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Question: What is the Iron Curtain and why is it sigificant!?
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The Iron Curtain was a term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the secrecy taking place in communist countries in Europe, after 1945!. It was significant in that it was an apt description for an uwillingness to allow freedom of movement to people, to state security and secrecy and foresaw the emergence of a Cold War between two blocks of peoples in mainland Europe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Following WWII, the Soviet Union controlled several countries in Eastern Europe, and the border between those countries and the "free" Western Europe was known as the Iron Curtain!. I believe Winston Churchill coined the phrase!. The Iron Curtain began basically with the division of Germany into East and West Germany, with East Germany becoming a Soviet controlled Communist state!. The difficult thing is that Berlin, which was in East Germany, was also divided in half (half controlled by the Soviets, half controlled by the rest of the Allies) and West Berlin had to be supplied by the Berlin Airlift!.

The Iron Curtain wasn't "lifted" until the fall of the Soviet Union in the late 80s and early 90s, though there were several attempts throughout the years between 1945 and 1989 by Soviet satellite countries to gain their independence again!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'll only add that the Iron Curtain did have a physical presence: the Communist countries installed a variety of barriers across their borders with the non-Communist western countries, most notably the Berlin Wall!. The barriers were to keep their people in, and to keep Western ideas out!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Iron Curtain is a figurative term for Communist countries!. After World War 2, outsiders were not allowed to visit, and residents were not allowed to leave communist countries!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The term "Iron Curtain" was first used by Winston Churchill and marked the beginning of the "Cold War"!.
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The Iron Curtain was a invisible barrier separating East and West Europe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com