The Marshall Plan was enacted in 1948 to provide $13.3 billion in aid to Western Europe after World War II. It aimed to rebuild regions, modernize industry, and prevent communism. The aid was divided among European countries based on need, with the UK, France, and West Germany receiving the highest contributions. The plan played a significant role in the rapid recovery of Europe post-war.
The US Congress passed a law in 1940 allowing the Bureau of Labor Statistics to create a Productivity and Technological Development Division, which played a crucial role in increasing industrial productivity in Europe through the Marshall Plan.
In an April 1945 National Opinion Research Center (NORC) poll, 75% of Americans believed that sending lend-lease materials to friendly countries after the war would result in the same or more jobs for most Americans, indicating a positive perception towards international aid.
In accordance with agreements with the Soviet Union, dismantled German industrial installations from the west were shipped starting on March 31, 1946. The Soviet Union was supposed to reciprocate by sending raw materials to the western zones, but due to various reasons, the shipments east were eventually halted.
On March 12, 1947, the 'Truman Doctrine' was outlined in a presidential speech to Congress, establishing the U.S. policy to protect nations threatened by communism.
On 5 June 1947, the United States initiated the Marshall Plan, providing aid to Europe for post-war reconstruction and to prevent the spread of communism, contributing to the economic recovery of Western Europe.
Secretary of State Marshall unveiled a plan for European recovery during a commencement address at Harvard University on June 5.
On June 19, 1947, the British and French Foreign ministers issued a joint communiqué inviting twenty-two European nations to send representatives to Paris. The purpose was to draw up a cooperative recovery plan for Europe.
On July 12, 1947, the Conference of European Economic Cooperation, which later became the Committee of European Economic Cooperation (CEEC), convened in Paris. This meeting was crucial in laying the foundation for economic recovery and cooperation in post-World War II Europe.
On August 20, 1947, Britain suspended the convertibility of sterling currency, leading to a severe financial crisis, after Washington demanded convertibility earlier in July.
The United States agreed to give $40 million in aid to France, Austria, China, and Italy to provide immediate assistance before the Marshall Plan was fully implemented.
On December 19, 1947, President Harry Truman sent a message to Congress following George Marshall's ideas to provide economic aid to Europe. This message led to the passing of the Economic Cooperation Act of 1948.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1948, also known as the European Recovery Act or Marshall Plan, aimed to promote world peace and the general welfare through economic-financial measures to support free institutions abroad.
On March 13, 1948, Congress approved the Marshall Plan with strong bipartisan support. The plan aimed to provide economic aid to Western European countries to help them recover from the devastation of World War II and prevent the spread of communism.
President Truman addressed European security concerns and criticized the Soviet Union's actions before a Joint Session of Congress, urging the passage of the Economic Cooperation Act, also known as the Marshall Plan, to contain Soviet influence in the Eastern Bloc.
On April 2, 1948, Congress passes the Economic Cooperation Act, which paves the way for the implementation of the Marshall Plan. President Truman signs the act the following day.
The Foreign Assistance Act, also known as the Marshall Plan, is signed to provide aid to Western Europe after World War II, creating new administrative positions.
On April 3, 1948, President Truman signed the Economic Cooperation Act, also known as the Marshall Plan, which aimed to provide economic assistance to help rebuild Western European economies after World War II.
The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) was established on 16 April 1948 to administer the Marshall Plan, providing economic and technical assistance for the recovery of war-torn Europe.
President Truman extended the Marshall Plan to less-developed countries worldwide through the Point Four Program, which aimed to provide economic assistance and promote development.
The founding conference of the Congress for Cultural Freedom took place in Berlin in June 1950. It brought together leading intellectuals from the US and Western Europe to counter the anti-American propaganda subsidized by the communists.
The escalation of the Korean War leads to the premature end of the Marshall Plan on December 31, six months earlier than planned.
After the end of Marshall Aid in 1952, the financial assistance program provided by the United States to help rebuild European economies after World War II came to a close.
The Marshall Plan aid officially concludes, with a few exceptions. The plan, initiated to aid the economic recovery of Western European countries after World War II, played a crucial role in shaping the post-war global economic landscape.
In 1953, George C. Marshall, the Secretary of State, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Marshall Plan, a significant humanitarian effort to rebuild Europe after World War II.
In 1954, Prime Minister Willem Drees praised the Marshall Plan as a successful experiment in international relations that had a demonstrable impact on peaceful cooperation. He emphasized the importance of remembering the Marshall Plan as a symbol of effective global cooperation.
The year 1955 saw efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations and foster international cooperation for peace and stability.
The Treaty of Rome signed in 1957 laid the foundation for the European Economic Community, promoting economic integration and cooperation.
Ireland received US$146.2 million through the Marshall Plan, with US$128.2 million as loans and US$18 million as grants. By 1969, the Irish Marshall Plan debt amounted to 31 million pounds.
The Special Fund, supervised by the Federal Economics Ministry in Germany, was worth over DM 10 billion in 1971, and it played a significant role in providing low-interest loans to German citizens for economic recovery.
In 1972, the German Marshall Fund (GMF) was established with a donation from the German government as a gesture of gratitude towards the American people for the Marshall Plan. GMF focuses on fostering transatlantic connections, nurturing new leaders, and promoting democratic values.
The exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan, a significant initiative for the economic recovery of Europe after World War II.