World War II was, quite simply, the deadliest and most destructive conflict in human history. Indeed, EB “Sledgehammer” Sledge, a renowned U.S. Marine who fought on the Pacific front during the war, gave an early account of the atrocities he experienced in his 1981 memoir, “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa.” He said, "It was so wild. We were wild. We were all hardened. We were out there, human beings, the most developed life form on earth, fighting each other like wild animals" (Sledge). back then, World War II is referred to as “The Good War” and why it is still significant today (Terkel 387) Despite the pulverization, disappearance, and decimation, the war helped usher in a new world, one in which the Third Reich of Hitler? It didn't exist in Europe. Such a world was supported by post-World War II peacemakers. On June 5, 1947, American Secretary George Marshall made public the United States government's decision to aid the political and economic recovery of Europe. Europe (Marshall).He did not know that this twelve-minute speech managed to change the course of history and the destiny of a Europe devastated after the Second World War. This led to the implementation of the Marshall Plan, otherwise known as the “European Recovery Program” and the Truman Doctrine. Not only did they revolutionize the European economy, but they were able to bring about political change by containing the spread of communism. Both programs also envisaged a transition towards the creation of new political institutions such as NATO and the European Steel and Coal Community. Likewise, World War II marked the beginning of the end of global colonialism as patriotic developments began to triumph over the rule of debilitated pioneers... middle of paper ......Marshall, George C. Cold War Reference Library . Ed. Richard C. Hanes, Sharon M. Hanes and Lawrence W. Baker. vol. 5: Primary sources. Detroit: UXL, 2004. 43-51. World history in context. Network. April 2, 2014. Neumann, William L. After Victory: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and the Making of Peace. New York: Harper & Row, 1967. Print.Perry, Mark. Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace. New York: Penguin, 2007. Print.Sledge, EB World War II Reference Library. Ed. Barbara C. Bigelow, et al. vol. 4: Primary sources. Detroit: UXL, 2000. 197-209. World history in context. Network. 2 April 2014.Terkel, Borchie. "The Good War": An Oral History of World War II. New York: Pantheon, 1984. Print.Wexler, Imanuel. The Marshall Plan revisited: the European recovery program from an economic perspective. Westport, Conn., 1983.