{"id":6359,"date":"2023-10-10T00:16:49","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T00:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/?p=6359"},"modified":"2023-10-10T00:16:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T00:16:54","slug":"the-iron-curtain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/the-iron-curtain\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Iron Curtain: A Historical Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Iron Curtain was an impenetrable ideological barrier. It divided Europe into capitalist and communist groups. It emerged at the end of World War II<\/a> in 1945 and continued to exist until the Cold War<\/a>, around 1989-1990. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term symbolizes the intention and efforts of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to block itself and its dependent \u201csatellite\u201d states<\/a> from establishing open contact with the West, its allies, and other non-communist states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspecting a guard of honour of the Scots Guards at British Headquarters, Berlin, 1945<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Origins of the term \u201cIron Curtain\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201ciron curtain<\/a>\u201d originally referred to iron safety curtains installed on stages in theaters as an obligatory precaution to slow the spread of fire. It eventually meant the distinction and strict separation that Soviet Russia upheld from the early 19th century.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1913, prominent Russian philosopher Vasily Rozanav wrote The Apocalypse of Our Time<\/a>. Part of the short essay read: \u201cWith clanging, creaking, and squeaking, an iron curtain is lowering over Russian history. The performance is over.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, an article entitled, \u201cBehind the Iron Curtain\u201d, was published in May 1943. It seconded the belief of many Westerners with its statement: “the iron curtain that more than ever before separates the world from the Soviet Union.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable mention must be given to American Writer Alexander Campbell who again used the term in his 1945 book, It\u2019s Your Empire<\/em>. He wrote, \u201can iron curtain of silence and censorship [which] has descended since the Japanese conquests of 1942\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cold War: Hard Facts <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The antagonism between the Soviet Union and the West traces its roots from a range of ideological, political, and economic factors, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n