Customer Reviews

The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence of American Postwar Policy

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What makes Dietrich's book of special interest is its emphasis on the development of the Morgenthau Plan(1945-48) -- the precursor to the Marshall Plan (1949-53). Although drafted largely by a relatively unknown economic policy wonk named Harry Dexter White,in fact it is Roosevelt's Treasury Secretary, the venerable Henry Morgenthau,Jr. who is credited with orchestrating the implementation of his eponymous plan.
Unlike the subsequent Marshall Plan which historians credit with Postwar European recovery, the Morgenthau Plan was in fact a punitive measure designed to extract a goodly portion of "vegeance" from the German people by literally ensuring that the wrecked German economy would remain so.
Dietrich, drawing on contemporary historical sources, makes a convincing argument that initial US Postwar policy towards Europe -- particularly economic policy -- was largely crafted by Stalin and his fellow comrades in the Kremlin via Harry White (most probably a communist/marxist sympathizer). Dietrich also highlights the fact, again using sources from extant literature, that implementation of the sinister Morgenthau plan resulted in mass starvation, rampant disease, and death in Germany and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe during the period from 1945-48.
In short, Dietrich's work paints a picture of postwar Europe that is considerably drearier than most accounts of the period. It also affixes blame for much of the suffering in Europe during this time squarely on the shoulders of US policy-makers. From my own personal viewpoint, Dietrich's book revealed that some of the historical figures who are generally regarded as men who
respected human dignity --- were not so kindly after all. Readers will find FDR and Truman, among others, were enthusiastic supporters of the Morgentahu plan and harbored a deep animosity towards the German people. In short, especially for younger generations of Americans who weren't yet born during the last great war of the 20th century, this book is a real eye-opener.

I would highly recommend this book to serious historians as well as amateurs alike. As far as I know it is the only book that covers American post war policy toward Germany in such detail. Also, it brings us informations that are surprising and shocking as far as communist influence of the highest political spheares in the U.S. is concerned. I am of the eastern european heritage, and I thought myself to be well learned in the subject of history, especially european history, yet "the morgenthau plan" unveiled events completly new to me and I belive to many readers concerned with the subject. In short the book seems to be bottomless well of information on the subject previously avoided by other authors which fact makes it that much more valuable. Lets hope more books will follow.