What if there was no Marshall Plan? Say the isolationists win out in the US, or the idea is dismissed as too expensive? What would happen to europe be in this TL? How would the cold war go, if it happens at all?
 
Well, it was devastated by the war and there were fifty million displaced in Europe alone. France and Italy would probably go Communist.
 
Civil war in many European countries and a reduced US economy as it needs Europe spending?
 

NoMommsen

Donor
Civil wars ? ... why ?

When the Marshall Plan began, european economic recovery was already on its way. The Marshall plan only ... gave it a lil' shove and speeded it a bit up.
Without it the growth rates of the european economies between 1948 and 1953 might have been a bit lower, probably especially in Britain and France as the by far biggest receivers (what might have lead to a 'relative' economical 'lead' of Germany even earlier than IOTL (?). But groeth would have been there.

However, the Marshall plan was also a massive propaganda machine, causing a largely pro-US-american popular culture (as far as some germans calling Germany the 51st state of the US ... and were proud of). This wouldn't be the case ITTL. Possible consequences :
  • WEU (Western European Union) becomming an effective reality as an military alliance, causing more of a partnership with the US than the US dominated NATO
  • possibly another outcome of the Stalin notes regarding the german reunification in 1952 with a reunified but neutral/'scandinavianised? Germany

There would probably a LOT of other changes too, but benerally :

much less influence of the US in political, military, economical and - last but not least - cultural terms.​
 
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