graduated from the Second World War.Its consequences for Europe were terrible.Tens of millions of people were killed, was destroyed most of the housing stock, agricultural production barely reaches 70% of the pre-war level.
overall economic losses by the most conservative estimates were 1 440 billion pre-war francs.Without the support from outside the country, affected by the war, could not solve the problems.That is what this aid should be determined Marshall Plan, named after its initiator, US Secretary of State and retired military George C. Marshall.
Europe was divided into two parts, East was in the sphere of influence of the USSR and the Stalinist leadership does not hide his hostility to a free market system, as well as the intention to establish a socialist system in all European countries.
Against this background, active force, which is called the "Left".The Communist Party, supported by the Soviet Union, began gaining ground, their popularity grew.
At this point, the US began to feel the threat of the communists came to power in the territory they control in Western Europe.
Marshall Plan became the most successful projects of economic aid in the history of mankind.
army general, who became Secretary of State under Truman, John. Marshall had an economic education.The real fathers of the plan was George. Kennan and his team, they have developed the basic details of its implementation.They just had the task - to work out measures to limit Soviet influence in Western Europe, where, in the case of the communists came to power, the United States could lose the most important markets, and in the future and face a direct military threat.
As a result, economists elaborated a document called "Marshall Plan."In its implementation, sixteen European countries have received assistance worth a total $ 17 billion.However, the Marshall Plan provided for not just distributing food and eating up American money, assistance is provided in compliance with very strict conditions, such as the reduction of customs duties, the rejection of the nationalization of enterprises and support for market-based economic principles, it could receive only democratic country.17% of the funds received have been spent on the acquisition of production equipment.
Himself George Marshall at Harvard speech June 5, 1947 expressed the essence of the state of US policy in the military clearly.The fight against communism is not possible if Europe is weak.
Marshall Plan - a successful attempt recovery of war-affected countries, and by 1950 they exceeded the prewar level of agricultural and industrial production.
Some assistance is provided free of charge, but they were mostly loans at low rates.
Marshall Plan was criticized by the leadership of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries of "people's democracy", but made just four years incomplete macroeconomic indicators speak for themselves.The level of influence of the Communist parties began to rapidly decline, but America got a huge market for its goods.
