Map Showing The Iron Curtain

Prev Article Next Article

The Iron Curtain was an iconic symbol of the Cold War, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. It was a physical and metaphorical barrier between the Soviet Union and its allies and the rest of Europe. This map shows the geographical extent of the Iron Curtain, as well as the countries affected by it.

The events leading up to the Iron Curtain began with the end of World War II and the division of Europe into two spheres of influence - Western Europe and the Soviet Union. As tensions between the West and the Soviets grew, the Iron Curtain became increasingly solidified. The Soviet Union and its allies erected a series of physical barriers - barbed wire fences, walls, and minefields - to separate East from West. These barriers formed the basis for the Iron Curtain, which would become an enduring symbol of the Cold War.

The Iron Curtain had significant economic and political implications for the countries it separated. It restricted movement between East and West, making it difficult for citizens of the Eastern Bloc to travel or trade with the West. The Iron Curtain also meant that the two halves of Europe had very different economic systems, with the East operating under a centrally-planned economy and the West under a market economy.

The map of the Iron Curtain reveals the extent to which the divide between East and West affected Europe. While the most visible sign of the Iron Curtain was the physical barriers stretching across Europe, the map shows other aspects of the divide, such as the different currencies used in each side and the disparities in living standards.

The Berlin Wall is perhaps the most iconic symbol of the Iron Curtain and the separation between East and West. The wall was built in 1961 and stood until 1989, when it was torn down amid a wave of popular protests against the Soviet-backed East German government. Other less-known walls were also built to keep people from crossing the Iron Curtain. The Iron Curtain was also enforced through surveillance and the use of secret police forces to prevent those who opposed the governments of the Eastern Bloc from escaping.

The Iron Curtain was eventually dismantled in 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved and the Cold War came to an end. But the legacy of the Iron Curtain remains, as the map shows. The division between East and West may be gone, but the countries of Europe still have different economic systems and levels of development. For many, the Iron Curtain serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of democracy and human rights.

Map Of Iron Curtain And Ex U S R Former Soviet Union Countries