concerned the future borders of Poland. Following several days of discussion, they agreed in principle that the eastern border of Poland should follow the Curzon line, set by the British Foreign Office in 1920. They also agreed to set May of 1944 as the target date for the opening of the Second Front in France.