Segment Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 1,261	$ 2,450	$ 3,741	$ 7,324
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,772	2,705	5,459	8,790
All Other operating segment
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	170	482	547	888
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	42	9	100	32
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(376)	(366)	(1,160)	(1,126)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	77	(30)	58	(318)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(36)	9	(139)	(26)
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(174)	(177)	(505)	(508)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(120)	(130)	(361)	(357)
Equity in Profit/Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1	(5)	1	(12)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(32)	20	(71)	160
Interest rate swaps
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes		2		2
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(58)	(64)	(178)	(199)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(5)	(5)	(10)	(2)
Machinery and Power Systems | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,554	2,515	4,735	8,207
Machinery and Power Systems | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,047	2,256	3,007	6,740
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,554	2,515	4,735	8,207
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | All Other operating segment
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	170	482	547	888
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	42	9	100	32
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(376)	(366)	(1,160)	(1,126)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	77	(30)	58	(318)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(36)	9	(139)	(26)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(174)	(177)	(505)	(508)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(120)	(130)	(361)	(357)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Equity in Profit/Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1	(5)	1	(12)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(32)	20	(71)	160
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Interest rate swaps
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes		2		2
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(58)	(64)	(178)	(199)
Machinery and Power Systems | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(1)	(9)	(20)	(3)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	214	194	734	584
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	218	190	724	583
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segment
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Equity in Profit/Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Interest rate swaps
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes		0		0
Financial Products | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ (4)	$ 4	$ 10	$ 1