In the aftermath of World War II, much of Europe lay in ruins, with economies devastated, infrastructure destroyed, and populations struggling to rebuild. The Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, was a groundbreaking initiative proposed by the United States in 1948 to assist Western European nations in recovery. Spearheaded by U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the plan provided over $13 billion in economic aid, targeting countries at risk of succumbing to communist influence amid widespread poverty and instability.