In 1914 Belgium’s Queen gave this phrase a political meaning, saying one had descended between her & Germany

The clue for the September 10, 2025 episode of Jeopardy drew from the category “Historic Phrases,” and referred to a moment in 1914 during the early days of World War I. The phrase in question—”The Iron Curtain”—is best known from its association with the Cold War, particularly from Winston Churchill’s 1946 speech. However, the clue points to an earlier and lesser-known political usage by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium.

At the start of World War I, Belgium became a focal point of international attention when Germany violated its neutrality by invading. According to historical accounts, Queen Elisabeth used the phrase “an iron curtain has descended between us and Germany” to express the profound severing of diplomatic and cultural ties between her country and the invading German Empire. This use marked one of the earliest political applications of the metaphor.

While Churchill’s later use of “Iron Curtain” made it famous in reference to the division of Europe during the Cold War, the Belgian Queen’s wartime remark illustrates how the phrase had already taken root in political discourse years earlier. It framed the stark isolation Belgium faced and foreshadowed the enduring imagery of separation and ideological conflict the phrase would later represent.

The Origins of “Iron Curtain” Before Churchill

Churchill’s 1946 speech in Fulton, Missouri, is often credited with popularizing the phrase “Iron Curtain” to describe the growing divide between the Soviet bloc and Western Europe. However, the phrase had appeared in earlier writings and political statements, including those by theatrical and political figures in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Queen Elisabeth’s comment in 1914 used the phrase metaphorically to convey a sudden and irreversible transformation in relations. Her words, spoken during a crisis in which Germany’s invasion led to horrific consequences for Belgian civilians and sovereignty, framed Germany not just as a military aggressor but as a former cultural and diplomatic neighbor now cut off entirely by an invisible but impenetrable barrier.

This early use of the phrase contributed to its evolution as a symbol of separation and hostility—one that would later resonate on a global scale during the Cold War era.

Historical Context: Belgium in World War I

Germany’s invasion of Belgium in August 1914 was a defining moment in the opening days of World War I. The small, neutral country was seen as a corridor to France, but its occupation triggered widespread condemnation and brought Britain into the conflict. Belgium, under King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth, quickly became a symbol of resistance against imperial aggression.

Queen Elisabeth, born a duchess in Bavaria, had close familial ties to Germany. Her use of “Iron Curtain” reflected a deeply personal sense of betrayal, as the war pitted her birth nation against her adopted homeland. The phrase captured both emotional and political dimensions—describing not only a diplomatic rupture but a familial and cultural one as well.

Belgium’s experience in World War I shaped international views on neutrality and occupation, and the Queen’s poignant use of language helped convey the depth of the crisis to the world. Her remark stands as an early example of how metaphoric language could capture the emotional weight of global conflict.

The Phrase’s Legacy and Broader Use

Following Queen Elisabeth’s 1914 usage, the term “Iron Curtain” appeared occasionally in political discourse, but it was not until Churchill’s use in 1946 that it became permanently etched into geopolitical vocabulary. In that speech, he said, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent,” referring to the division between Western democracies and Eastern communist regimes.

Still, historical records have since highlighted prior appearances of the term, and Queen Elisabeth’s invocation remains among the most notable early uses. It reflected a psychological and symbolic severance just as powerful as the physical divisions that would come decades later with the Berlin Wall and the fortified Eastern bloc.

Understanding the phrase’s earlier history offers insight into how language evolves in response to global events. What began as a monarch’s expression of devastation during wartime would later morph into one of the 20th century’s most defining metaphors.

Final Thoughts

The September 10 Final Jeopardy clue reminded viewers that even iconic historical phrases can have surprising and layered histories. “The Iron Curtain” is widely associated with the Cold War, but its roots go back to World War I, when Queen Elisabeth of Belgium gave the phrase a powerful and personal political meaning.

This moment in 1914 captures how language can define the spirit of a nation under siege. More than just a phrase, “Iron Curtain” became a symbol of rupture—first for Belgium, and later for a divided Europe. Jeopardy’s clue serves as a compelling reminder that history is often written not just in battles and treaties, but in the enduring power of words.