This three-volume work, which I am pleased to introduce, represents the eighth edition of the Diplomatic and Historical Archive Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and includes historical and diplomatic documents related to the implementation of the Marshall Plan in Greece, during a period when our country truly found itself at the crossroads of the new, post-war world.

The precise understanding of the Marshall Plan and the events of the period 1943-1951 has many facets. One is the historical/scientific aspect, which aims to broaden our perspective, prevent historical amnesia, and provoke interpretations that complement the data available to date or even overturn existing stereotypes. The other aspect is contemporary politics, which seeks to highlight the timeless lessons from the implementation of the Marshall Plan in Greece, as a work of cooperation between Greece and the USA.

The return of history as an educational tool can today help foster cooperation and understanding among states. With the safe distance we have from the historical events of that tragic era, we are able to assess the impacts of the Marshall Plan on the political, economic, and social life of a country devastated by occupation and civil war with greater calm.

Because if it is true that the plan helped Greece to stand on its feet, it is equally true that it contributed to at least the distorted development of the political system and democratic institutions, as well as the economic and social fabric of Greece.

[Excerpt from the foreword]