The post WWII period in America is seen as a period of growth and plenty. Americans were in a time of economic prosperity and life was good. The American dream of a family, a car, and a house with a picket fence could, theoretically, belong to anybody. Meanwhile Europe lay ravaged by the Second World War. Europe’s economies and infrastructures were in ruins and badly needed aid. The American and Western European governments worried that if the standard of living was not raised and infrastructure repaired that Communism would gain a foothold and spread rapidly through Europe. A solution to both of these problems came in the form of Secretary of State George Marshall. He proposed the European Recovery Program or as it was later nicknamed the Marshall Plan. The plan was a massive economic aid program for European countries. America would supply money to help war torn countries rebuild their economy, industry, and infrastructure. Between 1948 and 1951 America sent billions of dollars in aid to the European governments. The funding was American but it was to each country how the money was used to rebuild. As for the spread of Communism the general idea was that as Europe rebuilt and improved its standard of living Communist ideas would be less likely to find footing and take hold. The Soviet Union saw the Marshall Plan as a way to spread western beliefs and refused aid and ordered its satellite countries to refuse as well. They did not want the capitalists to spread their beliefs into the Eastern Bloc. The Marshall Plan was not an altruistic endeavor as it is sometimes advertised. The Americans stood to gain a great deal with the reconstruction of Europe. As the European countries rebuilt they did so under greater american influence. They developed american style economies and industry. They also became a market for america to sell exports and make a large profit. As much as the Marshall Plan cost america in the long run it secured their post war economy and allowed it to continue its prosperity into the 50’s and 60’s. It also had the desired effect of halting Communist spread through Western Europe but it also fanned Cold War tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union.
Included below are two propaganda films from 1949 and 1951 respectively. The films vary in the method of delivering their message, the first using positive effects and the second using fear tactics . The 1949 Film “Me and Mr. Marshall” has a very upbeat attitude and positive message. It focuses on the great opportunities the Marshall Plan is providing Europe. The Film focuses specifically on Germany through the eyes of a coal miner named Hans. It focuses less on combating dictatorship and much more on the benefits of the Marshall Plan. The 1951 film “Without Fear” is ironically named as it spends its first half inciting fear of Communist rule. The film is meant to scare the audience to combat Communism as the film repeatedly asserts the loss of freedom and identity that Communism would bring. Though it never directly says the words Communism or Soviet Union the subject material would have been clear to contemporary audiences. The film plays ominous music as it warns of the spread of dictatorship through Europe.
Video- “Me and Mr. Marshall”, 1949 Film advertising the Marshall Plan specifically in Germany
British made film “Without Fear” 1951
I enjoyed that you used promotional clips from “Me and Mr. Marshall” in your assignment as well as a promotional clip from “Without Fear”. Did you see any similarities between the two films? I also enjoyed that your blog focused on the Marshall Plan and it provided information for an outside reader that does not have much background on the subject.
I liked how you went more in depth about the Marshall Plan and discussed why we used it in Europe. I agree that we used the Marshall Plan as a way to combat Communism and to revitalize the industries in Europe so that they could spend their money on our products too. Since Europe bought our products we needed to help rebuild their industries in order for them to have revenues to spend. The Marshall Plan was a way to make sure that Europe did not fall to the Russians. I really liked how you brought the films into your blog and compared the two. I thought it was interesting to see how the two films contrasted over a short period of time.
Your description of the Marshall Plan really helped me put things into perspective. It certainly was a way of helping Europe rebuilt after the destruction of the war, but it was also a way for America to ensure its relations with Europe. America still had its factories and surplus of products, so until Europe was able to fix their economy, who was going to buy America’s exports? By sending Europe money, America not only helped Europe’s economy, but its own. I liked how you mentioned this also aided in combating communism. It is interesting that people would be watching films insuring them the Marshall Plan is helpful, but what is striking is the differences in how “helpful” is defined. I am not surprised one film focused on rebuilding while one focused on stopping the spread of communism. Getting both ideas across was a major American goal at the time. I am, however, surprised each film did not include both ideas.