Actual iron curtains appeared in theaters in the late 18th century.The scene was lit mainly by candles, so there was always the chance of fire.In case of fire between the stage and auditorium of the iron curtain fell, which blocked the fire.
But the term "Iron Curtain" appeared on everyone's lips is not related to safety in the theaters of the Renaissance.This is a political cliche, which is called a difficult period in world history.
"Iron Curtain" in political terms
"Iron Curtain" - a political metaphor that means political, economic and cultural isolation of the country, in this case the Soviet Union, from other states.
Who is the author of expression?
Basically authorship attributed to Churchill, but it is not so.To be very precise, the first time this metaphor used the Russian philosopher Vasily Rozanov in his book "Apocalypse of Our Time," written in 1917.He likened the events of the October Revolution with the theatrical action, after which the "clanging, creaking" dropped a bulky iron curtain of Russian history.Nothing good is an idea, according to Rozanov, did not bring the contrary same audience, I watched it all, suddenly became naked and homeless.
Two years later, at the Paris Peace Conference is an expression used the French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau in his speech.He expressed readiness of the capitalist countries to erect around Bolshevism huge iron curtain to protect Western civilization from the pernicious influence.It is not known, he borrowed the metaphor Rozanov, or come up with your own.Whatever it was, it succinct expression came into wide usage only almost 30 years after Churchill's speech.
But before that (March 1945) was even written an article Joseph Goebbels called "Year 2000".Understanding the proximity of Germany's defeat, the Nazi propaganda minister wanted at least to embroil the allies of that time - the US and the UK - and set them against the Soviet Union, describing the bleak prospects of the future, if the Germans surrendered.Russian expansion to the east and south-east Europe, he called the same term "Iron Curtain".This assumption turned out to be prophetic.
A year later, the words of Goebbels began to slowly come true.Then British Prime Minister has, Winston Churchill, the United States wanting to warn of the impending danger of Bolshevism, made his famous speech in Fulton, which is considered the starting point of the "cold war."According to him, the "Iron Curtain" - is the isolation of the USSR from other countries.He then announced which countries will come under the influence of socialist Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia.And so it happened.
How did the "iron curtain" in the USSR
Since 1946 Stalin Soviet Union is building around "health circle" of "friendly" socialist states in order to prevent military intervention.Everything was like in the West, was declared harmful and damaging.World of Soviet citizens was divided into black and white, that is, capitalism and socialism.And the flames poured the two warring sides.
addition tacit confrontation, the initiators of the conflict issued his dislike officially joining the rival unions.In 1949, it was created by the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), and in 1955 - signed the Warsaw Pact.
visible symbol of this opposition of two political systems was the erection in 1961 of the Berlin Wall.
strained relations of the bipolar world and the influence on trade and economic relations between the two blocs of states.
In addition, the Western media have created a lot of myths and legends about the life in a country where omitted the "iron curtain".Years of isolation have made their own.
life behind the "Iron Curtain"
As such isolation affect the lives of ordinary citizens?
First of all they had a very limited opportunity to get behind the border of the USSR (a trip to the "friendly" countries do not count, because everything is well, it is very reminiscent of Soviet reality).Units it was possible, but be sure to follow them security agents.
Generally, the KGB could find out about the lives of everyone everything.Citizens with "unreliable" views were always on the note from the intelligence services.If someone had the wrong from the standpoint of the party view, it could easily declare an enemy of the people, and over the years it meant either the link or the shooting.
residents of the Soviet Union was very limited in the choice of clothing, equipment and transport.Then the concept of "deficit."Get something worthwhile (real jeans, cigarettes "Marlboro" or even record "The Beatles") it was only possible in the long pull."Iron Curtain" in the Soviet sphere of influence and culture: many European and American movies, books, songs were simply banned.
was destroyed
"Cold War" lasted more than 40 years.During this time, the two superpowers are tired of the arms race.In 1987, an agreement was signed about the destruction of both countries of certain types of missiles.Further, the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan.The new Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev radically changed the foreign policy of the state.In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell.In 1991, ceased to exist and the Soviet Union.Thus the proverbial "iron curtain" of the post-Soviet space was finally raised.
"Iron Curtain" - a history lesson, for which many had to pay a very high price.
