Was Marshall Plan justified?

Yes, justified It reduced communist threat facing European countries - The Marshall Plan aid allowed the nations of Western Europe to relax austerity measures and rationing, reducing discontent and bringing political stability. - Years after the Marshall Plan, the communist influence on Western Europe was greatly reduced throughout the region communist parties faded in popularity - Countries aided by Marshall Plan did not give into communism were able to enjoy human rights and freedom of speech a victory for democracy It integrated Western Europe Marshall Plan fostered integration secured peace and prosperity of Europe The Marshall Plan, linked into the Bretton Woods system, also mandated free trade throughout the region. In some ways this effort failed, as the OEEC never grew to be more than an agent of economic cooperation. Rather it was the separate European Coal and Steel Community, which notably excluded Britain, that would eventually grow into the European Union. However, the OEEC served as both a testing and training ground for the structures and bureaucrats that would later be used by the European Economic Community. The growth of cooperation between European countries, coupled with US engagement, also facilitated the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949. In this way, it laid the foundation for European integration in later years. No, not justified It led to the division of Europe and the intensification of the Cold War. The Russians were well aware that there was more to Marshall aid than pure benevolence. Although in theory aid was available for eastern Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Molotov denounced the whole idea as dollar imperialism. He saw it as a blatant American device for gaining control of western Europe, and worse still for interfering in Eastern Europe, which Stalin considered to be Russias sphere of influence. Stalin was worried that the West might use its economic strength and monopoly of the bomb to destroy the Soviet Union. The effect of the Marshall Plan was to increase tensions and fears, and divide Europe into two. In response, the USSR responded with the Communist Information Bureau (COMINFORM), an organization to co-ordinate the activities of the Communist Parties in Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, the USSR and Yugoslavia. Its aim was to rally communist countries to oppose the expansion of American domination and to protect the ideals of socialism. With the institution of the Marshall Plan and COMINFORM, the iron curtain became a reality.