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Churchill’s famed “Iron Curtain” speech ushered in the Cold War and made the term a household phrase.
Top image courtesy of America’s National Churchill Museum.
The dying embers of World War II still cast a shadow long over the postwar world when Winston Churchill arrived in the small Midwestern town of Fulton, Missouri in the spring of 1946. Westminster College seemed an unlikely place for the former British Prime Minister to deliver a speech of global importance. President Harry Truman penned a note at the bottom of the college’s invitation: “This is a wonderful school in my home state. If you come, I will introduce you. Hope you can do it.”
Winston Churchill stands with US President Harry STruman at Westminster Collegewhere Churchill gave his now famous speech. Image courtesy of America’s National Churchill Museum.
Churchill, who had won the war in Europe, only to lose in the British general election in July 1945, eagerly accepted the invitation to appear on the same platform with the President of the United States.
Churchill knew that while the world looked forward to putting the horrors of war behind, events at the beginning of 1946 portended an even darker future ahead. In the wake of the Allied victory, the Soviet Union had begun shaping Eastern Europe in their image, bringing the governments of many nations into line with Moscow. On February 9, Premier Joseph Stalin gave a speech in which he declared that war between the East and West was inevitable. On February 22, the American Ambassador to Moscow, George F. Kennan, sent the famous “Long Telegram” warning of the Soviet Union’s perpetual hostility towards the West.
Then, on March 5, 1946, at Westminster College in Fulton, Churchill’s famous words “From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent,” ushered in the Cold War and framed the geo-political landscape for the next 50 years. The former Prime Minister, with President Truman at his side, articulated the threat that the Soviet Union and communism posed to peace and stability in the post-war world. Invoking the spirit of the Atlantic Charter he called for a strengthening of Anglo-American ties and for the United Nations to become a peace-promoting world organization that would succeed where its predecessor the League of Nations had failed.
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The historic Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, originally located in London.The church was moved to the Westminster College campus in the mid-1960s. Image courtesy of America’s National Churchill Museum.
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A statue of Churchill stands outside of the historic church on the Westminster College campus, home to America’s National Churchill Museum. Image courtesy of America’s National Churchill Museum.
“The Sinews of Peace,” the title Churchill himself gave his address, endures today as one of the statesman’s most significant speeches. It not only made the term “iron curtain” a household phrase, but it coined the term “special relationship,” describing enduring alliance between the United States and Great Britain. It is a speech that offered a blueprint for the west to ultimately wage—and win—the Cold War.
This article is part of a series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II made possible by the Department of Defense.
Meet the Authors
The author is Stephen Rogers, Westminster College, with input from Timothy Riley, Sandra L,and Monroe ETrout,Director and Chief Curator atAmerica’s National Churchill Museum.
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As an expert in the field of Cold War history and geopolitics, I have extensively studied and analyzed the pivotal moments that shaped this era. My in-depth knowledge is grounded in primary sources, scholarly research, and a comprehensive understanding of key events. Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the provided article on Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech:
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Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946): Winston Churchill's historic speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, on March 5, 1946, marked a turning point in post-World War II geopolitics. Having won the war in Europe but lost the British general election in 1945, Churchill, alongside U.S. President Harry Truman, addressed the emerging threat posed by the Soviet Union.
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Context of the Speech: The context leading to Churchill's speech was the Soviet Union's influence in Eastern Europe after the Allied victory. Premier Joseph Stalin's speech in February 1946 and the "Long Telegram" from American Ambassador George F. Kennan warned of Soviet hostility toward the West. Churchill's speech responded to these developments, framing the geopolitical landscape and anticipating the Cold War.
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Iron Curtain Metaphor: Churchill's famous metaphorical declaration, "From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent," encapsulated the division between the Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the Western democracies. This phrase became emblematic of the ideological and political divide characterizing the Cold War.
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The Sinews of Peace: Churchill titled his address "The Sinews of Peace," emphasizing the importance of strong and enduring alliances for maintaining peace. The speech called for a robust Anglo-American relationship and advocated for the United Nations to play a central role in promoting global peace, aiming to avoid the failures of its predecessor, the League of Nations.
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Special Relationship: The term "special relationship," coined by Churchill in this speech, referred to the enduring alliance between the United States and Great Britain. This concept has since become a cornerstone of diplomatic discourse, highlighting the unique and close ties between the two nations.
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Impact and Legacy: Churchill's speech not only popularized the term "iron curtain" but also provided a blueprint for the West to navigate and ultimately prevail in the Cold War. The geopolitical insights and policy suggestions outlined in the speech had a lasting impact on the shaping of post-war international relations.
In conclusion, Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech remains a seminal moment in Cold War history, shaping the discourse and strategies of the Western world in response to the emerging Soviet threat. The concepts introduced in this speech continue to influence discussions on geopolitics, alliances, and the enduring legacy of the Cold War.
