Iron Curtain

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At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union unexpectedly gained control over a vast territory in Eastern Europe. Stalin and his secret police aimed to transform diverse nations into a unified communist system. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum explores the formation of Communist regimes and the impact on daily life. She details the systematic destruction of political parties, the church, media, and civil society institutions. Applebaum explains the organization of secret police, the dominance of communist media, and the eradication of opposition. Drawing on new archival material and previously unknown sources, she reveals the tactics used by communists to intimidate and eliminate dissent. The narrative also highlights individual choices faced by people: to resist, escape, or collaborate. Within a short time after the war, Eastern Europe underwent a brutal Stalinization. This work serves as a profound history of a harsh era and a stark reminder of the fragility of free societies. The Soviet Bloc, now a lost civilization, is depicted with its cruelty, paranoia, and peculiar moral landscape, all captured in this exceptional historical and moral examination.