The United States and the Making of Postwar France, 1945–1954

A study of the American government's influence in France during the critical postwar period.

Irwin M. Wall (Author)

9780521522861, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 August 2002

340 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.5 kg

"...Wall's fine book will likely become the standard account of American-French political relations in the early postwar period. It also offers a stinging indictment of an American policy elite...." Herrick Chapman, International Labor and Working-Class History

This study of French-American relations in the critical postwar period, 1945–54, makes use of recently opened diplomatic archives and personal papers in France and the United States. Irwin Wall examines the American role in French diplomacy, economic reconstruction, military policy, politics, and the reshaping of French society from labour unions to consumer tastes and films. Particular emphasis is placed on American attempts to combat the influence of French Communism and achieve a stable, centrist regime avoiding the extremes of right and left.

Acknowledgments
List of abbreviations
Introduction
1. The diplomatic heritage
2. The postwar years: independence compromised
3. L'année terrible
4. Americanizing the French
5. Building an alliance
6. The Marshall plan
7. Military aid and French independence
8. The United States and French Indochina
9. France declares its independence
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000 [HBLW3], European history [HBJD]