How did Winston Churchill metaphorically describe the divide between Western and Eastern Europe?

Winston Churchill metaphorically described the divide between Western and Eastern Europe as an "iron curtain" in his famous speech in 1946. This term vividly illustrated the ideological, political, and cultural barriers that had emerged in Europe following World War II, particularly as the Soviet Union expanded its influence over Eastern Europe. The "iron curtain" symbolized not just the physical division of the continent but also the oppressive nature of Soviet control, suggesting that the Eastern bloc was closed off from the freedoms experienced in the West.

The imagery of an "iron curtain" conveys strength and permanence, indicating that this division was not temporary but rather a significant and lasting change in the political landscape post-war. It effectively communicated the urgency of the situation to the audience by emphasizing that the ideological divide was stark, impenetrable, and detrimental to global peace and democracy.