The Iron Curtain & The Berlin Wall
SS5H7 The student will discuss the origins and consequences of the Cold War.
a. Explain the origin and meaning of the term "Iron Curtain."
b. Explain how the United States sought to stop the spread of communism through the Berlin airlift, the Korean War, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
c. Identify Joseph McCarthy and Nikita Khrushchev.
SS5H8 The student will describe the importance of key people, events, and developments between 1950-1975.
a. Discuss the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
d. Discuss the significance of the technologies of television and space exploration.
a. Explain the origin and meaning of the term "Iron Curtain."
b. Explain how the United States sought to stop the spread of communism through the Berlin airlift, the Korean War, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
c. Identify Joseph McCarthy and Nikita Khrushchev.
SS5H8 The student will describe the importance of key people, events, and developments between 1950-1975.
a. Discuss the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
d. Discuss the significance of the technologies of television and space exploration.
What was the difference between the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain?
In 1946 Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain, delivered a speech in which he declared than an iron curtain was descending upon Europe. What he meant was that after the World War II ended the Soviet Union took control of all of the countries in eastern Europe. The countries that fell into Soviet control lost much of their freedom, but they were not given the opportunity to seek freedom elsewhere. The borders were guarded and they could not leave to go to the free countries in western Europe even if they wanted too. The Iron Curtain was not actually a physical wall in most places, but it separated the communist and capitalist countries.
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall on the other hand was actually a wall that was built right through the middle of Berlin the capital of Germany. West Berlin became free after WWII, while east Berlin was controlled by the Soviets and did not receive the same freedom. While the city was divided soon after World War II, the actual Berlin Wall was not actually built until 1961. This wall split the city in half and made it almost impossible for citizens of east Berlin to escape into free west Berlin.
Map of the Iron Curtain
It is interesting to notice that the city of Berlin is actually on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain. Half of the city remained free and because of the agreement that was signed after WWII. However, the Soviets tried to blockade the city of west Berlin from receiving any supplies from the west. They would have been able to take control of west Berlin had it not been for the year long efforts of the Berlin Airlift.
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