Why Stalin Built The Iron Curtain

Why Stalin Built The Iron Curtain

The Iron Curtain was the term used in the West to refer to the

boundary line, which divided Europe into to separate areas of

political influence. This was set up from the end of World War Two

until the end of the Cold War. During this period, Eastern Europe was

under control and influence of the Soviet Union (USSR,) where as

Western Europe enjoyed freedom. It was a border set up by Joseph

Stalin, the ruler of the USSR in the years after the Second World War.

The term the "Iron Curtain," was first introduced in Winston

Churchill's long speech, "an Iron curtain has descended across the

continent," on March 5th, 1946. Churchill's speech triggered Stalin to

tighten the Iron Curtain.

Stalin had various reasons for setting up the Iron Curtain. He assumed

he had the right to control Eastern Europe, and that the West would

control Western Europe. This is why he set up the boundary in the

following year.

During 1944 the Allies (Britain, USA and USSR) got on fairly well with

each other. Yet there was still a lot of distrust, both sides were so

completely different. The USA believed that the Soviets wanted to

expand communism across the globe. They were concerned that having

beaten Germany, they were now going to get a new dictatorship.

In 1945, Stalin was anxious to build a buffer zone, against any more

German invasions. Stalin did not trust the West, Britain and USA

because he remembered they had invaded Russia in 1919 and had ignored

Stalin's appeal for a second front. Stalin was convinced they wanted

the USSR to destroy itself when fighting with Germany.

At the end of the war, the Allies met ...

... middle of paper ...

...the East for West

Europe.

The creation of the Iron Curtain concerned the USA, who believed that

communism, was expanding. Pro communist governments were now set up in

more places. Communism was becoming the largest single party. They

imprisoned the opposition, politicians and started attacking the

church leaders. They also tried to abolish the monarchy. Counties

behind the Iron Curtain were becoming communist quite rapidly and

capitalism on the other side. The USA and Great Britain were starting

to panic that communism was spreading and starting to take over.

When the Iron Curtain was up, it had many effects on the different

countries and its people. This Iron Curtain collapsed in 1989, when

the countries of the East threw off the Soviet control, but for

forty-five years it dominated Europe and divided Germany.