You would have to go back a hundred years
to find a winter as harsh as the one that hit
Europe in 1946. This was a time of vast
homelessness. People were hungry and cold.
Many froze.
By 1947, two years after the war ended, Europe showed
few signs of economic revival. The governments of
Europe were failing to provide. Folks were miserable.
They wanted change.
The Communists provided the fighters to resist
ruthless Nazi oppression in occupied lands.
Their performance in the war gave them credibility.
Moxie. People you knew would be with you through
thick and thin.
Now the resistance fighters were running for office.
Victory at the ballot box could turn the countries of
France and Italy over to the Communists, and to
Stalin.
Voices of alarm began to be heard about Washington.
There could be no further Communist victories in Europe.
A line was drawn. The U.S. would remain in force
across the pond.
The eyes of Europe turned to America, land of plenty.
They provided half of the world's economy and hoarded
much of its gold. Uncle Sam had deep pockets, loaded
with the billions in cash needed to revive Europe.
Washington would agree to the aid but there were rules.
Two years experience proved the futility of throwing
money at problems. What governments needed was
a clear, efficient course of action that would revive
Europe's economy.
Do it for under $20 billion.
The Marshall Plan provided critical industries funds to bring
their factories back to life - providing jobs. Paychecks
flourished and new business rose up to meet the need.
The nations of Western Europe all wanted in on the action.
So did Poland and Czechoslovakia of Eastern Europe.
They had a problem. Stalin wouldn't tolerate it.
How could a Communist government repudiate
Marxism? That is how Stalin read Uncle Sam's
contract. Here was the poison pill to keep the
East out of the cookie jar. On top of this,
Washington wanted the receiving country to
cede economic control to the U.S.
Once again, Stalin saw this as outrageous.
Truman took this as a victory.
He wasn't about to ask American taxpayers for
money to fund recovery for Communist nations.
Fiat's factories reopened with U.S. machinery
purchased from Americans with U.S. aid.
Most of the $14 billion in Marshall Aid sent to Europe
quickly found its way back into the U.S. economy.
This export income sustained tens of thousands of
manufacturing jobs across the nation.
European aid actually improved America's
Gross Domestic Product, a measure of wealth,
for those years.
NATO and the European Union trace their beginnings
back to the Marshall Plan. Western Europe ultimately
thrived. The East did not.
Satellite nations were like colonies to the Kremlin.
Subjugated people do not perform at their best.
They have no reason to.
What is the reward?
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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