In February of 1945, the Yalta Conference brought together the leaders of the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union to discuss the ongoing and post-war advancements of World War II. Each leader had their own agenda, with Churchill pushing for democratic governments and free elections in Central and Eastern Europe.

One of the most significant outcomes of the conference was the decision to divide Germany into four occupied zones - Soviet, British, French and American - with plans for demilitarisation and denazification. This decision manifested the potent ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union, foreshadowing the later division of Berlin.

Less than a year later, in March of 1946, Churchill delivered his infamously divisive speech, popularising the notion of an "iron curtain" dividing Eastern and Western Europe and emphasising the necessity for the United States and Britain to act as guardians of peace and stability against Soviet communism. This truly marked the beginning of the Cold War and signalled the end of cooperation between the Soviet Union and its Western allies.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union had shifted Eastern Europe into a military and political space that would serve as a buffer between them and the West. Mutual suspicion, ideological posturing, rhetorical extravagance and misunderstandings locked the two sides in a tense standoff. Winston Churchill believed that a three-part strategy was necessary to combat this Cold War: military strength, dialogue with Russia and a united states of Europe to repair relations and recover from the destruction of World War II.

Through it all, Churchill understood that cooperation among Britain, the United States and the United Nations would be key in creating the "sinews of peace." While some sought to win the Cold War, Churchill pursued overcoming it, highlighting the dangers of a nuclear arms race and advocating for a mutually favourable resolution instead.

What did Winston Churchill's original approach to countering the Cold War seem like in hindsight?

- During the Cold War, there was a consistent emphasis on maintaining the military strength of the United States and its primary ally, Britain. While some argue that this arms competition was a liability in the eventual collapse of the USSR, it allowed for a durable power balance to be maintained.

- Churchill recognized the importance of constructive relations with the Soviet Union, and this was made possible through the establishment of lines of communication with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. With Gorbachev's rise to power, Soviet-US relations transitioned from being confrontational to cooperative, thereby paving the way for the emergence of independent former Soviet states that eventually became part of NATO.

- While he did not have the foresight to predict every twist and turn of the Cold War, Churchill did proffer some workable solutions to the conflicts of the time. His peaceful efforts within the context of the Cold War remain among his greatest contributions.

- As UK Prime Minister, Churchill strove to be a peacemaker, mediating between East and West and forging a rapprochement that would ultimately guarantee peace between the Soviet Union and a neutral Germany. His “Iron Curtain” speech emphasized the need for the US and Britain to be protectors of global peace, despite the threat of Soviet communism. Churchill always sought peaceful resolutions to conflict, making him an exceptional political figure.

- Winston Churchill's legacy transcends his role as inspirational political leader, orator, and writer, and his victory in Britain's Second World War. He is also remembered as one of the architects of the Cold War, due to his staunch opposition to Stalinism and his coining of the phrase “Iron Curtain”. This referred to the Soviet hold on Eastern Europe which divided Western Europe and the Soviet Union politically and ideologically.