The Law of Lending and Leasing - An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States was a program under which the United States began to supply food, oil and military equipment to the United Kingdom, to the government in exile of Free France, to the Republic of China and later to the Soviet Union and other allied nations between 1941 and August 1945. Supplies included warships, warplanes and other weapons. It became law on March 11, 1941 and was repealed in September 1945. In general, the aid was free, although some equipment (such as ships) were returned after the end of the war. In exchange for the aid, the United States received the lease of military bases and naval bases in the territory of its allied countries during the war. This plan transformed the US into the great supplier of elements of war and as an armament power.