On 5 June 1947, in a short speech at Harvard University, US Secretary of State George Marshall proposed that the United States should help Europe to recover from the devastation of war, which had left millions hungry and economies in ruins, and invited the European countries to draw up a joint programme. The Economic Cooperation Act was signed on 3 April 1948. Over four years the United States gave about 13 billion dollars, equal to more than 150 billion today, to 16 countries, led by Britain, France and West Germany. The Soviet Union and its satellites declined. The Marshall Plan revived trade and industry, and bound Western Europe to the United States.
Before and after
- 18 April 1947Discovery of Mrs. Ples
- 20 April 1947Founding of Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
- 25 April 1947Birth of Johan Cruyff
- from 28 April 1947 to 31 July 1947Operation Vistula
- 5 June 1947George Marshall proposes the European Recovery Program
- 21 June 1947Birth of Shirin Ebadi
- 25 June 1947Publication of Diary of Anne Frank
- July 1947Roswell incident
- 17 July 1947Birth of Queen Camilla
More in Society, economy & sport
- 5 October 1948Founding of International Union for Conservation of Nature
- 5 May 1949Founding of Council of Europe
- 1960Founding of Somalia
- 1 October 1963Founding of Nigeria
- 1985Introduction of new shekel
- 1990Rise of K-pop
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.