The primary goal of the Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, was to aid the economic recovery of European nations following the devastation of World War II. Implemented in 1948, the plan aimed to rebuild war-torn economies, stabilize governments, and prevent the spread of communism by promoting political stability and economic cooperation. The United States provided over $12 billion (equivalent to more than $100 billion today) in financial aid to help Western European countries rebuild their infrastructures and industries. The success of the Marshall Plan is credited with revitalizing economies and fostering European integration in the subsequent years.