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For the human side of history, be sure to read the book “Daughters of Yalta” by Catherine Grace Katz, an award-winning writer and historian.The focus is on three great leaders, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin, who met in the small town of Yalta in the Crimean Peninsula, off the coast of the Black Sea, to discuss a peaceful reorganization of Germany and Europe in 1945. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Averell Harriman set up the arrangements. The men made the historic decisions; however, they brought their three adult daughters: Sarah Churchill, Anna Roosevelt, and Kathleen Harriman. Through these women’s eyes, we see the human side of history and power.
We hear from the women as they describe the uncomfortable five-hour ride from Malta to Yalta, the Russian snack of caviar and finely spiced meats that Roosevelt could not eat because of his health, and the freezing cold of the Lavadia Palace, once the summer home of the tzars.
The human side of power was not much fun because of the physical hardships of the palace, which had been ransacked by war. But each daughter loved being with their father and attending the important historic event.
Ambassador Harriman asked his daughter Kathleen to accompany him because his wife could not make the trip. Kathleen was an independent "in charge" person at 27, who worked as a Newsweek journalist. She adored her father and jumped at the chance to attend this historic event with him. She arrived at Yalta before him and the 50 delegates due to attend and was shocked at the terrible condition of Lavadia Palace. She organized arrangements immediately, contacting the Hotel Metropol in Moscow to borrow furniture, rugs, sheets, and bedding. The maids wore uniforms that had “M” on them for Metropol. Two bathrooms on one floor were not enough for more than 50 people, and portable toilets had to be secured. It was February, and there was no central heating.
Prime Minister Churchill asked his daughter Sarah to join him because his wife was busy working on a project. Sarah was delighted. She had been working in London in the Woman’s Auxilary Air Force and had inspected photographs of the war in that area. Churchill liked her experience in the WAAF and needed her reassuring presence. She thought intuitively, just like he did, and was thrilled to be invited.
Anna Roosevelt attended the conference with her father, President Roosevelt, because her mother was also unavailable. Anna had been living in the White House, helping to care for her father. She was delighted to be asked to join him. However, she also was a “take-charge” person at 38, which presented an awkward moment at first with Kathleen Harriman, but they became very good friends.
While the great leaders of the conference, Churchill, Roosevelt, Harriman, and Stalin, were negotiating for land in dividing up Germany and Europe in search of providing peace in the future, Randolph Churchill, the son of Winston Churchill, appeared on leave from the navy. This presented a little problem because Pamela Churchill (Randolph’s wife) was having an affair with Averell Harriman during this period. However, like true aristocrats, space was arranged tactfully for everyone and no one was ruffled.
The key issues focused on partitioning Germany so it could not rise again for a third world war. The Russians wanted Lublin, Poland, Ukraine, and half of Berlin. The United States wanted half of Berlin and an organization called the United Nations, which would monitor world peace. Many other decisions were made politically; however, the Daughters of Yalta had a busy schedule themselves. They would have fitted into society today in 2024. Each woman was strong and independent, becoming a leader in her own field.
In addition to the well-written text, the book quotes from many personal letters has twenty-two pages of notes in the appendix and includes a list of all the delegates and their titles. An interesting selection of black and white photographs makes the book come to life with famous people who are memorable historically. For those who love history, this is an intimate book of behind-the-scenes activities about a major historical event. I recommend it highly.
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