Rebuilding Europe: Western Europe, America and Postwar Reconstruction

This is part of a series which aims to provide a scholarly but readable account of the way our world has been shaped since World War II. The aim of this book is to propose a fresh synthesis of the main political, strategic and economic developments in the first ten years after the war. It shows how Europe was put on her economic and political feet again, mainly with US help via the Marshall plan. Dr Ellwood utilizes the most recent research findings from Europe and USA in this study. He gives an account of the practicalities of reconstruction - how it was done, what it cost, who paid for it and what those involved hoped for, expected and actually received. The book provides the story from both the American and European viewpoint. It shows how it was possible for a Europe devastated by two World Wars and discredited by the Depression to recover in a decade and flourish like never before. This text presents more than just a survey, it is an examination of issues that transcend the period and have important implications for the subsequent history of Europe up to today.