History of KfW

    History of KfW

    The development of KfW Group has been closely connected to the economic development of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since its founding in 1948 and according to its statutory mission, KfW has been supporting change and encouraging forward-looking ideas - in Germany, Europe and throughout the world. For this purpose it has provided more than 2.4 trillion euros in loans over eight decades.

    KfW by decade

    KfW looks back on eight decades full of events and continued development.

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    KfW issues

    KfW promotion has spanned various topics for eight decades.

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    Chairs of Supervisory Board and Executive Board of KfW

    Chairs of the Supervisory Board and Speakers of the Executive Board of KfW since 1948.

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    Historical Group Archive

    KfW treasures its past. All archive materials are housed in the Historical Group Archive in Berlin.

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    History videos

    From the Fall of the Berlin Wall to the German Unity

    The former Federal Minister of Finance Theo Waigel, the former Federal President and State Secretary Horst Köhler, the historians Brendan Simms and Werner Plumpe as well as other contemporary witnesses recall the various aspects of a moving year.

    (9 November 2019)

    Play video (8:39 min.)

    KfW - the film

    Since its founding in 1948 and according to its statutory mission, KfW has been supporting change and encouraging forward-looking ideas - in Germany, Europe and throughout the world. For this purpose it has provided more than 1.7 trillion euros in loans over more than seven decades.

    Play video (0:19 min.)

    Long version of the video 'History of KfW' (29:32 min.)

    More stories over seven decades of responsibility

    Impressions of KfW's history

    18 November 1848 - The development of KfW Group has been closely connected to the economic development of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since its founding more than seven decades ago and according to its statutory mission, KfW has been supporting change and encouraging forward-looking ideas - in Germany, Europe and throughout the world.

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    A boost from the USA

    On 5 June 1947, US Secretary of State George C. Marshall announced a financial aid programme for Europe at Harvard. The German Marshall Fund (GMF) and KfW are jointly celebrating 75 years of the historic legacy and future mission of the Marshall Plan.

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    Contact

    Mr.

    Detlev Karres

    Group Communications

    Frankfurt am Main

    Palmengartenstr. 5-9

    60325 Frankfurt am Main

    Germany