In the aftermath of World War II, Europe struggled to rebuild. A new geopolitical divide emerged between the Soviet Union and the West. This divide marked the start of the Cold War. The Soviet Union’s occupation and control of Eastern Europe was central to this divide. Winston Churchill famously called it the “Iron Curtain.” The rapid Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe shocked Western powers. It triggered an urgent response. This led to pivotal moments like Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech. George Kennan’s Long Telegram followed. Then came the introduction of the Truman Doctrine. Together, these events set the stage for the Cold War and established the foundations of a new world order.

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1. Soviet Occupation of Eastern Europe: Consolidating Control

By the end of World War II in 1945, Soviet troops had occupied much of Eastern Europe. This initially appeared to be part of the Allied effort to defeat the Axis powers. It soon became clear that the Soviet Union had different goals. Under Joseph Stalin’s leadership, the USSR sought to establish control over the countries of Eastern and Central Europe. They aimed to create a buffer zone of communist satellite states. This was to protect against any future invasion.