Who occupied whom was settled among the Big 3 at the conferences. There were other players from time to time, and not even the Brits were a full partner, really. Roosevelt, Churchill, Truman and Stalin knew that.

What wasn't decided prior to the end of the war was the permanent political picture of the Eastern European countries. The US, Britain and France had ideas as to what elections were and who would be allowed to stand for election than didn't match the Russians. The Allies excluding Russia did not envision to what extent those would become vassal states, but did allow Russia influence because Russia had, after all, conquered the territory and to allow Russia a buffer between it an Europe.

Because the brunt of the war had fallen on the Russians, they were allowed to strip the territories of which they had possession of factories and machinery. The POWs and some others were kept, too, their labor being part of the war reparations.

All of which was decided amongs the leaders at primarily at Malta, Yalta and Potsdam.

Reading the memoirs of the various folks is fascinating. As is the personalities. The big surprise to me was that Austria was allowed by the Soviets the degree of freedom it had, and they withdrew.

Arf