Which speech highlighted the ideological battle lines during the early Cold War period?

The Iron Curtain speech, delivered by Winston Churchill in 1946, is considered a pivotal moment in the early Cold War period as it clearly outlined the ideological divide between the Western democracies and the Eastern communist countries. In this speech, Churchill famously described the "iron curtain" that had descended across Europe, symbolizing the separation of the Soviet-controlled countries from the free nations of the West. His emphasis on the threat posed by the Soviet Union and the need for a united response from the West helped to crystallize the perceptions of the geopolitical landscape at that time.

This speech not only reflected the tensions arising from the post-World War II power shift but also set the stage for subsequent policies and alliances that defined the West's stance against communism. It highlighted the clear ideological battle lines that would dominate the Cold War, reinforcing the notion of a moral and political conflict between democracy and totalitarianism. As such, the Iron Curtain speech is integral to understanding the dynamics of early Cold War attitudes and policies.