Iron Curtain

• Iron Curtain


  An expression invented by Winston Churchill in 1946
• Iron Curtain


  • A barrier created by laws and regulations
  • Stops free political thought and ideas
• Iron Curtain in Berlin


  • The Soviets used a real, physical barrier to stop free political thoughts and ideas
• How Stalin created the Iron Curtain

  1. Salami tactics: he takes control in small steps

  2. The Red Army liberates the country from the Nazis

  3. The Red Army gives the Communists control of the police and other state institutions

  4. Elections are held which the Communists lose

  5. The police arrest and execute non Communist politicians

  6. Other political parties 'merge' with the Communist party

  7. New elections are held which the Communists win
• Cominform


  • Set up in October 1947 to coordinate the Communist Parties in eastern Europe
  • Communist Party leaders regularly briefed in Moscow
  • Allowed Stalin to keep a close eye on eastern European leaders
  • People he didn't like were expelled
• Marshall Tito

  • Communist leader of Yugoslavia
  • Stalin had no control over his country
  • Tito left Cominform in 1948
• Why Stalin created the Iron Curtain


  • He wanted a buffer zone between Germany and the USSR
  • He was power hungry and wanted to control more countries
  • He was scared of the USA and wanted allies/buffers against western Europe
  • He was a passionate Communist and wanted to bring Communism to as many people as possible