Iron Curtain

When was the Iron Curtain Speech?

March 1946

Who wrote the Iron Curtain Speech?

Winston Churchill

Churchill’s Warnings

The Soviets desire the indefinite expansion of the USSR and the influence of Communism

Churchill’s Warnings (2)

The Soviets have kept an iron grip on its satellite states.

Churchill’s Argument (1)

Churchill argued that Europe had been divided into two camps and that Stalin wanted to spread communism & the US & UK should prevent it from happening.

Churchill’s Argument (2)

The West should establish conditions of freedom and democracy as rapidly as possible in all countries

Churchill’s Argument (3)

Europe should be united from which no nation should be permanently outcast

Stalin’s reaction

This convinced Stalin that the USA was complicit in a plot with Churchill and Britain to carry out an anti-Soviet ideological assault. 

Pravda Speech

Stalin argued that Soviet expansionism was for the USSR’s security as it had been invaded by Germany via Poland twice, and so creating buffer zones between the East and West would help in the USSR’s security.

Impacts (1)

Alienation:
The Iron curtain speech heavily criticised the USSR’s expansionism into Eastern Europe whilst simultaneously trying to unite the rest of Europe. 

Impacts (2)

Deepening divides:
In his speech, Churchill had compared Stalin to Hitler, this would’ve been incredibly hurtful to Stalin as Hitler was a contributor in the death of 25 million Russians (1/5 of the total population)