Скачать или смотреть Lend-Lease: How America Bankrupted the British Empire (The 2006 Final Payment)

December 31, 2006: Britain made its final payment to America for World War II. $83.25 million. Sixty-one years after victory. Three generations of British taxpayers paid America for the "privilege" of surviving Hitler.

But that debt wasn't for winning the war. It was the price America charged for the right to stay in the fight.

Between 1940-1945, the United States executed the largest peaceful wealth transfer in history. Britain entered WWII as the world's largest creditor nation controlling 25% of Earth's surface. Britain exited bankrupt, stripped of gold, investments liquidated, and $31 billion in debt.

This wasn't charity. This was asset stripping disguised as aid. 📉

⏳ THE TIMELINE OF EXTRACTION

1939: The Peak 🇬🇧

British Empire: 35.5M sq km (24% of world's land)

Wealth: $22B in overseas investments ($450B today) & $6B in gold reserves.

Status: London is the financial capital; Pound Sterling is the global reserve currency.

1940: The Bankruptcy 📉

Churchill to Roosevelt: "We are broke."

Operation Fish: Britain loaded its entire gold reserves ($7B) onto battleships and shipped them to the US to pay bills. It was the largest movement of physical wealth in history.

💰 THE LEND-LEASE "SCAM" (1941) Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. demanded complete liquidation BEFORE aid could begin.

Forced Sales: The US forced the sale of assets like the American Viscose Corp (worth $100M+) for half its value.

Destroyers-for-Bases: Britain traded strategic control of the Western Hemisphere (bases in Bermuda, Jamaica, etc.) for 50 obsolete WWI destroyers.

📜 THE EMPIRE'S DEATH WARRANT Buried in the agreement was Article VII, requiring Britain to end "discriminatory treatment." Translation: Dismantle the Imperial Preference system. This destroyed the economic wall holding the Empire together.

📉 THE FINAL NAIL: THE 1946 LOAN Instead of a grant, the US offered a $3.75B loan with conditions that forced the pound to be convertible.

Result: The world rushed to sell pounds for dollars.

1949: Britain devalued the pound from $4.03 to $2.80. The nation became 30% poorer overnight.

THE AFTERMATH The debt was never forgiven. It carried interest and was paid annually for 61 years until December 29, 2006.

Who really won? The US Government acquired 2/3 of the world's gold, replaced the pound with the dollar, and gained global military dominance.

#History #LendLease #BritishEmpire #WWII #EconomicHistory #Geopolitics #AmericanHistory #Churchill #Economics

Lend-Lease: How America Bankrupted the British Empire (The 2006 Final Payment)
Lend-Lease: How America Bankrupted the British Empire (The 2006 Final Payment)
Lend-Lease: How America Bankrupted the British Empire (The 2006 Final Payment)
DISCLAIMER This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It presents historical analysis, opinions, and interpretations based on publicly available sources. It is not financial advice, political advice, or a prediction of future events. Viewers are encouraged to research independently.