 starter activity Watch this clip of Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech. Imagine you have the task of writing a piece for the Soviet state newspaper Pravda in reaction to Churchill’s comments. What will you say? (In reality the speech wasn’t published in Russia until 1998!). Try to explain why he is wrong and why he has no right to criticise the USSR in this way 

‘Iron Curtain’ Europe, blue= NATO, red = Warsaw Pact, others independent

Reactions to Churchill’s speech USSR wanted to create a ‘buffer zone’ USSR wanted to create a ‘buffer zone’ West benefited from ‘Marshall Aid’, East needed assistance from Comecon West benefited from ‘Marshall Aid’, East needed assistance from Comecon Moscow keen to demonstrate momentum to set up Communism came from ordinary people, e.g. use of political processes to extend influence Moscow keen to demonstrate momentum to set up Communism came from ordinary people, e.g. use of political processes to extend influence British had its own ‘sphere of influence’ – Empire British had its own ‘sphere of influence’ – Empire Churchill portrayed as provocative, ‘warmonger’ Churchill portrayed as provocative, ‘warmonger’

Is there any reason to think Churchill was a warmonger? Assess the impact of Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech, March 1946 Understand the methods of and reasons for Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe  Aims

 Your task Give a presentation (using ppt.) and produce a factoid on how the USSR extended (or tried to extend) its influence over European after WWII. Explain the methods used. Use Williamson, pp to start with but you’ll need to research further. Give a presentation (using ppt.) and produce a factoid on how the USSR extended (or tried to extend) its influence over European after WWII. Explain the methods used. Use Williamson, pp to start with but you’ll need to research further. Countries: Countries: Poland Poland Romania & Bulgaria Romania & Bulgaria Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Greece Greece Hungary Hungary Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Finland Finland

 Your task Read Williams, p and the factoids from your colleagues, to produce your own chart of the evidence of Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe. Read Williams, p and the factoids from your colleagues, to produce your own chart of the evidence of Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe. Create a key identifying common ways in which Communism was introduced in each country Create a key identifying common ways in which Communism was introduced in each country

Plenary Plenary What does this British cartoon of 1946 reveal about East- West attitudes at the time? Is there any reason to think that Churchill was a warmonger?