In June 1947, the Secretary of State delivered the beginning address at Harvard University. George Catlett Marshall had been named to the important position for his indispensable role in World War II, his influence, and his outstanding reputation with congress and the American people. Throughout World War II Marshall was U.S army chief of staff. He built and directed one of the largest armies in history. He became Secretary of State in 1947 and later served as Secretary of Defense. For his efforts in helping Europe, Marshall was later awarded 1953 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the first professional soldier to receive it. The plan he proposed in his speech later became known as the Marshall Plan.
The Economic Recovery Program (ERP), also known as “The Marshall Plan”, was created to be a solution to the wide-spread hunger, unemployment, and housing shortages in Europe during the aftermath of World War II. Though Marshall was given credit for the plan, it was formally created by state department officials. Its main focus was to present a plan to help the economic recovery of European nations shock by World War II. This plan mainly looked forward to the future, and did not focus on the outcome of World War II.
At this time after World War II, Europe was in bad circumstances. Raw materials and food were in short supply. War damaged industries needed machinery and production help to recreate a new economy. Under the control of the United States, the Marshall Plan was important to prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe and to stabilize the international order in a way so that democracy and the free-market economies were retained.
The reaction of the Europeans to this plan was positive and quick. The British and the French foreign ministers invited twenty-two European countries to send representatives to Paris to write up a recovery plan. Sixteen of the countries accepted this offer, only the Soviet Union and countries that were under their power declined. Czechoslovakia and Poland wanted to attend, but Stalin used his power to stop them. Spain was not invited and Finland declined. “This plan was the boldest, most successful, and certainly the most expensive foreign initiative ever attempted in peacetime.” This idea gave Western European nations time to recover and maintain their economic and political independence.
This plan was in use for four years and in these four years congress appropriated $13.3 billion for Europe’s recovery. The Western Europeans and the United States both benefitted from this plan. Most of the recovering nations bought goods and services from the U.S. They developed into trading partners and formed individual and collective friendships between the two. The Marshall Plan was a very successful plan and helped Europe develop into what they have become of today. The Marshall Plan also established international cooperation and fostered the creation of other organizations, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the current European Union (EU).
The Marshall Plan was scheduled to end in 1953. Growing commitment to the Korean War prevented any continuation of the plan. By then the European countries were steadily growing in production of goods and food supplies. Starvation, a result of the WWII, disappeared and economies grew at a very fast rate. Citizens of these Western European countries were well fed and content with their societies. This made the countries more stable and there were less political arguments.
Word Count 577
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad is one of the many major battles in World War II in which Germany and their allies fought the Soviet Union. This battle began because the Germans wanted control of the city of Stalingrad because it stood in their way to controlling the Caucasus oil fields. The fighting took place July 17, 1942- February 2, 1943 and has been declared as one of the turning points in the war. This battle has been cited as the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare. Throughout the battle more than one million men were wounded, died and/or were captured on both of the German and Russian sides.
This battle for the city of Stalingrad resulted in Germany’s defeat in the World War II. How did the Red Army defeat the Germans? Early in the campaign, Germany focused on attacking Leningrad and Moscow, but that had failed. So Hitler decided to invade southern Russia (where Stalingrad was located). The 6th Army took over nearly 90% of the city, leaving a small fighting group of Russians defending the West back of the Volga River. When Soviet reinforcements arrived, they were successful at surrounding the Germans within the city. The Battle of Stalingrad, however, did not only destroy Germany’s army, but also ended their offensive in Russia. This surrender ends five months of heavy battling for the city.
The Battle of Stalingrad was very important to Hitler for two important reasons. First, it was a major industrial city on the Volga River. The Germans wanted to control of the transport resources and goods to the north. Second, capturing the city would effectively cut off fuel from the Caucasus oil fields to Stalin and his Red Army. The more Hitler thought about Stalingrad, the more determined he was to invade the city. In the end, although this battle was not Germany’s first set back, it was one of the most significant.
There were two major contributors to the defeat of Hitler’s 6th Army by the Soviets. First, the Red Army’s devotion to defending their city and its surrounding area was unmatched by any of Axis powers. They knew in advance that Germany was planning to attack the city. In preparation and strategic planning Soviets shipped most of the city’s grain and food out of town and out of harm’s way, leading to the starvation and weakness of the German forces. This combined with severe weather conditions, frostbite, and disease resulted in many German deaths outside of the battlefield. Hitler tried to fight on too many fronts and the Soviets were trained to deal with the often difficult weather. Eventually, the Red Army was successful in stopping the invasion of the Germans.
The Battle of Stalingrad stopped Germany’s progression across Russia. Many people died in this battle and it was one of the bloodiest battles in modern history. Different sources report approximately 850,000 Germans were killed and/or captured, close to 1 million Soviet deaths, and over 40,000 civilian deaths. Many people sacrificed their lives in this battle. Historians have pronounced this as one of the most decisive battles fought in World War II.
Word Count 522
This battle for the city of Stalingrad resulted in Germany’s defeat in the World War II. How did the Red Army defeat the Germans? Early in the campaign, Germany focused on attacking Leningrad and Moscow, but that had failed. So Hitler decided to invade southern Russia (where Stalingrad was located). The 6th Army took over nearly 90% of the city, leaving a small fighting group of Russians defending the West back of the Volga River. When Soviet reinforcements arrived, they were successful at surrounding the Germans within the city. The Battle of Stalingrad, however, did not only destroy Germany’s army, but also ended their offensive in Russia. This surrender ends five months of heavy battling for the city.
The Battle of Stalingrad was very important to Hitler for two important reasons. First, it was a major industrial city on the Volga River. The Germans wanted to control of the transport resources and goods to the north. Second, capturing the city would effectively cut off fuel from the Caucasus oil fields to Stalin and his Red Army. The more Hitler thought about Stalingrad, the more determined he was to invade the city. In the end, although this battle was not Germany’s first set back, it was one of the most significant.
There were two major contributors to the defeat of Hitler’s 6th Army by the Soviets. First, the Red Army’s devotion to defending their city and its surrounding area was unmatched by any of Axis powers. They knew in advance that Germany was planning to attack the city. In preparation and strategic planning Soviets shipped most of the city’s grain and food out of town and out of harm’s way, leading to the starvation and weakness of the German forces. This combined with severe weather conditions, frostbite, and disease resulted in many German deaths outside of the battlefield. Hitler tried to fight on too many fronts and the Soviets were trained to deal with the often difficult weather. Eventually, the Red Army was successful in stopping the invasion of the Germans.
The Battle of Stalingrad stopped Germany’s progression across Russia. Many people died in this battle and it was one of the bloodiest battles in modern history. Different sources report approximately 850,000 Germans were killed and/or captured, close to 1 million Soviet deaths, and over 40,000 civilian deaths. Many people sacrificed their lives in this battle. Historians have pronounced this as one of the most decisive battles fought in World War II.
Word Count 522
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