More than a humanitarian endeavor, the Marshall Plan was one of the most effective foreign policies in all of American history, in large part because, as Behrman writes, it was born and executed in a time when American "foreign policy was defined by its national interests and the very best of ideals."

Average Rating:


Review: 2008-07-01

Good overview of the Marshall Plan
This book brought back memories of studying the Marshall Plan in HS. It is well written and the author tosses in some personal details of the people involved which livens up the book. It is remarkable that the American people went along with it, for the most part, even after losing over 400000 soldiers in WWII.


Review: 2008-06-23

"Freedom [can] not be maintained by bullets alone"
Detailed history of the plan that helped Europe get back on it's feet after WWII and kept Stalin and the communists from spreading their influence into Western Europe. Greg Behrman gives the account of how Secretary of State George Marshall's speech went from an idea to such an ambitious plan.

Following the War, Europe was in shambles. Germany had been the major manufacturing power but industry and distribution channels had been disrupted and destroyed. The people were discouraged and pessimistic about recovery, and the weather was worse than usual. The US had already given a lot of "relief aid" with nothing to show for it. Marshall envisioned a much more ambitious goal of helping to rebuild those systems that would allow Europe to pull itself out of it's problems, but he wanted to keep it under the Congressional radar long enough to prevent them from changing the essential humanitarian (and expensive) nature of the plan. Even then, it was a tough sell and only through some unlikely allies such as Michigan Senator and ex-isolationist Arthur Vandenburg was it passed. Many continued to try to cut the funding, but extensive propaganda efforts saved it. Other important figures such as Paul Hoffman, Richard Bissell, Will Clayton, Averell Harriman, etc., and their enormous contributions are discussed, as well as some of the mechanics of how it made Europeans a partner in their rebuilding. Also prominent are the essential contributions of important Europeans, such as Bevine (UK) and Bidault (France).

A key point about the Marshall Plan was it's focus on preventing communist influence from spreading and containing Stalin's power. Behrman explains the efforts communists employed to sabotage the plan, everything from Molotov's delay tactics in early negotiations to the strikes and riots by Italian and French communists, and the influence the US had in Italian elections in 1948. But Behrman makes it very clear where the communists overplayed their hand, and instead brought home the necessity of the plan to those in Congress who were more inclined toward an isolationist policy. He explains the reasons for reluctance to offer aid, the efforts that had already been made, the difficulties faced by the starved European countries and the "dollar gap" that prevented them from importing what they needed. US efforts at European economic integration (50 years before the EU!) are also discussed extensively, as well as French fears over a rebuilt Germany.

Interesting and definitely worth reading but not always a very "rousing" or compelling history of what was perhaps America's greatest moment. But the greater story here is entirely relevant to our current situation in and policy toward the Middle-East. The Marshall Plan worked because it made Europeans responsible for rebuilding their economy, and then gave them the help needed to get started. It was administered mostly by selfless men who had the brains to make it work, and corruption was very minimal. It was not heavy-handed and forceful, seeking to dictate all the conditions attached to the aid given, but wasn't simple charity either. And it had true leadership at all levels, something we seem to be missing today.

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