The Morgenthau Plan

Sound Bite

The Morgenthau Plan, the Allies' post-war policy that preceded the Marshall Plan, devastated what remained of Germany after the war was officially over. Was this "economic idiocy" or intentional destruction of a surrendered country?Dr. Ernest F. Fisher, Jr., a senior historian with the United States Army Center for Military History has stated,The plans made at the highest levels of the U.S. and British governments in 1944 expressed a determination to destroy Germany as a world power once and for all by reducing her to a peasant economy, although this would mean the starvation of millions of civilians.What had changed by 1947, and why was the Morgenthau Plan finally rejected, swept under the carpet, and radically reversed?

About the Book

After hostilities officially ceased, what was driving American policy towards Germany in 1944-1949, and what changed? Contrary to what is often reported in history books, the Morgenthau Plan had a major impact on postwar planning. This book traces the role of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury to President Roosevelt, in the planning for the postwar world, with close attention to the discussions leading up to the Second Quebec Conference where Winston Churchill's acceptance of the plan was obtained. It follows the devastating consequences of the policies based on the plan, and their contribution to the postwar collapse of the European economy. Damning evidence shows that the Allies intentionally brought starvation and disease to large civilian populations.

Introduction

There is a curious lack of critical interest in the period of history immediately following the Second World War. Inconsistencies and obvious falsehoods are accepted at face value by respected historians. This reexamination reaches some disturbing conclusions. It is an account of a twentieth century holocaust. As a result of the Morgenthau Plan, which preceded the Marshall Plan, millions of people perished without mention.Reading this account can only lead the open-minded reader to the conclusion that the historical record has been grossly distorted. As James Bacque commented, "It is astonishing to encounter such a wholesale erasure of history."The conventional account contains four misleading assertions. The Morgenthau Plan was not designed to cripple German industrial potential or to transform Germany into a pastoral state, as is often reported. This plan was designed to completely destroy the German economy, enslave millions of her citizens, and exterminate as many as 20 million people. Dr. Ernest F. Fisher, Jr., a senior historian with the United States Army Center for Military History has stated,The plans made at the highest levels of the U.S. and British governments in 1944 expressed a determination to destroy Germany as a world power once and for all by reducing her to a peasant economy, although this would mean the starvation of millions of civilians.

McGeorge Bundy provides a typical explanation of the plan's rejection:This preposterous paper died young; Roosevelt shared it with Hull, Hull with others, and someone with the newspapers. In the resulting hullabaloo Roosevelt began to assert that he had no such plan, and when Stimson responded by reading back to him what he had initialed, he was "frankly . . . staggered and said he had no idea how he could have initialed this. [However,] Churchill stated, "We intend to take steps far more drastic and effective than those that followed the last war, because we know much more about this business, so as to render all offensive action by Germany utterly impossible for generations to come. Secondly, the Morgenthau Plan thoroughly reflected President Roosevelt s views on postwar policy. He had spent a great deal of time studying and promoting the plan, often against heated opposition. There is also reason to believe that he made significant concessions to obtain British acceptance of the plan. However, few commentators accept Warren Kimball s conclusion that, What appears to have been on the surface to have been the impulsive acceptance by Churchill and Roosevelt of the Morgenthau Plan for the pastoralization and reform of Germany was actually the culmination of an intensive and wide-ranging debate within the American government. ...

Table content

The Morgenthau Plan remains one of the most controversial postwar policies of the 20th century, sparking intense debate about its impact on post-World War II Germany. The Allies’ initial policy, introduced in the aftermath of the war, left Germany in devastation, severely damaging its economy and laying the groundwork for what some critics argue was intentional destruction.

But was this “economic idiocy,” or was it an intentional attempt to neutralize a once-powerful nation, as many historians suggest? Should we see any parallels with policies shaping Germany's economy today—such as de-nuclearization, and the renunciation of affordable Russian oil and gas, now leading to Germany's de-industrialization in the 21st century?

John Dietrich’s The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy offers a detailed and eye-opening account of how this controversial plan was drafted and implemented. The book explores the long-lasting effects of the plan, which sought to dismantle Germany's industrial capabilities, leaving its population vulnerable to starvation and economic ruin.

This policy was not simply an oversight or mistake, Dietrich argues—it was part of a broader postwar strategy, heavily influenced by Soviet aims, to weaken Germany as a geopolitical force.

Soviet Influence and Economic Destruction: Dietrich suggests that Soviet influence shaped American postwar policy, showing how the Morgenthau Plan played into the hands of the Soviet Union. The plan’s devastating impact on Germany mirrored the ideological goals of a postwar Soviet Union seeking to keep Europe destabilized.

Dietrich documents countless official quotes and directives, highlighting how millions of Germans faced starvation and possible extermination as part of this calculated strategy. The Morgenthau Plan intended to reduce Germany’s industrial output, transforming the country into an agrarian economy and leading to widespread displacement, poverty, and hardship.

Dietrich connects these outcomes to broader themes of American foreign policy at the time, influenced by Soviet interests and a desire to ensure that Germany would never rise again as a military or industrial power.

The Shift to the Marshall Plan: What changed by 1947? Why did the U.S. suddenly reverse course and abandon the Morgenthau Plan in favor of the Marshall Plan, which sought to rebuild Germany and stabilize Europe? Dietrich provides insightful commentary on how and why the Allies, led by the United States, came to realize that continuing with the Morgenthau Plan would lead to greater instability across Europe. He examines how American political and economic priorities shifted and why the Marshall Plan became the preferred solution.

Hidden from History: One of the most disturbing revelations of this book is the extent to which this episode in American postwar policy has been minimized or outright ignored by many historians. Dietrich’s painstaking research reveals deliberate suppression of key documents and decisions that should have been more widely known. Many academic institutions and professional historians, Dietrich argues, have failed to critically address the destructive consequences of the Morgenthau Plan, leaving it a hidden chapter in postwar history.

Ethical Dilemmas and Geopolitical Considerations: Dietrich’s work exposes the profound ethical issues and geopolitical conflicts that shaped the postwar era, urging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about American policy and its consequences. Through a well-documented analysis, The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy challenges conventional narratives and compels readers to reconsider the legacy of Allied actions in postwar Germany. This essential volume brings home some harsh facts for those of us who choose to see America as a Shining City on the Hill. It reveals crucial undercurrents in WWII history, postwar reconstruction, U.S.-Soviet relations, and economic policies that shaped modern Europe.

Information

BBC RADIO: THINGS WE FORGOT TO REMEMBER

Michael Portillo remembers the Morgenthau Plan which aimed to strip post war Germany of its industry and turn it into an agricultural country..." BBC Interview: Interview including author John Dietrich at minute 15 ... Note that even this program on the whole continues to deflect responsibility for the genocide.