The Lend-Lease Act, officially known as the "An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States" (Public Law 77-11), was a U.S. federal law enacted on March 11, 1941, during World War II. It allowed the United States to provide military aid to foreign countries whose defense was considered vital to American national security, without requiring immediate payment. The primary beneficiaries of this program were the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, and other Allied nations. ## Background As the [[World War II Timeline]] intensified, it became clear that the United States' policy of neutrality and the existing cash-and-carry system (which allowed countries to purchase military equipment from the U.S. as long as they paid in cash and transported the goods themselves) were insufficient to support the embattled Allies. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] proposed the Lend-Lease program as a way to aid the Allies while maintaining the United States' non-belligerent status. ## Key provisions of the Lend-Lease Act The Lend-Lease Act granted the President the authority to "sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of" defense articles, services, and information to any country whose defense was considered vital to the United States. This allowed the U.S. to supply military equipment, food, and other essential materials to the Allies without immediate payment. The act also allowed the U.S. to repair and maintain the defense articles in foreign territories. ## Implementation and impact The Lend-Lease program provided the Allies with critical support during the war. The United States supplied over $50 billion (equivalent to more than $600 billion today) in military aid, including aircraft, tanks, ships, weapons, and other vital supplies. This assistance played a crucial role in enabling the Allies to resist and eventually defeat the Axis powers. The Lend-Lease program also had significant economic and diplomatic implications. It helped to strengthen the U.S. economy by increasing production and employment, and it solidified the United States' alliance with the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and other countries. The program also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the [[United Nations]] and the postwar international order. ## Termination and postwar settlements The Lend-Lease program officially ended on September 2, 1945, with the end of World War II. Postwar settlements were negotiated to determine the terms of repayment for the aid provided. Many countries, including the United Kingdom, were granted favorable loan terms or had some of their debts forgiven. The Soviet Union never fully repaid its Lend-Lease debt, which contributed to tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the early years of the [Cold War](https://doctorparadox.net/dictionaries/cold-war-dictionary/). In summary, the Lend-Lease Act was a vital piece of legislation that enabled the United States to support the Allies during World War II while maintaining its non-belligerent status. The program played a crucial role in the eventual defeat of the Axis powers and shaped the diplomatic landscape of the postwar era.