The main purpose of the U.S. Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, after World War II was to aid the economic recovery of European countries devastated by the war. Initiated in 1948, the plan provided financial assistance in the form of grants and loans to help rebuild infrastructure, revitalize industries, and restore trade. By stabilizing these economies, the U.S. aimed to prevent the spread of communism, promote political stability, and foster economic cooperation among European nations. The Marshall Plan is widely regarded as one of the most successful foreign aid programs in history and significantly contributed to the post-war recovery of Western Europe.