James Outen Iron Curtain
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Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by DeanFalconPerson523
James Outen
HIS 102
Professor Thomas
Iron Curtain
Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech (1946):
In Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech, he compares the Soviet Union's expansionist actions to
Hitler's, stating, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across
the Continent." Churchill contends that the Soviets, like Hitler, seek to dominate and control territories,
posing a threat to the peace and security of Europe. He implies that the Soviet Union is creating a new
form of tyranny, like the aggression witnessed during Hitler's regime. Churchill suggests that the division
of Europe into two ideological blocs is a precursor to potential conflict, drawing parallels between the
actions of Stalin and Hitler.
Joseph Stalin's Response to Churchill (1946):
In Stalin's response, he accuses Churchill and the Western Allies of adopting Hitler's tactics by
attempting to portray the Soviet Union as an aggressor. Stalin argues, "The accusations of Mr. Churchill
against the Soviet Union and against me, personally, of course, are groundless." Stalin contends that the
Western powers, just like Hitler, are trying to dominate other nations. To justify the Soviet influence in
Eastern Europe, Stalin emphasizes the need for a buffer zone, stating, "It should be clear that the Soviet
Union cannot be satisfied with a second-rate security, with a security that would leave open the
possibility of a surprise attack by the Americans and the British." He portrays the Soviet takeover of
Eastern European countries as a defensive measure against potential aggression from the West.
Churchill accuses the Soviet Union of adopting Hitler-like tactics through the establishment of an
iron curtain, while Stalin denies the accusations and justifies Soviet influence in Eastern Europe as a
defensive strategy against perceived Western threats. These exchanges illustrate the deepening
ideological and geopolitical divisions that marked the early stages of the Cold War.
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