Analysis
The exact phrase appears in the published transcript of Churchill’s speech to the students of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, delivered on 5 March 1946. The line is quoted in numerous reputable historical sources and is widely recognized as the origin of the “Iron Curtain” metaphor. No credible evidence contradicts the attribution.
Background
The speech was given shortly after World War II, as tensions between the Soviet Union and Western Allies were rising. Churchill’s remark symbolized the growing political, military, and ideological divide between Eastern Europe, under Soviet influence, and the West. The phrase quickly entered common usage to describe the Cold War division of Europe.
Verdict summary
Churchill indeed said, “An iron curtain has descended across the Continent,” in his 5 March 1946 Westminster College address.