The sittings

Thirteen meetings around one table

What was actually said, as the American delegation took it down at the time. 56,129 words of verbatim minutes — more of them than there is narrative on this site — and every word free to host, because the record kept by a US delegation is a work of the United States Government.

1. 1First plenary meeting17 July 1945 · 5.00 p.m.The Big ThreeThompson Minutes2,853 words
2. 2Second plenary meeting18 July 1945 · 4.00 p.m.Dividing The SpoilsThompson Minutes2,594 words
3. 3Third plenary meeting19 July 1945 · 5.00 p.m.The Fate Of EuropeThompson Minutes5,931 words
4. 4Fourth plenary meeting20 July 1945 · 4.00 p.m.Peace In ItalyThompson Minutes5,407 words
5. 5Fifth plenary meeting21 July 1945 · 5.00 p.m.The Polish QuestionDepartment of State Minutes4,693 words
6. 6Sixth plenary meeting22 July 1945 · 5.00 p.m.Poland BetrayedThompson Minutes6,312 words
7. 7Seventh plenary meeting23 July 1945 · 5.00 p.m.Königsberg & PrussiaDepartment of State Minutes4,926 words
8. 8Eighth plenary meeting24 July 1945 · 5.00 p.m.The Nuclear Age BeginsThompson Minutes4,372 words
9. 9Ninth plenary meeting25 July 1945 · 11.00 a.m.Churchill DepartsThompson Minutes2,199 words
10. 10Tenth plenary meeting28 July 1945 · 10.30 p.m.The New Big ThreeThompson Minutes2,563 words
11. 11Eleventh plenary meeting31 July 1945 · 4.00 p.m.Settling The Polish QuestionDepartment of State Minutes6,144 words
12. 12Twelfth plenary meeting1 August 1945 · 4.00 p.m.The Long Last DayThompson Minutes4,551 words
13. 13Thirteenth plenary meeting1 August 1945 · 10.40 p.m.The Long Last DayDepartment of State Minutes3,584 words

The American delegation usually kept more than one record of a sitting — Thompson’s minutes, Cohen’s notes, and the Department of State’s own. They do not always agree, which is itself worth knowing. One is held here in full; the others are linked from each sitting.