Cold War Map: Iron Curtain

Create a map key: throughout mapping activity. Turn to page 901 for a reference during this activity

Step 1 After WWII Germany is divided into East and West Germany. With a BLACK pen or pencil draw a dividing line showing this partition. The Soviet Union controlled East Germany; West Germany became democratic nation resuming self-governance after American, British, and French occupation.

Step 2 Between 1946-1948 the USSR (communists) begin taking over Eastern Europe. Starting with East Germany lightly color all countries to the right including the USSR RED to represent the communist countries. In 1955 these countries formed an alliance known as the Warsaw Pact. In the key box label Warsaw Pact. RED–Includes U.S.S.R. Byellorussia, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania

Step 3 Starting with West Germany lightly color all of the countries to the left BLUE to represent the democratic nations. These nations formed the alliance NATO in 1949. In the key box label NATO blue. –Includes West Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands/Holland, Norway, and Portugal

Step 4: Color Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Ireland, and Yugoslavia YELLOW for neutral nations Mark Yellow on your key and label it neutral

Step 4 Turn to page 903 The clear divide between the democracies and communists in Europe is known as the Iron Curtain. Extend your BLACK line representing the divide in Germany to represent the Iron Curtain. The Communist countries of Eastern Europe and the NATO democracies of the West were isolated from one another for decades after WWII. The term “iron curtain” symbolized this rigid and hostile division. Label Iron Curtain in map key with a black line.

Step 5 In 1947 the United States adopts the Truman Doctrine in an effort to protect nations threatened by communism. The Doctrine was first established to keep Turkey and Greece from falling to communism. Draw a FENCE surrounding Turkey and Greece to represent the US protecting these countries from communism. Represent the Truman Doctrine in the map key with a fence symbol. (American Policy of Containment)

Step 6 In 1948-1952 the United States begins giving aid to European countries in an effort to help them rebuild after WWII and prevent them from falling to communism. Draw an arrow coming from the United States and GREEN money signs throughout the Western part of Europe to represent the Marshall Plan. Label the Marshall Plan in the key box with a money sign.

Step 7 The Soviet Union develops the Atomic Bomb in 1949. Draw a mushroom cloud in the Soviet Union and LABEL it with 1949.

Step 8 Turn to page 908/909 – we will read together On the small map of Germany draw the divide between East and West and color the two sides according to your key Label Berlin

Step 9 In 1948-1949 the USSR blocked the Western Allies’ railway and road access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied control in an effort to gain full control of Berlin. In response the Western Allies organized the Berlin Airlift to carry supplies to the people in West Berlin. On the mall map of Germany, label Berlin. Then, with a BLACK pen draw airplanes over Berlin to represent the Berlin Airlift. In the key box label the Berlin Airlift with a plane.

Step 10 Draw the boundaries for the British/French/American/USSR occupation in Germany and label according