George C. Marshall: Difference between revisions

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'''George C. Marshall''' was the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during [[World War II]], and the Secretary of State who sponsored the [[Marshall Plan]] in 1947. He was also Secretary of Defense during part of the [[Korean War]].
'''George C. Marshall''' (1880-1959) was the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during [[World War II]], and the chief military advisor to President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. After the war he served as Secretary of State and sponsored the [[Marshall Plan]] in 1947. He was also Secretary of Defense during part of the [[Korean War]].
==Life==
==Life==
==1917-39==
==1917-39==
==World War II==
==World War II==
===Building an army===
===Strategy against German===
===Strategy against Japan===
Marshall, who had charge of the Air Force, explained American strategy three weeks before Pearl Harbor:<ref>
Marshall, who had charge of the Air Force, explained American strategy three weeks before Pearl Harbor:<ref>
Robert L. Sherrod "Memorandum for David W. Hulburd, Jr." November 15, 1941.   
Robert L. Sherrod "Memorandum for David W. Hulburd, Jr." November 15, 1941.   
Line 12: Line 15:
===China===
===China===
===Marshall Plan===
===Marshall Plan===
see [[Marshall Plan]]
===Korean War===
===Korean War===
see [[Korean War]]
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*Cray, Ed.  ''General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and Statesman.'' (1990). 847 pp. 
*Harold I. Gullan; "Expectations of Infamy: Roosevelt and Marshall Prepare for War, 1938-41." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' Volume: 28#3 1998. pp 510+ [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001392305 online edition]
*May, Ernest R. "1947-48: When Marshall Kept the U.S. out of War in China." ''Journal of Military History'' 2002 66(4): 1001-1010. Issn: 0899-3718 Fulltext: in Swetswise and [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0899-3718%28200210%2966%3A4%3C1001%3A1WMKTU%3E2.0.CO%3B2-T  in Jstor]
*Levine, Steven I. "A New Look at American Mediation in the Chinese Civil War: the Marshall Mission and Manchuria." ''Diplomatic History'' 1979 3(4): 349-375. Issn: 0145-2096
*Parrish, Thomas.  ''Roosevelt and Marshall: Partners in Politics and War.'' (1989). 608 pp. 
*Steele, Richard W.  ''The First Offensive, 1942: Roosevelt, Marshall, and the Making of American Strategy.'' 1973. 239 pp. 
*Mark C. Stoler, ''George C. Marshall: Soldier-Statesman of the American Century. '' (1989) 252pp
*Pogue, Forrest. ''George C. Marshall'' (1963–87) Four-volume authorized biography: complete text is online
**''[http://www.marshallfoundation.org/library/poguecollection.htm George C. Marshall: Education of a General, 1880-1939]''
**''[http://www.marshallfoundation.org/Library/PogueCollection.htm George C Marshall: Ordeal and Hope, 1939-1943]''
**''[http://www.marshallfoundation.org/Library/PogueCollection.htm George C. Marshall: Organizer of Victory 1943-1945]''
**''[http://www.marshallfoundation.org/Library/PogueCollection.htm George C. Marshall: Statesman 1945-1959]''
===Primary Sources===
===Primary Sources===
 
* [http://76.7.58.34/gsdl274/cgi-bin/library?a=p&p=home&l=en&w=utf-8 primary sources at Marshall Library]
==See also==
==See also==
==Online resources==
==Online resources==

Revision as of 20:35, 23 June 2008

George C. Marshall (1880-1959) was the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during World War II, and the chief military advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After the war he served as Secretary of State and sponsored the Marshall Plan in 1947. He was also Secretary of Defense during part of the Korean War.

Life

1917-39

World War II

Building an army

Strategy against German

Strategy against Japan

Marshall, who had charge of the Air Force, explained American strategy three weeks before Pearl Harbor:[1]

"We are preparing for an offensive war against Japan, whereas the Japs believe we are preparing only to defend the Phillipines. ...We have 35 Flying Fortresses already there—the largest concentration anywhere in the world. Twenty more will be added next month, and 60 more in January....If war with the Japanese does come, we'll fight mercilessly. Flying fortresses will be dispatched immediately to set the paper cities of Japan on fire. There wont be any hesitation about bombing civilians—it will be all-out."

When war began the Philippine airbases were quickly lost. American strategy then focused on getting forwar airbases close enough to Japan to use the very-long-range B-29 bomber, then in development. At first the B-29's were stationed in China and made raids in 1944; the logistics made China an impossible base. Finally, in summer 1944, the U.S. won the Battle of the Philippine Sea and captured islands that were in range.

Postwar

China

Marshall Plan

see Marshall Plan

Korean War

see Korean War

Bibliography

  • Cray, Ed. General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and Statesman. (1990). 847 pp.
  • Harold I. Gullan; "Expectations of Infamy: Roosevelt and Marshall Prepare for War, 1938-41." Presidential Studies Quarterly Volume: 28#3 1998. pp 510+ online edition
  • May, Ernest R. "1947-48: When Marshall Kept the U.S. out of War in China." Journal of Military History 2002 66(4): 1001-1010. Issn: 0899-3718 Fulltext: in Swetswise and in Jstor
  • Levine, Steven I. "A New Look at American Mediation in the Chinese Civil War: the Marshall Mission and Manchuria." Diplomatic History 1979 3(4): 349-375. Issn: 0145-2096
  • Parrish, Thomas. Roosevelt and Marshall: Partners in Politics and War. (1989). 608 pp.
  • Steele, Richard W. The First Offensive, 1942: Roosevelt, Marshall, and the Making of American Strategy. 1973. 239 pp.
  • Mark C. Stoler, George C. Marshall: Soldier-Statesman of the American Century. (1989) 252pp
  • Pogue, Forrest. George C. Marshall (1963–87) Four-volume authorized biography: complete text is online

Primary Sources

See also

Online resources

notes

  1. Robert L. Sherrod "Memorandum for David W. Hulburd, Jr." November 15, 1941. The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, ed. Larry I. Bland et al. vol. 2, We Cannot Delay, July 1, 1939-December 6, 1941 (1986), #2-602 pp. 676-681. online version. Marshall made the statement to a secret press conference.