Britain’s war debts

At the end of the Second World War, Britain was financially shattered. But help was at hand.
The US loaned $4.33bn (£2.2bn) to Britain in 1945, while Canada loaned US$1.19 bn (£607m) in 1946, at a rate of 2% annual interest.
How long do you think it took to repay those debts?


In fact, the last payments will be made only today, the last working day of 2006.
The final payments of the loans, to the United States and Canada, are not negligible – $83.25m (£42.5m) and $22.7m respectively.
Upon the final payments, the UK will have paid back a total of $7.5bn (£3.8bn) to the US and US$2 bn (£1bn) to Canada.
More information here.