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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 trillion euros in loans over eight decades.

KfW by decade

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

KfW issues

KfW promotion has spanned various topics for eight decades.

Chairs of Supervisory Board and Executive Board of KfW

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

Historical Group Archive

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

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.)

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.

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.

Contact

Mr.

Detlev Karres

Group Communications

Frankfurt am Main

Palmengartenstr. 5-9

60325 Frankfurt am Main

Germany

+49 69 7431-4839

detlev.karres@kfw.de