Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech—March 5, 1946 | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans (2024)

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What did Churchill say in his Iron Curtain speech? ›

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.

In the speech he said "an iron curtain had descended across Europe." This shows the metaphorical division in Europe. In his speech he called for the USA and the west to stand up against the spread of communism beyond the agreed parameters at Yalta.

Ask anyone to name Winston Churchill's best-known speech and nine times out of ten they will answer: We shall fight them on the beaches. It's not an exact quotation – Churchill did not include the word 'them' – but the power of the language is undeniable.

– Winston Churchill, "The Sinews of Peace" ('Iron Curtain' Speech). On March 5, 1946, the presence of Winston Churchill and President Harry Truman turned a college gymnasium in a small Midwestern town into a world state as Churchill delivered his most famous post- World War II address — "The Sinews of Peace."

Churchill used the speech to emphasize the necessity for the United States and Britain to act as the guardians of peace and stability against the menace of Soviet communism, which had lowered an “iron curtain” across Europe.

The Iron Curtain specifically refers to the imaginary line dividing Europe between Soviet influence and Western influence, and symbolizes efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas.

Winston Churchill warned about Soviet expansion in his 1946 ''Sinews of Peace'' speech, also known as the Iron Curtain speech. Churchill called for the U.S. and Britain to unite so that they could halt the spread of communism.

Churchill states that, to the east of the iron curtain, Soviet domination is resulting in a lack of freedom, the creation of a police state, and ever-growing control emanating from Moscow (in effect creating Soviet “satellite” states in Eastern Europe).

One man who had first hand knowledge was a Foreign Service officer, George F. Kennan. In 1946, while he was Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow, Kennan sent an 8,000-word telegram to the Department—the now-famous “long telegram”—on the aggressive nature of Stalin's foreign policy.

I'm bored with it all. The last words from the mouth of statesman and great orator, Winston Churchill, before slipping in to a coma. He died nine days later.

Who said "never ever give up"? ›

Winston Churchill Quotes. Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about. If you're going through hell, keep going.

The term “iron curtain” was the symbol Churchill used to denote the separation of Europe into two rival camps. On one side of the iron curtain were the democracies of western Europe while on the other side were the totalitarian countries of central and eastern European that were dominated by the Soviet Union.

He declared that an Iron Curtain had descended across the continent of Europe. The speech had several important ramifications. Firstly, Stalin interpreted it as US beliefs being broadcast by Churchill. Secondly, the speech significantly increased tension between the US and the Soviet Union.

It is my duty however, for I am sure you would wish me to state the facts as I see them to you, to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe. From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. President Truman was on the platform with Churchill (who had discussed the speech with him, and with Secretary of State Byrnes, beforehand, though both later denied this).

“Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat”

We have before us many long months of toil and struggle. “You ask what is our policy. I will say, it is to wage war with all our might, with all the strength that God can give us, to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime.

Given at Westminster College in Missouri just a year after the end of the Second World War, this speech would set the stage for the next forty five years of the 'Cold War'. Why did he travel to Fulton, Missouri? Because the invitation was endorsed by President Truman, who agreed to introduce him.

The title of his speech was “The Sinews of Peace," but its primary message was that the United States and Great Britain needed to confront an increasingly aggressive Soviet Union.

Which of the following most accurately restates what Churchill was saying? The world needs to maintain peaceful relations with the nations of Central and Eastern Europe.