It was from here, the first bipolar world, that people began to place more and more importance on the power of individual countries in a world spectrum. Each pole viewed the other as hostile, and based its foreign and sometimes domestic policy on self- preservation. Following the "rules of conduct" regarding a bipolar world, the United States and Russia both tried to get more countries and allies on their side; the United States employed the Marshall Plan, or the European Recovery Program.1 It would appear to be a generous gesture of goodwill to a feeble Europe however it was patently obvious that without American aid Europe would have used socialist or communist methods to rebuild and that was unthinkable to the Americans. It was interesting to know that even Russia had applied for aid but they never received any. There were strings attached, which was no surprise. One aim was to build up strong anti- Communist countries and it helped American industry by creating markets for American goods. How convenient for America. In the words of Dean Acheson .
"The great thing which creates purchasing power is people if the people can develop their own countries, they will become an increasing market for all goods including our own"2 .
Also Western Europe appeared open to influence by the USSR. Germany had been divided into East and West. The Americans, the British and the French controlled West Germany and the Russians controlled East Germany. The Berlin Wall divided Berlin into east and West. West Germany prospered while the Eastern Germans were left behind. West Germany historically Europe's industrial hub had to be rebuilt as a buffer against Soviet expansion; European fears of their World War II foe would lessen only if the Germans were integrated into a larger Europe. A more direct method of gaining allies was the Truman Doctrine of 1946 which was used to justify support for any nation that the United States government believed was threatened by Communism during the Cold War period.