What you can learn from the life of George Marshall, who ran the war for the Allies during World War II, rebuilt Europe through the Marshall Plan and whose leadership saved the world from tyranny and evil.
How the life events of George Marshall shaped his mindset, enabled him to overcome challenges and become a master of himself. He epitomized the values of duty, discipline, self control and humility. This enabled him to become the indispensable man to President Roosevelt, the allied leaders and the United States of America.
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His name may have faded from our collective memory, but George Marshall did as much as any other single person to advance the cause of freedom in the 20th century.
“His was a career that paralleled America’s rise to and acceptance of global responsibilities. Marshall was a creator not only of America’s awesome military power as Army chief of staff in World War II, but also of its major foreign and global strategies as a postwar Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. Statesman as well as soldier, his character and accomplishments are so exceptional that he is regularly placed in the company of George Washington when parallels are sought.”
~ The George C. Marshall Foundation
It is said George Marshall won World War II and won the peace. What guided his success was an unflinching candor — and ironclad integrity — that enabled him to forge relationships of trust with world leaders as major events of the 20th century played out.
“There are few men whose qualities of mind and character have impressed me so deeply as those of General Marshall.” ~ Winston Churchill
Marshall’s superpower was his mastery of himself — his ability to control his emotions and ego and remain magnanimous in his dealings with others. By burying his self-interest, he was able to exercise a level of honesty in his advice and counsel that elevated him above politics. He never hesitated to tell superiors when he thought they were wrong — even when it might endanger his own career.
Marshall was not only authentic — a hallmark of great leadership — but he recognized problems couldn’t be solved unless they were discussed openly and honestly. The result — world leaders valued and trusted his judgment.
“A few of his characteristics are uppermost in my memory, and on these I shall dwell. They include his consideration for others; his clear, direct, and logical approach to any major military problem; his complete, single-minded dedication and loyalty to his country and government; and his selflessness and objectivity in making decisions and in courageously discharging his vitally important duties.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Growing up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Marshall showed little sign of the greatness to come. His older brother attended Virginia Military Institute and discouraged George from following him there, thinking George would disgrace the family name. The slight sparked Marshall’s masculine energy, compelling to him to want to prove his brother wrong.
Marshall attended VMI anyway, where he developed a mindset to succeed and learned lifelong values of self-control, duty and discipline. These values allowed him to master himself and become self-reliant — qualities that empowered him to stretch beyond his comfort zone to reach his full potential.
People in your inner circle are supposed to care about you and want to see you do well in life. However, some invariably don’t want to see you do better than them. In Marshall’s case, it was his own brother. By becoming self-reliant, trusting in himself, and having an emotionally compelling reason to prove himself, Marshall pushed past his doubters and critics and set his mindset to succeed in spite of any and all opposition.
Commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in 1902, Marshall was posted to Ft. Leavenworth, and then the Philippines where his planning and execution of a mock invasion of Manila revealed a brilliance for field command that caught the attention of Army brass. When World War I broke out, Marshall’s talent would be put to the test.
As the US entered the war, Marshall was made Army 1st Division’s Assistant Chief of Staff and sent to France to help prepare US troops for battle. In the advance guard disembarking at St. Nazaire, he was shocked at how unprepared US troops were and dismayed that confusion at headquarters was hindering training.
“A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood.” ~ General George S. Patton
General John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary Force, was under extreme pressure from the French to get US troops into battle. While inspecting 1st Division’s troops, he was frustrated at the slow progress and dressed down his subordinate officers. Marshall pushed back, telling Pershing they were being inhibited by Pershing’s own command staff.
Everyone there believed Marshall’s career was over. But Pershing appreciated Marshall’s candor and began seeking out his advice, promoting him to headquarters as an aide.
Marshall’s straight-talk earned the trust and respect of French and British leaders as the three armies coordinated their efforts to defeat the German army. Marshall planned an attack at Cantigny that won America its first victory of the war. But his big achievement was planning the American offensive at Meuse-Argonne, a campaign to end the war by launching successive attacks on German lines and giving them no time to regroup.
Marshall devised the battle plan in 24 hours, moving 200,000 French troops out of the front lines and replacing them with 600,000 American troops and 200 big guns in total secrecy. Pershing thought “it was a fine piece of work.”
As architect of the Meuse-Argonne campaign that ultimately defeated Germany, Marshall ended the war with a reputation as a brilliant tactician and solid relationships with French and British military leaders who appreciated his candor. Supreme Allied Commander Marshall Foch prophetically told Marshall, “we have cemented our ties of friendship, and if ever in the future we shall find it necessary to unfurl our banner, then we know we shall continue as brothers-in-arms.”
In 1919, Pershing became US Army Chief of Staff and made Marshall his chief aide. Pershing knew it was an asset to have a man like Marshall as a feedback loop — someone who would never be a yes man and always give him unfiltered counsel.
Throughout the 1920s, Pershing and Marshall led the effort to convince America of the need for a strong defense, as the Army shrank to 120,000 men. Marshall did a 3-year tour of duty in China, gaining knowledge of the country and its politics that would be useful in future assignments. But his most impactful job was commanding the Army infantry officer training school at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he redesigned the curriculum to focus on tank and air support and small unit tactics — and to advance officers who showed ingenuity and experimentation. Marshall’s program would produce the backbone of the Army’s combat leadership in World War II, including Eisenhower, Patton, Mark Clark and Omar Bradley.
In 1936, Marshall was promoted to Brigadier General and brought to Washington DC to help rebuild the US military. A storm was brewing across the Atlantic as fascists rose to power and began showing their true intentions. Mussolini seized Ethiopia. Hitler barged into Czechoslovakia, and Japan rampaged across China.
Marshall made the case to President Roosevelt for a larger army. Impressed by Marshall, Roosevelt summoned him to the White House, telling him, “General Marshall, I have it in my mind to choose you as the next Chief of Staff of the US Army, what do you think of that?” Marshall responded, “Nothing, except to remind you that I have the habit of saying exactly what I think… Is that all right?”
Marshall assumed duties on the day Hitler invaded Poland. He would have his work cut out for him. At the time, the US Army could only field 4 divisions while the Nazis had over 100 divisions and the Japanese more than 40.
Marshall’s first challenge was to convince Congress to pass a mandatory military draft at a time when the country was at peace. Driven by opposition to the President and “America First” isolationism, the majority of the country wanted to stay out of the war.
As Nazi Germany overwhelmed France, Marshall knew dramatic measures were needed to build up manpower, infrastructure and equipment. Marshall cornered Roosevelt and told him straight up, “you have got to do something and you’ve got to do it today.” Roosevelt asked Congress for $1.1 billion in supplemental military spending to create a rounded out army. Congress approved $1.4 billion.
Arguing for a peacetime draft, Marshall told Congress that having an army of citizen soldiers was the best way to avoid being drawn into the war and being able to preserve the American way of life. Because Marshall was seen as apolitical and had a reputation for honesty, Congress put partisanship aside and approved the peacetime draft.
Marshall increased the army from 170,000 to over a 1.5 million men by mid-1941. Now, he had to save it. The draft bill provided only a 1 year horizon on service. After 1 year, the soldiers would be released from duty.
In Europe, the war had worsened as the British army narrowly escaped extermination on the beaches of Dunkirk. Despite this, Roosevelt was reluctant to increase troop strength or extend the draft for political reasons. Isolationist forces were stronger than ever and Roosevelt wanted to build more airplanes.
At a meeting of war planners in Washington DC, Roosevelt laid out his plan for ramping up aircraft production. Everyone in the room agreed — but when Marshall was asked to weigh in, he responded, “I am sorry, Mr. President, but I don’t agree with that at all.”
Roosevelt listened as Marshall bluntly told him that Germany wouldn’t be defeated by supplying arms and airplanes to friendly nations. The Nazis would only be beaten with large numbers of ground forces prepared to launch a massive ground offensive.
The draft bill was set to expire in October 1941 — releasing 600,000 soldiers from duty. Roosevelt made Marshall point man to convince Congress the national interest was imperiled. Marshall made the case, but the votes weren’t there. For many in Congress, it was immoral to back out of service terms guaranteed to the draftees and it would be political suicide during an election year.
Marshall called a special meeting of Republican congressmen and made a personal appeal. Congress ended up passing the bill by a margin of one vote. Without Marshall’s direct appeal, the bill almost certainly would have failed and the US army disbanded on the eve of Pearl Harbor.
After Pearl Harbor, isolationist sentiment in America collapsed as Japan and Germany both declared war on the U.S. The Japanese quickly seized the Philippines and Singapore, while General Rommel’s German Africa Corps swept across North Africa and the bulk of the Nazi army waged war on the Soviet Union.
Marshall now had the support of the country as he mobilized the nation to build the greatest war machine the world had ever seen and set about devising a winning strategy. The future of the free world now rested on his shoulders more than any other person.
On the home front, Marshall harnessed the nation’s industry to produce weapons and war supplies. In Hollywood, he met with movie director Frank Capra, commissioning a series of documentary films to make sure America’s soldiers understood why they were fighting, and he enlisted movie stars to help sell war bonds.
On the war front, Allied commanders had three options. Focus on the war in Europe first — concentrate on defeating Japan — or focus on both at the same time.
“Don’t fight the problem, decide it.” ~ George C. Marshall
Marshall advocated a “Germany First” strategy, convinced the German war machine had to be destroyed first. He elevated a team of generals who could do the job, making General Patton commander of the 2nd armored division and bringing General Eisenhower to Washington to work on war plans.
Marshall deftly played the role of statesman and general to get allied political and military leaders with competing ideas and agendas on the same page.
Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, US and British leaders met secretly in Washington D.C. for a planning session. Marshall emerged as the key man, designing the mechanics for the joint conduct of war under unitary command and convincing Allied leaders to put it into action.
Marshall’s plan to defeat Germany was to invade France across the English Channel in 1942 — before the Germans had fortified the French coast with Hitler’s vaunted “Atlantic Wall.” The British opposed the idea, still traumatized by their close-call with the almost total annihilation of their army at Dunkirk. The plan was shelved as rapid Japanese advances across the Pacific seized America’s attention.
As the Allies plotted their next move, Roosevelt and Churchill wanted a quick victory to boost the morale of Allied forces and the people back home. They ordered Operation Torch — an Allied invasion of North Africa. Marshall put Eisenhower in command.
It’s possible Marshall’s plan to attack Europe in 1942 would have won the war sooner, but the die was cast. Operation Torch launched on November 8, 1942, with Allied forces invading French Morocco and Algeria. Over the next seven months, Allied troops swept the collaborationist French and German forces out of North Africa and delivered the Allies their first substantial victory.
The key strategy meeting came in May 1943 in Washington DC. Allied leaders were split on what to do in Europe. Marshall continued arguing for an invasion of France. Churchill wanted to take Greece first and attack Europe from the south. Marshall kept pushing, finally convincing Roosevelt and Churchill to set a May 1944 date for Operation Overlord — an amphibious invasion of Normandy France.
As Allied leaders met again in Cairo, Egypt in November 1943 to plot the war in Asia, the question remained — who would command Overlord — Marshall or Eisenhower? Churchill and Stalin thought command should go to Marshall as the plan’s architect and chief proponent. Though everyone assumed Marshall wanted the command, there’s no record of him ever saying so.
When the time came for Roosevelt to make the decision, he put it on Marshall, asking him what he wanted. The command was Marshall’s for the taking, something he almost certainly coveted for himself. Instead, he buried his self-interest — telling Roosevelt to feel free to act in whatever way he felt was best for the country.
Marshall recognized Roosevelt was under extreme pressure as a wartime leader, and needed to be in a relaxed state of mind to make his best decisions. By taking his own ego out of the equation, Marshall made sure Roosevelt was in the best emotional state to make the critical decisions that ultimately won the war.
Marshall’s self mastery, humility and control of his ego freed the President to make this key decision unfettered by personal feelings. He chose Eisenhower, telling Marshall “I couldn’t sleep nights, George, if you were out of Washington.” For Roosevelt, Marshall was the indispensable man, needed in Washington to oversee military action around the world.
Roosevelt dictated a telegram to Marshall for Stalin. “From the President to Marshal Stalin. The immediate appointment of General Eisenhower to command of Operation Overlord has been decided upon. Roosevelt”
Marshall sent the original command order to Eisenhower, with a short note: “Dear Eisenhower, I thought you might like to have this as a memento. It was written very hurriedly by me as the final meeting broke up yesterday, the President signing it immediately.”
This simple gesture epitomized Marshall’s good character, showing that he was of great mind and heart, was acting for noble purposes and refused to be petty. Marshall could have equivocated, letting Eisenhower know the command had been his own for the taking, but that he had deferred to the President. Instead, his note conveyed to Eisenhower that both Marshall and the President were one hundred percent behind the decision. Knowing he had their full support, Eisenhower was empowered to make the high stakes decisions that brought victory to the Allies.
On June 6, 1944, some 156,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. When the smoke cleared, Overlord was a success with Allied forces establishing multiple beachheads on the French coast.
Eisenhower would receive all the glory and fame for the Allied victory on D-Day, but everyone knew Marshall had directed behind the scenes.
“He is the true ‘organizer of victory.” ~ Winston Churchill in a telegram to Washington D.C. (1945)
As Allied forces fought through the Battle of the Bulge and closed in on Berlin, Germany’s defeat became inevitable. By May 8, 1945, Soviet forces had seized Berlin, Hitler was dead and Germany had surrendered. Now Marshall turned his attention to the Pacific.
“Japan must be completely crushed before we turn to the ways of peace.”
~ George C. Marshall
As US forces closed in on the Japanese homeland, Japanese forces mounted suicidal defenses at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Over 20,000 American troops were killed and 100,000 wounded. Estimates were 250,000 more would die in an all-out invasion of Japan.
Marshall was overseeing secret development of the atomic bomb, but had serious doubts about using it. It was only after seeing the Japanese soldiers’ fanatical defense of their homeland that Marshall approved using the bomb. On August 6th and 9th, 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing Japan’s unconditional surrender and finally ending World War II.
“We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, Our Flag will be recognized throughout the World as a symbol of Freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming force on the other.”
~ George C. Marshall
Under Marshall’s leadership, U.S. armed forces expanded from 2 million to over 8 million personnel. Marshall orchestrated the production of everything from propaganda to tanks and toothbrushes for Allied warfighters. But it was his innovation and persistence in planning and executing the overall strategy that won the war.
“In a war unparalleled in magnitude and horror, millions of Americans gave their country outstanding service. General of the Army George C. Marshall gave it victory.” ~ President Harry S. Truman
By building a reputation for candor and integrity, Marshall was able to smooth over tactical and strategic differences between strong-willed leaders such as Churchill and Stalin and get the most out of Generals he advanced such as Patton, Eisenhower and Omar Bradley.
After the war ended, Marshall retired as Chief of Staff, looking forward to some peace and quiet at his home in Leesburg, Virginia. But problems were cropping up all over the post-war world that would call him back to duty.
Within 2 months, Truman asked Marshall to serve as special envoy to China to try and broker a coalition government between Chiang Kai Shek’s nationalists and Mao’s communists. The two factions had fought the Japanese together, but were now locked in a bloody civil war for control of China. Marshall spent 2 years in China, at one point getting Mao to agree to give up armed revolution and build a democracy with the nationalists.
It was an impossible situation. Success required him to be seen as impartial, and with anti-communist fervor rising in the United States, the Chinese communists didn’t trust him. In the end, he couldn’t bring the two sides together. Marshall would never again attempt to broker a power-sharing agreement with Communists.
Upon returning to DC in January 1947, Truman made Marshall Secretary of State to oversee the rebuilding of Europe. America was now the most powerful nation in world, but relations with the Soviets had soured. Europe was in tatters and Stalin wanted it to slide further into chaos, making it ripe for communist takeover.
As the disintegration of Europe accelerated, Truman and Marshall knew a free Europe couldn’t survive without American help. In a speech before both houses of Congress, Truman announced the “Truman doctrine” that would underpin American foreign policy for the rest of the century.
“I believe it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid, which is essential to economic stability and orderly political process.” ~ President Harry S. Truman
The Truman doctrine included a reconstruction plan for Europe to fight hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos and help revive working economies. To get the plan through a Congress dominated by the opposition party, Truman wanted Marshall’s name and face on it.
In a speech at Harvard, Marshall laid out what would be known as the Marshall Plan, a loan program to help rebuild Europe. With Marshall leading the charge, the Republican-led Congress passed the Plan by an overwhelming margin. Marshall was able to depoliticize the issue and help Congress see the big picture — the long range benefits of containing the communists and being repaid by future trade with a free Europe.
“Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist.”
~ George C. Marshall
When European nations met to consider the Marshall Plan, the Eastern European communist nations all refused on Stalin’s order, claiming it was imperialism. It was clear Stalin and the Communists were acting in bad faith. As the Marshall Plan was implemented in the nations of Western Europe, it marked the real beginning of the cold war split between the communist and free world.
In 1949, the communists were gaining ground. Mao had won the civil war for China and formed a communist state while Stalin attempted to choke off West Berlin with a blockade and detonated Russia’s first nuclear bomb. Because the US hadn’t intervened to stop the communists from taking China, Stalin believed he could get away with a communist takeover of the Korean peninsula.
Following World War II, Korea was divided between Soviet and American zones at the 38th parallel. In June 1950, Korean communists with Soviet support, crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea, quickly overwhelming South Korean forces. Pursuant to a UN Resolution for military assistance, the US entered the war on South Korea’s side. World War II hero, General Douglas MacArthur, was named supreme commander of Allied forces.
With the war going poorly at first, Truman called on Marshall again, making him Secretary of Defense and charging him to quickly restore the US military and turn the war around. MacArthur had just launched a surprise invasion of Inchon and had North Korean forces on the run. But when MacArthur crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea, Chinese Red army troops poured in to help their communist allies, raising the specter of World War III.
As Truman tried to avoid a broader conflict with Russia or China, MacArthur publicly clashed with the President over strategy. MacArthur wanted to take the war to China, claiming that failure to do so was damaging the morale of his troops. Marshall was caught in the middle, dealing with a popular general who had just orchestrated an incredible turnaround, but was threatening to widen the war and undermining the authority of the Commander in Chief.
“When a general complains of the morale of his troops, the time has come to look at his own.” ~ George C. Marshall
Marshall convened a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recommending to Truman that MacArthur be relieved of command. Truman fired MacArthur in April of 1951, causing a political firestorm back home.
After 50 years defending his nation, George Marshall retired from public service in September 1951. During his time as Secretary of Defense, he retooled the US army to fight the Cold War and forced the Korean War to a stalemate, preventing a hot war with the Soviet Union or Red China.
“The only way human beings can win a war is to prevent it.”
~ George C. Marshall
“Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead.”
~ General Omar Bradley
Marshall had done his best to stem the tide of Communism, but he couldn’t make peace with Stalin or Mao. Unlike Marshall, neither communist leader exhibited any candor or integrity in their dealings with the West and both routinely lied about their global intentions. In retrospect, it was an impossible task considering their quest for world domination.
Marshall would be awarded the Nobel Peace prize in December 1953 for his efforts to rebuild Europe and win the peace. To this day, he remains the only soldier to ever receive it.
“George Marshall’s contributions to our nation and the world cannot be overstated. He was the organizer of victory and the architect of peace during and following World War II. He won the war, and he won the peace. His characteristics of honesty, integrity, and selfless service stand as shining examples for those who study the past and for those generations who will learn about him in the future.” ~ The Marshall Foundation
George Marshall was a man of prodigious abilities, but his mastery of himself was what drove his achievements. It made him fearless to speak his mind to world leaders and earned him a reputation as a truth-teller.
His candor and integrity enabled him to convince others to build the military might and pursue the strategies that won World War II. By lending his name and stature to the program to rebuild Europe after the war, he also won the peace, helping Western Europe remain free against communist expansionism.
From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of world power, George C. Marshall established himself as a great-souled leader by mastering himself and arguably did more to advance the cause of human freedom than any other person in the 20th century.
“Men can do a great deal with very little if they have high morale and determination.” ~ George C. Marshall
George Marshall alikuwa kiongozi wa Marekani katika vita vya pili vya dunia, alianzisha mpango wa Marshall, na kuokoa dunia kutoka kwa uonevu na uovu. Jinsi matukio ya maisha ya George Marshall yalivyounda mawazo yake, yakimwezesha kushinda changamoto na kuwa bwana wa mwenyewe. Alionyesha maadili ya wajibu, nidhamu, kujidhibiti na unyenyekevu. Hii ilimwezesha kuwa mtu muhimu kwa Rais Roosevelt, viongozi wa washirika na Marekani. *Ufunuo: Makala hii ina viungo vya washirika. Kiungo cha ushirika kinamaanisha ninaweza kupata ada ya rufaa ikiwa ununuzi kupitia kiungo changu, bila gharama yoyote ya ziada kwako. Asanteni kwa utegemezo wenu. Jina lake huenda likafifia katika kumbukumbu zetu, lakini George Marshall alifanya mengi kama mtu mwingine yeyote kuendeleza sababu ya uhuru katika karne ya 20. <unk>Uzoefu wake ulikuwa sawa na kuongezeka kwa Marekani na kukubaliwa kwa majukumu ya kimataifa. Marshall alikuwa muumbaji wa nguvu ya kijeshi ya Amerika kama mkuu wa jeshi katika Vita Kuu ya Pili, lakini pia wa mikakati yake kuu ya kigeni na ya kimataifa kama Waziri wa Jimbo na Waziri wa Ulinzi. "Mwanasiasa na askari, tabia yake na mafanikio yake ni ya kipekee sana kwamba yeye ni mara kwa mara kuwekwa katika kampuni ya George Washington wakati sambamba ni kutafuta. "" - George C. Marshall Foundation ""Imesemwa George Marshall alishinda Vita Kuu ya Pili na alishinda amani." Kilichomwongoza mafanikio yake ilikuwa uwazi wake usio na mshiko na uadilifu wake wa chuma ambao ulimwezesha kuunda mahusiano ya uaminifu na viongozi wa ulimwengu wakati matukio makubwa ya karne ya 20 yalipoendelea. """Kuna watu wachache ambao sifa zao za akili na tabia zimenivutia sana kama zile za Jenerali Marshall."" - Winston Churchill ""Nguvu kubwa ya Marshall ilikuwa ustadi wake wa kujidhibiti mwenyewe, uwezo wake wa kudhibiti hisia zake na ubinafsi na kubaki mkarimu katika mahusiano yake na wengine." Kwa kuzikia maslahi yake mwenyewe, aliweza kutumia kiwango cha uaminifu katika ushauri wake na ushauri ambao ulimwinua juu ya siasa. Hakuchanganyikiwa kamwe kuwaambia wakuu wake alipofikiri walikuwa wamekosea - hata wakati ambapo hilo lingeweza kuhatarisha kazi-maisha yake mwenyewe. Marshall hakuwa tu wa kweli - alama ya uongozi mkubwa - lakini alitambua matatizo hayawezi kutatuliwa isipokuwa yalijadiliwa waziwazi na kwa uaminifu. Matokeo <unk> viongozi wa ulimwengu walithamini na kuamini uamuzi wake. <unk> Baadhi ya sifa zake ni juu zaidi katika kumbukumbu yangu, na juu ya hizi mimi kukaa. "Hiyo ni pamoja na kuzingatia kwake kwa wengine; mbinu yake ya wazi, ya moja kwa moja, na ya mantiki kwa tatizo lolote kubwa la kijeshi; kujitolea kwake kamili, na uaminifu kwa nchi yake na serikali; na kujitolea kwake na upendeleo katika kufanya maamuzi na kwa ujasiri kutekeleza majukumu yake muhimu. "" - Dwight D. Eisenhower" Ndugu yake mkubwa alihudhuria Taasisi ya Kijeshi ya Virginia na kumzuia George kumfuata huko, akifikiri George angeweza kuchafua jina la familia. Jambo hilo lilimchochea Marshall awe na nguvu za kiume, na kumfanya atake kumthibitisha ndugu yake kwamba alikuwa amekosea. Marshall alihudhuria VMI, ambapo aliendeleza mawazo ya kufanikiwa na kujifunza maadili ya maisha ya kujidhibiti, wajibu na nidhamu. Maadili hayo yalimruhusu kujitawala na kujitegemea - sifa ambazo zilimwezesha kuvuka eneo lake la starehe ili kufikia uwezo wake kamili. Watu katika mzunguko wako wa ndani wanapaswa kukujali na wanataka kuona unafanya vizuri maishani. Hata hivyo, baadhi ya daima hawataki kuona kufanya bora kuliko wao. Katika kisa cha Marshall, alikuwa ndugu yake mwenyewe. Kwa kujitegemea, kujiamini, na kuwa na sababu ya kushawishi ya kihisia ya kujithibitisha, Marshall aliwashinda washirika wake na wakosoaji na kuweka mawazo yake kufanikiwa licha ya upinzani wowote. Alipokuwa na cheo cha Luteni wa Pili wa Jeshi mwaka 1902, Marshall alitumwa Ft. Leavenworth, na kisha Ufilipino ambapo mipango yake na utekelezaji wa uvamizi wa bandia wa Manila ulifunua kipaji cha uongozi wa uwanja ambao ulivutia umakini wa jeshi. Vita vya Kwanza vya Ulimwengu vilipotokea, kipaji cha Marshall kilijaribiwa. Wakati Marekani ilipokuwa ikiingia vita, Marshall aliteuliwa kuwa Msaidizi wa Mkuu wa Jeshi la Kwanza na kupelekwa Ufaransa kusaidia kuandaa vikosi vya Marekani kwa ajili ya vita. Wakati askari wa mbele walipokuwa wakishuka St. Nazaire, alishtuka jinsi wanajeshi wa Marekani walivyokuwa hawajajitayarisha na alikasirika kwamba machafuko katika makao makuu yalikuwa yakizuia mafunzo. "A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood"" - Jenerali George S. Patton, kiongozi wa Jeshi la Marekani la Expeditionary, alikuwa chini ya shinikizo kubwa kutoka kwa Wafaransa ili kuwaingiza wanajeshi wa Marekani katika vita." Alipokuwa akichunguza majeshi ya Idara ya Kwanza, alivunjika moyo na maendeleo ya polepole na kuvaa maofisa wake wa chini. Marshall alirudi nyuma, akimwambia Pershing kwamba walikuwa wakizuiliwa na wafanyakazi wa amri ya Pershing mwenyewe. Kila mtu huko aliamini kwamba kazi ya Marshall ilikuwa imekwisha. Lakini Pershing alithamini uwazi wa Marshall na akaanza kutafuta ushauri wake, akipandishwa cheo katika makao makuu kama msaidizi. Mazungumzo ya wazi ya Marshall yalipata uaminifu na heshima ya viongozi wa Ufaransa na Uingereza wakati majeshi matatu yalipokuwa yakishirikiana katika jitihada zao za kumshinda jeshi la Ujerumani. Marshall alipanga shambulio huko Cantigny ambalo lilimpa Marekani ushindi wake wa kwanza katika vita. "Mfano wa ""mshambuliaji"" wa Meuse-Argonne ni kupigana na Ujerumani, na kushambulia kwa mara kwa mara na kuharibu silaha za Ujerumani." Marshall alianzisha mpango wa vita katika masaa 24, kuhamisha askari wa Ufaransa 200,000 kutoka mstari wa mbele na kuibadilisha na askari wa Marekani 600,000 na bunduki kubwa 200. "Mashariki ya Kati ya Vita vya Kwanza vya Dunia, Marshall alishinda vita vya Meuse-Argonne na kufanikiwa kufanikiwa katika vita vya pili vya dunia, na alikuwa na sifa ya kuwa ""mtaalamu wa mbinu za kijeshi"" na uhusiano mzuri na viongozi wa kijeshi wa Ufaransa na Uingereza ambao walifurahia uwazi wake." "Mkuu wa jeshi la Marekani, Marshall Fuchs, alimwambia Marshall, ""Tumeimarisha uhusiano wetu wa urafiki, na ikiwa wakati wowote katika siku zijazo tutaona ni muhimu kupanua bendera yetu, basi tunajua tutaendelea kama ndugu wa silaha.""" Pershing alijua ilikuwa mali kuwa na mtu kama Marshall kama mzunguko wa maoni - mtu ambaye kamwe atakuwa mtu wa ndiyo na daima kumpa ushauri usiochunguzwa. Katika miaka ya 1920, Pershing na Marshall waliongoza juhudi za kuwashawishi Wamarekani juu ya uhitaji wa ulinzi wenye nguvu, wakati Jeshi lilipopungua hadi watu 120,000. Marshall alifanya ziara ya miaka mitatu ya wajibu nchini China, kupata maarifa ya nchi na siasa zake ambayo ingekuwa muhimu katika mgawo wa baadaye. Alipata kazi yake ya kwanza akiwa kamanda wa shule ya mafunzo ya maafisa wa jeshi la kijeshi huko Fort Benning, Georgia, ambapo alibadilisha mtaala wa masomo ili kuzingatia msaada wa mizinga na hewa na mbinu za vitengo vidogo na kuendeleza maafisa ambao walionyesha ubunifu na majaribio. Marshall alikuwa kiongozi wa jeshi la Marekani katika vita vya pili vya dunia, pamoja na Eisenhower, Patton, Mark Clark na Omar Bradley. Mwaka 1936 Marshall alipandishwa cheo na kuwa Brigadier General na kupelekwa Washington DC kusaidia kujenga upya jeshi la Marekani. Dhoruba ilikuwa ikitokea kuvuka Bahari ya Atlantiki wakati Wafasisti walipoanza kutawala na kuanza kuonyesha makusudi yao ya kweli. Mussolini alishinda Ethiopia. Hitler aliingilia Chekoslovakia, na Japani ikavamia China. Marshall alimwambia Rais Roosevelt kwamba alipaswa kuwa na jeshi kubwa zaidi. "Mashali alipomwita Roosevelt kwenye ikulu ya White House, Roosevelt alimwambia: ""Mashali, nina nia ya kukuchagua kama Mkuu wa Jeshi la Marekani, una maoni gani?"" ""Hakuna kitu, isipokuwa kukukumbusha kuwa nina tabia ya kusema kile ninachofikiri, ni sawa?"" ""Mashali alichukua majukumu siku ambayo Hitler aliivamia Poland." Angekuwa na kazi nyingi sana. Wakati huo, Jeshi la Marekani lilikuwa na vikosi vinne tu, huku Wanazi wakiwa na vikosi zaidi ya mia moja na Wajapani zaidi ya arobaini. Changamoto ya kwanza ya Marshall ilikuwa kushawishi Bunge kupitisha rasimu ya lazima ya kijeshi wakati ambapo nchi ilikuwa katika amani. Kuendeshwa na upinzani kwa Rais na "Amerika Kwanza" isolationism, wengi wa nchi alitaka kukaa nje ya vita. Wakati Ujerumani ya Nazi ilipozidi kuishinda Ufaransa, Marshall alijua kwamba hatua kubwa zilihitajiwa ili kujenga nguvu za kibinadamu, miundombinu, na vifaa. "Marshall alimsukuma Roosevelt kwenye kona na kumwambia moja kwa moja, ""Lazima ufanye kitu na lazima ufanye leo."" Roosevelt aliomba Bunge kwa gharama za ziada za kijeshi za dola bilioni 1.1 ili kuunda jeshi la pande zote." Bunge la Marekani limepitisha kura ya kupitisha bajeti ya dola bilioni 1.4. Marshall alidai kuwa jeshi la raia ni njia bora ya kuepuka kuingizwa katika vita na kuweza kuhifadhi njia ya maisha ya Marekani. Kwa sababu Marshall alionwa kuwa asiye na siasa na alikuwa na sifa ya uaminifu, Bunge liliweka kando upendeleo na kuidhinisha rasimu ya wakati wa amani. Marshall aliongeza idadi ya askari kutoka 170,000 hadi zaidi ya watu milioni 1.5 katikati ya 1941. Sasa, alilazimika kuhifadhi. Rasimu ya muswada ilitoa tu upeo wa mwaka mmoja juu ya huduma. Baada ya mwaka mmoja, askari-jeshi hao wangeachiliwa kazi. Vita vya Ulaya vilikuwa vimeendelea kwa kasi zaidi wakati jeshi la Uingereza lilipoponyoka kwa urahisi kuangamizwa kwenye fuo za Dunkirk. Licha ya hili, Roosevelt alikataa kuongeza nguvu za askari au kupanua rasimu kwa sababu za kisiasa. Vikosi vya kujitenga vilikuwa na nguvu kuliko wakati mwingine wowote na Roosevelt alitaka kujenga ndege zaidi. Katika mkutano wa wapangaji wa vita huko Washington, D.C., Roosevelt aliweka mpango wake wa kuongeza uzalishaji wa ndege. "Mashariki ya Kati, Marshall alishindwa na ""Mimi si kukubaliana na hilo,"" Roosevelt alisikiliza Marshall akimwambia kwamba Ujerumani haingeweza kushindwa kwa kutoa silaha na ndege kwa mataifa ya rafiki." Wanazi wangeshindwa tu kwa idadi kubwa ya majeshi ya ardhini yaliyokuwa tayari kuanzisha shambulio kubwa la ardhini. Mkataba huo ulikamilika Oktoba mwaka 1941 na kuondoa wajibu wa askari 600. Roosevelt alimfanya Marshall kuwa mtu wa msingi wa kusadikisha Bunge kwamba maslahi ya taifa yalikuwa hatarini. Marshall alifanya kesi, lakini kura hazikuwa huko. Kwa wengi katika Bunge, ilikuwa kinyume cha maadili kurudi nyuma katika masharti ya huduma yaliyotarajiwa kwa wahamasishaji na ingekuwa kujiua kisiasa wakati wa mwaka wa uchaguzi. Marshall aliita mkutano wa pekee wa wabunge wa Republican na kufanya wito wa kibinafsi. Bunge lilimalizia kwa kupitisha muswada huo kwa tofauti ya kura moja. Bila rufaa ya moja kwa moja ya Marshall, muswada huo ungefanikiwa na jeshi la Marekani lingevunjika kabla ya Pearl Harbor. Baada ya Pearl Harbor, hisia za kujitenga nchini Marekani zilipungua wakati Japani na Ujerumani zilipotangaza vita dhidi ya Marekani. Japani ilishinda haraka Ufilipino na Singapore, wakati Jeshi la Afrika la Ujerumani la Jenerali Rommel lilipovuka Afrika Kaskazini na sehemu kubwa ya jeshi la Nazi lilifanya vita dhidi ya Muungano wa Sovieti. Marshall sasa alikuwa na msaada wa nchi wakati alipohamasisha taifa kujenga mashine kubwa zaidi ya vita ambayo ulimwengu umewahi kuona na kuweka juu ya kubuni mkakati wa kushinda. Wakati ujao wa ulimwengu huru sasa ulikuwa juu ya mabega yake zaidi ya mtu mwingine yeyote. Kwenye uwanja wa nyumbani, Marshall alitumia viwanda vya taifa kutengeneza silaha na vifaa vya vita. Alipokutana na Frank Capra, mkurugenzi wa filamu, aliagiza filamu kadhaa za maandishi ili kuhakikisha wanajeshi wa Marekani wanaelewa kwa nini wanafanya vita, na aliwaomba nyota wa filamu kusaidia kuuza dhamana za vita. Kwenye mstari wa mbele wa vita, makamanda wa Muungano walikuwa na chaguzi tatu. Lenga vita katika Ulaya kwanza <unk> kuzingatia kushindwa Japan <unk> au kuzingatia wote kwa wakati mmoja. "Usiipigane tatizo, liziamulie. "" - George C. Marshall Marshall alitetea mkakati wa ""Ujerumani Kwanza,"" akisadiki kwamba mashine ya vita ya Ujerumani ilihitaji kuharibiwa kwanza. Aliweka kikosi cha majenerali ambao wangeweza kufanya kazi hiyo, akimfanya Jenerali Patton kuwa kamanda wa mgawanyiko wa pili wa silaha na kumleta Jenerali Eisenhower Washington kufanya kazi kwenye mipango ya vita. Marshall alicheza kwa ustadi jukumu la mwanasiasa na mkuu wa jeshi ili kupata viongozi wa kisiasa na kijeshi wa muungano na mawazo na ajenda zinazoshindana kwenye ukurasa huo huo. Wiki mbili baada ya Pearl Harbor, viongozi wa Marekani na Uingereza walikutana kwa siri huko Washington D.C. kwa kikao cha kupanga. Marshall aliibuka kama mtu muhimu, kubuni utaratibu wa mwenendo wa pamoja wa vita chini ya amri ya umoja na kuwashawishi viongozi wa Muungano kuifanya. Marshall alipanga kuishinda Ujerumani kwa kuvamia Ufaransa katika mwaka wa 1942 kabla ya Ujerumani kuimarisha pwani ya Ufaransa kwa ukuta wa Hitler wa Atlantiki, lakini Uingereza ilikataa wazo hilo, ikishikwa na mshtuko wa karibu na kuangamizwa kabisa kwa jeshi lao huko Dunkirk. Mpango huo ulifutwa wakati uvamizi wa haraka wa Wajapani katika Pasifiki ulipovutia Amerika. Wakati Waislamu walipokuwa wakipanga hatua yao ya pili, Roosevelt na Churchill walitaka ushindi wa haraka ili kuongeza morale ya majeshi ya Waislamu na watu wa nyumbani. Waliamuru Operesheni ya Torch <unk> uvamizi wa Muungano wa Afrika Kaskazini. Marshall alimweka Eisenhower kuwa kamanda. Kwa sababu ya mpango wa Marshall wa kushambulia Ulaya mwaka 1942, vita vilikuwa vimefanikiwa mapema, lakini hatimaye vita hivyo viliisha. Operesheni ya Torch ilianza Novemba 8, 1942, wakati majeshi ya Muungano yalipovamia Morocco na Algeria. Katika miezi saba iliyofuata, majeshi ya Muungano yaliwafukuza wanajeshi wa Ufaransa na Ujerumani kutoka Afrika Kaskazini na kuwapa Muungano ushindi wao wa kwanza mkubwa. Mkutano wa kwanza wa kimataifa wa kimataifa wa kimataifa ulifanyika Mei 1943 huko Washington DC. Viongozi wa Muungano waligawanyika kuhusu jambo la kufanya huko Ulaya. Marshall aliendelea kutetea uvamizi wa Ufaransa. Churchill alitaka kuchukua Ugiriki kwanza na kushambulia Ulaya kutoka kusini. Marshall aliendelea kushinikiza, hatimaye kuwashawishi Roosevelt na Churchill kuweka tarehe ya Mei 1944 kwa Operesheni Overlord - uvamizi wa amfibia wa Normandy Ufaransa. Wakati viongozi wa Muungano walipokutana tena Cairo, Misri mnamo Novemba 1943 kupanga vita huko Asia, swali lilibaki ni nani angeamuru Overlord Marshall au Eisenhower? Churchill na Stalin walidhani amri inapaswa kwenda kwa Marshall kama mbuni wa mpango na mtetezi mkuu. Ingawa kila mtu alidhani Marshall alitaka amri, hakuna rekodi ya yeye milele kusema hivyo. Wakati wa Roosevelt wa kufanya uamuzi, aliweka Marshall, akimwuliza kile alichotaka. Amri ilikuwa ya Marshall kwa ajili ya kuchukua, kitu yeye karibu hakika coveted kwa ajili yake mwenyewe. Badala yake, aliweka chini maslahi yake mwenyewe - akimwambia Roosevelt ahisi huru kutenda kwa njia yoyote aliyohisi ilikuwa bora kwa nchi. Marshall alitambua Roosevelt alikuwa chini ya shinikizo kubwa kama kiongozi wa wakati wa vita, na alihitaji kuwa katika hali ya kupumzika ya akili kufanya maamuzi yake bora. Kwa kuondoa ubinafsi wake nje ya usawa, Marshall alihakikisha Roosevelt alikuwa katika hali bora ya kihisia kufanya maamuzi muhimu ambayo hatimaye alishinda vita. Ujasiri wa Marshall, unyenyekevu na udhibiti wa ubinafsi wake ulimweka huru Rais kufanya uamuzi huu muhimu bila kukwazika na hisia za kibinafsi. "Alipokuwa akimchagua Eisenhower, alimwambia Marshall ""Singeweza kulala usiku, George, kama ungekuwa nje ya Washington"" Kwa Roosevelt, Marshall alikuwa mtu asiyehitajika, alihitajika huko Washington kusimamia hatua za kijeshi ulimwenguni kote." Roosevelt alimwandikia Marshall telegramu kwa ajili ya Stalin. <unk> Kutoka kwa Rais hadi kwa Marshal Stalin. Uteuzi wa mara moja wa Jenerali Eisenhower kuwa kamanda wa Operesheni Overlord umechaguliwa. "Marshall alimtumia Eisenhower amri ya awali ya amri, na maelezo mafupi: ""Mpendwa Eisenhower, nilidhani unaweza kupenda kuwa na hii kama kumbukumbu." "Iliandikwa kwa haraka sana na mimi wakati mkutano wa mwisho ulipovunjika jana, Rais akisaini mara moja. ""Hii ishara rahisi ilielezea tabia nzuri ya Marshall, ikionyesha kwamba alikuwa na akili kubwa na moyo, alikuwa akifanya kazi kwa madhumuni ya heshima na alikataa kuwa mdogo." Marshall angeweza kuwa na shaka, akimjulisha Eisenhower kwamba amri ilikuwa yake mwenyewe kwa ajili ya kuchukua, lakini kwamba alikuwa amemkabidhi kwa Rais. Badala yake, barua yake ilimwambia Eisenhower kwamba Marshall na Rais walikuwa nyuma ya uamuzi huo kwa asilimia mia moja. Kwa kuwa Eisenhower alikuwa na msaada wao kamili, alipewa mamlaka ya kufanya maamuzi yenye kuvutia ambayo yalileta ushindi kwa Washirika. Mnamo Juni 6, 1944, majeshi ya Muungano yalishambulia pwani ya Normandy. Wakati moshi ulipopungua, Overlord ilikuwa na mafanikio na vikosi vya Muungano kuanzisha beachheads nyingi kwenye pwani ya Ufaransa. Eisenhower alipata sifa za ushindi wa Allied katika D-Day, lakini Marshall alikuwa na jukumu la kuongoza. "Winston Churchill, mwandishi wa habari wa Uingereza, aliandika katika telegramu yake ya 1945 kwa Washington DC: ""Wakati majeshi ya Muungano yalipokuwa yakipigana katika vita vya Bulge na kukaribia Berlin, kushindwa kwa Ujerumani kulikuja kuwa jambo lisiloepukika." Mnamo Mei 8, 1945, majeshi ya Sovieti yalichukua Berlin, Hitler alikuwa amekufa, na Ujerumani ilikuwa imejisalimisha. Sasa Marshall aligeuza fikira zake kuelekea Pasifiki. "Mashambulizi ya Marekani dhidi ya Japan yalianza mwaka wa 1945 na George C. Marshall aliandika: ""Wakati majeshi ya Marekani yalipokuwa yakikaribia nchi ya Japani, majeshi ya Japani yalianzisha ulinzi wa kujiua huko Iwo Jima na Okinawa." Zaidi ya askari 20,000 wa Marekani waliuawa na 100,000 kujeruhiwa. Inakadiriwa kwamba zaidi ya watu 250,000 watakufa katika uvamizi wa Japani. Marshall alikuwa akisimamia maendeleo ya siri ya bomu la atomu, lakini alikuwa na shaka kubwa kuhusu kulitumia. Ilikuwa tu baada ya kuona askari wa Kijapani 'kutetea fanatical ya nchi yao ya asili kwamba Marshall kupitishwa kutumia bomu. Agosti 6, 1945 - Mabomu ya atomu yaliangushwa Hiroshima na Nagasaki, na kuwalazimisha Wajapani kujisalimisha bila masharti na hatimaye kumaliza Vita vya Pili vya Ulimwengu. """Tunaamua kwamba kabla ya jua kutua katika mapambano haya ya kutisha, Bendera yetu itatambuliwa ulimwenguni kote kama ishara ya Uhuru kwa upande mmoja na nguvu kubwa kwa upande mwingine,"" alisema George C. Marshall, ambaye aliwahi kuwa mkuu wa jeshi la Marekani." Marshall aliongoza utengenezaji wa kila kitu kuanzia propaganda hadi mizinga na brashi za meno kwa ajili ya wapiganaji wa Muungano. Lakini ilikuwa ubunifu wake na uvumilivu katika kupanga na kutekeleza mkakati wa jumla ambao ulishinda vita. <unk>Katika vita visivyo na kifani kwa ukubwa na hofu, mamilioni ya Wamarekani waliipa nchi yao huduma bora. "Mashariki ya Kati, George C. Marshall, aliyekuwa kiongozi wa jeshi la Marekani, alishinda vita vya pili vya vita vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili vya pili.""" Baada ya vita kumalizika, Marshall alistaafu kama Mkuu wa Wafanyakazi, akitazamia amani na utulivu nyumbani kwake huko Leesburg, Virginia. Lakini matatizo yalikuwa yakitokea kotekote katika ulimwengu wa baada ya vita ambayo yangemwita arudi kazini. Baada ya miezi miwili, Truman alimwomba Marshall kutumikia kama mjumbe maalum wa China kujaribu kuanzisha serikali ya muungano kati ya wanamgambo wa Chiang Kai-shek na wakomunisti wa Mao. Vikundi hivyo viwili vilikuwa vimepigana pamoja dhidi ya Wajapani, lakini sasa vilikuwa vimeingia katika vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe vya umwagaji damu ili kudhibiti China. Marshall alitumia miaka miwili nchini China, wakati mmoja akimfanya Mao kukubali kuacha mapinduzi ya silaha na kujenga demokrasia na waasi. Hali hiyo haingewezekana. Mafanikio yalimuhitaji kuonekana kuwa asiye na upendeleo, na kwa kuongezeka kwa shauku ya kupinga ukomunisti nchini Marekani, wakomunisti wa China hawakumwamini. Mwishowe, hakuweza kuunganisha pande hizo mbili. Marshall hakutaka tena kujaribu kujadili makubaliano ya kugawana mamlaka na Wakomunisti. Baada ya kurudi Washington, D.C. Januari 1947, Truman alimfanya Marshall kuwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje ili kusimamia ujenzi wa Ulaya. Marekani sasa ilikuwa taifa lenye nguvu zaidi ulimwenguni, lakini mahusiano na Sovieti yalikuwa yameharibika. Ulaya ilikuwa imevunjika vipande vipande na Stalin alitaka iingie zaidi katika machafuko, ikiifanya iwe tayari kwa ajili ya utawala wa Kikomunisti. Kadiri uharibifu wa Ulaya ulivyozidi kuongezeka, Truman na Marshall walijua kwamba Ulaya huru haingeweza kuishi bila msaada wa Marekani. Katika hotuba yake mbele ya vyumba vyote viwili vya Bunge, Truman alitangaza "fundisho la Truman" ambalo lingekuwa msingi wa sera ya kigeni ya Marekani kwa karne iliyobaki. "Ninaamini ni lazima iwe sera ya Marekani kuunga mkono watu huru ambao wanapinga ushindi na wachache wenye silaha au kwa shinikizo la nje. """ Ninaamini kwamba ni lazima tuwasaidie watu huru kuamua hatima yao wenyewe kwa njia yao wenyewe. """Ninaamini kwamba msaada wetu unapaswa kuwa hasa kupitia msaada wa kiuchumi na kifedha, ambayo ni muhimu kwa utulivu wa kiuchumi na mchakato wa kisiasa ulioamriwa,"" alisema Rais Harry S. Truman, akisema: ""Dokta ya Truman ilijumuisha mpango wa ujenzi wa Ulaya kupambana na njaa, umaskini, kukata tamaa na machafuko na kusaidia kuamsha uchumi wa kazi." Ili kupata mpango kupitia Bunge lililotawaliwa na chama cha upinzani, Truman alitaka jina na uso wa Marshall juu yake. Katika hotuba yake ya kwanza katika Chuo Kikuu cha Harvard, Marshall alielezea mpango wa Marshall, mpango wa mkopo wa kuimarisha Ulaya. Kwa kuwa Marshall ndiye aliyekuwa akiongoza, Bunge lililoongozwa na Warepublikan lilipitisha Mpango huo kwa kura kubwa sana. Marshall aliweza kuondoa siasa katika suala hilo na kusaidia Bunge kuona picha kubwa - faida za muda mrefu za kuwazuia wakomunisti na kulipwa kwa biashara ya baadaye na Ulaya huru. <unk>Sera yetu haiko dhidi ya nchi yoyote au mafundisho bali dhidi ya njaa, umaskini, kukata tamaa na machafuko. "Lengo lake linapaswa kuwa kufufua uchumi wa kazi ulimwenguni ili kuruhusu kuibuka kwa hali za kisiasa na kijamii ambazo taasisi huru zinaweza kuwepo. "" - George C. Marshall Wakati mataifa ya Ulaya yalipokutana kuzingatia Mpango wa Marshall, mataifa ya Kikomunisti ya Ulaya Mashariki yote yalikataa kwa amri ya Stalin, wakidai ilikuwa ""imperialism.""" Ilikuwa wazi kwamba Stalin na Wakomunisti walikuwa wakitenda kwa dhamiri mbaya. Mpango wa Marshall ulifanywa na nchi za Ulaya Magharibi, na hivyo kuanza vita baridi kati ya nchi za Kikomunisti na nchi huru. Mwaka 1949 wakomunisti walianza kuongoza. Mao alikuwa ameshinda vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe kwa China na kuunda serikali ya kikomunisti wakati Stalin alipojaribu kukandamiza Berlin Magharibi kwa kuzingira na kulipua bomu la kwanza la nyuklia la Urusi. Kwa sababu Marekani haikuwa imehusika kuzuia Wakomunisti kuchukua China, Stalin aliamini kwamba angeweza kuepuka ushindi wa Kikomunisti katika peninsula ya Korea. Baada ya Vita Kuu ya Pili ya Dunia, Korea iligawanywa kati ya Sovieti na Marekani kwenye mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa kusini. Mwaka 1950, Kikomunisti cha Korea, kwa msaada wa Sovieti, kilivuka mstari wa 38 na kuvamia Korea Kusini, na kwa haraka kuishinda vikosi vya Korea Kusini. Kwa mujibu wa Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa la msaada wa kijeshi, Marekani iliingia vitani upande wa Korea Kusini. Katika Vita Kuu ya Pili ya Dunia, Jenerali Douglas MacArthur aliteuliwa kuwa kamanda mkuu wa majeshi ya Muungano. Baada ya vita kuanza, Truman alimwita Marshall tena, akimfanya kuwa Waziri wa Ulinzi na kumwajiri kurudisha haraka jeshi la Marekani na kugeuza vita. MacArthur alikuwa amepiga risasi ya kushangaza dhidi ya Incheon na alikuwa na vikosi vya Korea Kaskazini vikikimbia. MacArthur alipovuka mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa mstari wa 38 wa mstari wa mstari wa mstari wa mst Truman alipokuwa akijaribu kuepuka mgogoro mkubwa na Urusi au China, MacArthur alibishana na Rais kuhusu mkakati. MacArthur alitaka kupeleka vita nchini China, akidai kwamba kushindwa kufanya hivyo kungeharibu morale ya majeshi yake. Marshall alishikwa katikati, akishughulika na jenerali maarufu ambaye alikuwa amepanga mabadiliko ya ajabu, lakini alikuwa akitishia kupanua vita na kudhoofisha mamlaka ya Kamanda Mkuu. "Mwanamgambo wa Marekani George C. Marshall alitoa wito kwa Rais Truman kwamba MacArthur aondolewe madaraka yake.""" Truman alimfukuza MacArthur mnamo Aprili 1951, na kusababisha msukosuko wa kisiasa nyumbani. Baada ya miaka 50 ya kuitetea taifa lake, George Marshall alistaafu kutoka kwa huduma ya umma Septemba 1951. Wakati wa kuwa Waziri wa Ulinzi, alirekebisha jeshi la Marekani ili kupigana katika Vita Baridi na kulazimisha Vita vya Korea kuingia katika mgogoro, akizuia vita moto na Muungano wa Sovieti au China Nyekundu. """Njia pekee ambayo wanadamu wanaweza kushinda vita ni kuizuia"" - George C. Marshall ""Vita vinaweza kuzuiwa kwa hakika kama vile vinaweza kusababisha, na sisi ambao tunashindwa kuzizuia, lazima tuwe na hatia kwa ajili ya wafu"" - Jenerali Omar Bradley Marshall alikuwa amefanya yote awezayo kuzuia mawimbi ya Ukomunisti, lakini hakuweza kufanya amani na Stalin au Mao." Tofauti na Marshall, hakuna kiongozi yeyote wa kikomunisti aliyeonyesha uwazi au uadilifu katika mahusiano yao na Magharibi na wote wawili walidanganya mara kwa mara kuhusu nia zao za kimataifa. Kwa kufikiria mambo yaliyopita, ilikuwa kazi isiyowezekana kwa kuzingatia jitihada zao za kutawala ulimwengu. Marshall alipewa tuzo ya Nobel ya Amani mnamo Desemba 1953 kwa juhudi zake za kujenga upya Ulaya na kushinda amani. Hadi leo, yeye ndiye askari pekee aliyewahi kupokea tuzo hiyo. <unk>Mashirika ya George Marshall kwa taifa letu na ulimwengu hayawezi kuzidiwa. Alikuwa mratibu wa ushindi na mbunifu wa amani wakati na baada ya Vita vya Pili vya Ulimwengu. Alishinda vita, na alishinda amani. Sifa zake za uaminifu, uadilifu, na huduma ya kujidhabihu zinasimama kama mifano yenye kung'aa kwa wale wanaochunguza zamani na kwa vizazi ambavyo vitajifunza juu yake katika siku zijazo. - Marshall Foundation George Marshall alikuwa mtu wa uwezo mkubwa, lakini ustadi wake wa mwenyewe ndio uliosababisha mafanikio yake. Alipata ujasiri wa kusema yale aliyofikiri kwa viongozi wa ulimwengu na kupata sifa ya kusema ukweli. Uwazi wake na uaminifu-mshikamanifu ulimwezesha kuwashawishi wengine kujenga nguvu za kijeshi na kufuata mikakati iliyoshinda Vita vya Pili vya Ulimwengu. Kwa kutoa jina lake na umaarufu wake kwa mpango wa kujenga upya Ulaya baada ya vita, pia alishinda amani, akisaidia Ulaya Magharibi kubaki huru dhidi ya upanuzi wa kikomunisti. Kutoka mwanzo wa unyenyekevu hadi kilele cha nguvu ya ulimwengu, George C. Marshall alijitambulisha kama kiongozi mwenye roho kubwa kwa kujitawala mwenyewe na bila shaka alifanya zaidi ya kuendeleza sababu ya uhuru wa kibinadamu kuliko mtu mwingine yeyote katika karne ya 20. """Wanaume wanaweza kufanya mengi na kidogo sana kama wana maadili ya juu na azimio."""