Editing Marshall Plan (section)

====Need to rebuild Germany====
In January 1947, Truman appointed retired General [[George Marshall]] as Secretary of State. In July 1947 Marshall scrapped [[JCS 1067|Joint Chiefs of Staff Directive 1067]], which was based on the [[Morgenthau Plan]] which had decreed "take no steps looking toward the economic rehabilitation of Germany [or] designed to maintain or strengthen the German economy." The new plan JCS 1779 stated that "an orderly and prosperous Europe requires the economic contributions of a stable and productive Germany."{{sfn|Beschloss|2003|p=277}} The restrictions placed on German heavy industry production were partly ameliorated; permitted steel production levels were raised from 25% of pre-war capacity to a new limit placed at 50% of pre-war capacity.{{sfn|Pas de Pagaille!|1947}}

With a [[Greek Civil War#Confrontation: 1944|communist, although non-Soviet, insurgency]] threatening Greece, and Britain financially unable to continue its aid, the President announced his [[Truman Doctrine]] on March 12, 1947, "to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures", with an aid request for consideration and decision, concerning Greece and Turkey. [[Herbert Hoover]] noted that "The whole economy of Europe is interlinked with the German economy through the exchange of raw materials and manufactured goods. The productivity of Europe cannot be restored without the restoration of Germany as a contributor to that productivity."{{sfn|Wala|1995 |pp=104–05}} [[The President's Economic Mission to Germany and Austria|Hoover's report]] led to a realization in Washington that a new policy was needed; "almost any action would be an improvement on current policy."{{sfn|Hogan|1987|pp=34–35}} In Washington, the Joint Chiefs declared that the "complete revival of German industry, particularly coal mining" was now of "primary importance" to American security.{{sfn|Beschloss|2003|p=277}}

The United States was already spending a great deal to help Europe recover. Over $14 billion was spent or loaned during the postwar period through the end of 1947 and is not counted as part of the Marshall Plan. Much of this aid was designed to restore infrastructure and help refugees. Britain, for example, received an emergency loan of $3.75 billion.{{Sfn|U.S. Statistical Abstract|1949|p=[http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1949-12.pdf 846]}}

The [[United Nations]] also launched a series of humanitarian and relief efforts almost wholly funded by the United States. These efforts had important effects, but they lacked any central organization and planning, and failed to meet many of Europe's more fundamental needs.{{sfn|Judt|2001|p=4}} Already in 1943, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was founded to provide relief to areas liberated from Germany. UNRRA provided billions of dollars of rehabilitation aid and helped about 8 million refugees. It ceased the operation of [[displaced persons camp]]s in Europe in 1947; many of its functions were transferred to several UN agencies.{{sfn|UNRRA||p=317}}{{sfn|Fifield|2015|p=69}}