Episode 67: The Lend-Lease Act

Since March 1941, President Roosevelt had the power to sell, transport, exchange, lease, or lend military equipment, known as the Lend-Lease Act. By February of 1943, the United States had committed $10 billion in aid to nations fighting the Axis Powers. During the Second World War, 44 nations receieved Lend-Lease aid, totaling more than $50 billion. Following the war, Lend-Lease evolved into foreign aid, and eventually the Marshall Plan to help nations rebuild after the war.