​Iron Curtain Speech
Winston Churchill - March 1946
Main Message

• Churchill warned that the Soviet Union was expanding its control across Eastern Europe and dividing Europe into communist East and democratic West.
• He argued that Britain and the United States needed a strong alliance to stop the spread of communism.

Famous Quote“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.”
Historical Context

• Delivered shortly after World War II
• Tensions were growing between Western allies and the Soviet Union
• Eastern European countries were coming under Soviet influence

Key Themes

• Division of Europe
• Fear of communism
• Importance of Anglo-American cooperation
• Need for military and political strength

Significance

• Seen as one of the speeches that marked the start of the Cold War
• Popularised the phrase “Iron Curtain”
• Increased distrust between the West and the Soviet Union