Title: The Marshall Plan
Headings: The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan
Contents
First post-war aid
The plan unveiled
Negotiating with Europe
Conditions on aid
Advantages for the US and Europe

Content: Encouragement of free trade. Prior to World War II most European nations had protectionist economic policies – in other words, it was difficult for foreign traders to export to European markets. The conditions placed on Marshall Plan aid injected free trade policies and practices into European economics. As mentioned above, these reforms would prove beneficial and profitable for American producers and manufacturers. Propaganda value. The Marshall Plan was cleverly marketed by the American government as a generous and visionary policy, to allow the rebuilding of Europe. The conditions on Marshall Plan funds, however, were not publicly advertised. Washington also offered ERP aid to the Soviet Union and Soviet-bloc countries, knowing that the conditions would make it impossible for them to accept. Top eight recipient nations of Marshall Plan funds (US dollars)

1948/49
1949/50
1950/51
Total
United Kingdom
$1316m
$921m
$1060m
$3297m
France
$1085m
$691m
$520m
$2296m
Germany
$510m
$438m
$500m
$1448m
Italy
$594m
$405m
$205m
$1204m
Netherlands
$471m
$302m
$355m
$1128m
Belgium/Luxembourg
$195m
$222m
$360m
$777m
Austria
$232m
$166m
$70m
$468m
Denmark
$103m
$87m
$195m
$385m
A historian’s view: “What the Machiavellis among us never understood was why the Soviet Union did not join the Marshall Plan and disrupt it, as they have done with many organisations.