London, Paris and Rome in 1950 Through Beautiful Color Photos

At the end of World War II, millions of people were dead and millions more homeless, the European economy had collapsed, and much of the European industrial infrastructure had been destroyed. The Soviet Union, too, had been heavily affected.

In response, in 1947, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall devised the "European Recovery Program", which became known as the Marshall Plan. Under the plan, during 1948–1952 the United States government allocated US$13 billion (US$158 billion in 2021 dollars) for the reconstruction of the affected countries of Western Europe.

These beautiful color photos were taken by Edward Kotun that show street scenes of London, Paris and Rome in November 1950.

England. London, The Mall, 1950

England. London park, 1950

England. London, American Embassy, Grovesnor Square, 1950

England. London, horseguards, 1950

England. London, Hyde Park Speaker's Corner and Marble Arch, 1950

England. London, Park Lane, 1950

England. London, Piccadilly Circus, 1950

England. London, Piccadilly Circus, 1950

England. London, Selfridges Department Store, Oxford Street, 1950

France. Paris, Champs-Eysees and Arch de Triomphe, 1950

France. Paris, Eiffel Tower, 1950

France. Paris, Hotel Continental, 1950

France. Paris, Place de la Concorde, 1950

France. Paris, Place de la Concorde, 1950

France. Paris, Seine River and Eiffel Tower, 1950

Italy. Rome, 1950

Italy. Rome, American Embassy, 1950

Italy. Rome, American Embassy, 1950

Italy. Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo Bridge over Tiber River, 1950

Italy. Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo, 1950

Italy. Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo, 1950

Italy. Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo, 1950

Italy. Rome, Colosseum - The Flavian Amphitheatre, 1950

Italy. Rome, original Roman wall, 1950

Italy. Rome, Roman Triumphal Arch, 1950

Italy. Rome, Square in front of Vitorrio Emanuele II Monument, 1950

Italy. Rome, St Peter's Basilica, 1950

Italy. Rome, St Peter's Basilica, 1950

Italy. Rome, St Peter's Square, 1950

Italy. Rome, St Peter's Square, 1950

Italy. Rome, the Roman Forum, 1950

Italy. Rome, the Roman Forum, 1950

Italy. Rome, Via Concilialzoni, 1950

Italy. Rome, Vittorio Emanuelle II Monument, 1950

On the Dover-Calais boat train between England and France, 1950