Germany is Our Problem
Encyclopedia
Germany is Our Problem is a book written in 1945 by Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt
. In the book he describes and promotes a plan - named after him - for the occupation of Germany
after World War II
.
he formulated the Morgenthau plan
. For the sake of permanently eliminating German war potential the plan advocated amongst other things German territorial dismemberment, partitioning, and de-industrialization. The plan was agreed upon by UK prime minister Winston Churchill
and President Roosevelt at the Second Quebec Conference
. Leaks to the press about the plan led to Roosevelt denying the existence of the plan. Nevertheless, the plan strongly influenced early US occupation policy, and through the Potsdam agreement also early Allied occupation policy.
.
In November 1945 General Dwight D. Eisenhower
, the Military Governor of the U.S. Occupation Zone
, approved the distribution of 1000 free copies of the book to American military officials in occupied Germany. Historian Stephen Ambrose
draws the conclusion that, despite Eisenhower's later claims that the act was not an endorsement of the Morgenthau plan, Eisenhower both approved of the plan and had previously given Morgenthau at least some of his ideas on how Germany should be treated.
. A review by Orville Prescott on October 5, 1945 in the same newspaper concluded that the whole world would benefit if copies of the book reached the key US decisionmakers responsible for policy about Germany.
Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
Henry Morgenthau, Jr. was the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He played a major role in designing and financing the New Deal...
, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. In the book he describes and promotes a plan - named after him - for the occupation of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Background
During 1944 Henry Morgenthau involved himself in U.S. foreign policy, together with his associate Harry WhiteHarry White
Harry White may refer to:*Harry Dexter White , economist and U.S. Treasury official*Harry White , Australian Jockey*Harry White , US Congressman from Pennsylvania*Harry White...
he formulated the Morgenthau plan
Morgenthau Plan
The Morgenthau Plan, proposed by United States Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., advocated that the Allied occupation of Germany following World War II include measures to eliminate Germany's ability to wage war.-Overview:...
. For the sake of permanently eliminating German war potential the plan advocated amongst other things German territorial dismemberment, partitioning, and de-industrialization. The plan was agreed upon by UK prime minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
and President Roosevelt at the Second Quebec Conference
Second Quebec Conference
The Second Quebec Conference was a high level military conference held during World War II between the British, Canadian and American governments. The conference was held in Quebec City, September 12, 1944 - September 16, 1944, and was the second conference to be held in Quebec, after "QUADRANT"...
. Leaks to the press about the plan led to Roosevelt denying the existence of the plan. Nevertheless, the plan strongly influenced early US occupation policy, and through the Potsdam agreement also early Allied occupation policy.
The book
The book Germany is Our Problem was published by Harper and Brothers in October 1945. In the book Morgenthau described his plan and the rationale for it in great detail. President Roosevelt had granted permission for the publication of the book the evening before his death, when dining with Morgenthau at Warm SpringsWarm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-History:Warm Springs first came to prominence in the 19th century as a spa town, due to its mineral springs which flow constantly at nearly 32 °C...
.
In November 1945 General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, the Military Governor of the U.S. Occupation Zone
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany
The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, US forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the...
, approved the distribution of 1000 free copies of the book to American military officials in occupied Germany. Historian Stephen Ambrose
Stephen Ambrose
Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He was a long time professor of history at the University of New Orleans and the author of many best selling volumes of American popular history...
draws the conclusion that, despite Eisenhower's later claims that the act was not an endorsement of the Morgenthau plan, Eisenhower both approved of the plan and had previously given Morgenthau at least some of his ideas on how Germany should be treated.
Reception
A review in the New York Times on October 7, 1945 felt that the book was important to the survival of the American people and would help prevent World War IIIWorld War III
World War III denotes a successor to World War II that would be on a global scale, with common speculation that it would be likely nuclear and devastating in nature....
. A review by Orville Prescott on October 5, 1945 in the same newspaper concluded that the whole world would benefit if copies of the book reached the key US decisionmakers responsible for policy about Germany.
See also
- Society for the Prevention of World War IIISociety for the Prevention of World War IIIThe Society for the Prevention of World War III was an organization set up in the U.S. in 1944 during World War II that advocated a harsh peace for Germany in order to completely remove Germany as a future military threat....
- Your Job in GermanyYour Job In GermanyYour Job In Germany is a short film made for the United States War Department in 1945 just before Victory in Europe day. It was shown to U.S. soldiers about to go on occupation duty in Germany. The film was made by the military films unit commanded by Frank Capra, and was written by Theodor...
- Germany Must Perish!Germany Must Perish!Germany Must Perish! is the title of a 104-page book written by Theodore Newman Kaufman and self-published in 1941, which advocates the genocide, through sterilization of all Germans, and the territorial dismemberment of Germany...