THE INVISIBLE LINK is a 1951 film directed by Victor Vicas. The film was produced in Europe as part of the overseas information program of the United States Government during the years of the Marshall Plan, 1948 to 1951. It was shown throughout Europe as a means of telling the story of United States participation in the European Recovery Program.

This invisible link that power’s Austria’s industry, cities and farms is, of course, electric power. Ultimately that power means jobs for the nation’s many unemployed. Kaprun Dam, (00:02:35:00) in the mountains north of Salzburg – Austria’s largest – and some 20 others will provide more electricity than ever before, thanks to Marshall Plan aid. Stunning footage shows how one family farms in the high mountains, with (00:09:10:00) and without (00:11:00:00) the benefit of electricity.

The Marshall Plan, officially the European Recovery Program, was an American initiative to aid Western Europe, in which the United States gave $13 billion (approximately $130 billion in current dollar value) in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April of 1948. The goals of the United States were to rebuild war-devastated regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, make Europe prosperous again, and prevent the spread of communism. The Marshall Plan required a lessening of interstate barriers, a dropping of many regulations, and encouraged an increase in productivity, labor union membership, as well as the adoption of modern business procedures.