Central and Eastern European Planning Board.

Joint committee of the Polish, Czechoslovak, Yugoslav, and Greek governments in exile.

The Central and Eastern European Planning Board was founded in New York in 1942 by representatives of the exiled governments of occupied Czechoslovakia, Greece, Poland, and Yugoslavia following their attendance at the International Labor Conference held in New York in November, 1941.

From 1942 to 1945 the Board conducted research and formulated plans for postwar reconstruction in the four countries, with the goal of forming a democratic central and eastern European federation. Member countries financed the Board with contributions and were represented by government ministers Jan Masaryk of Czechoslovakia (alternating with Jaromir Necas), Emanuel Tsouderos of Greece (replacing Aristides Dimitratos, Greece's original representative on the Board), Jan Stanzyk of Poland, and Sava N. Kosanovich of Yugoslavia. These representatives made up the General Steering Committee (chaired by Kosanovich) which was the Board's executive body. The Board also had committees on economics (with subcommittees on agriculture, finance and foreign trade, industry, and relief) and education. Secretary-General Feliks Gross was a lawyer, sociologist, political scientist, author, and member of the Polish Socialist Party. He moved to the United States after World War II.

The Board published the monthly journal New Europe; a monthly newsletter, Survey of Central and Eastern Europe, which reported on wartime conditions in the occupied countries; a pamphlet series; and a series of irregularly issued Documents and Reports. The Board also participated in institutes, conferences and educational forums on the topic of postwar reconstruction in central and eastern Europe. Many of the meetings were held at colleges and universities in the United States including Antioch College, Hofstra College, New York University, and the University of Wyoming. The withdrawal of Yugoslavia and Greece from the Board in August and September of 1943, the severance of relations between the Czech and Polish governments, and the changes in the political climate all contributed to the closing down of the Board in 1945.

Biographical/Historical Note

Joint committee of the Polish, Czechoslovak, Yugoslav, and Greek governments in exile.

The Central and Eastern European Planning Board was founded in New York in 1942 by representatives of the exiled governments of occupied Czechoslovakia, Greece, Poland, and Yugoslavia following their attendance at the International Labor Conference held in New York in November, 1941. From 1942 to 1945 the Board conducted research and formulated plans for postwar reconstruction in the four countries, with the goal of forming a democratic central and eastern European federation. Member countries financed the Board with contributions and were represented by government ministers Jan Masaryk of Czechoslovakia (alternating with Jaromir Necas), Emanuel Tsouderos of Greece (replacing Aristides Dimitratos, Greece's original representative on the Board), Jan Stanzyk of Poland, and Sava N. Kosanovich of Yugoslavia. These representatives made up the General Steering Committee (chaired by Kosanovich) which was the Board's executive body. The Board also had committees on economics (with subcommittees on agriculture, finance and foreign trade, industry, and relief) and education. Secretary-General Feliks Gross was a lawyer, sociologist, political scientist, author, and member of the Polish Socialist Party. He moved to the United States after World War II.

The Board published the monthly journal New Europe; a monthly newsletter, Survey of Central and Eastern Europe, which reported on wartime conditions in the occupied countries; a pamphlet series; and a series of irregularly issued Documents and Reports. The Board also participated in institutes, conferences and educational forums on the topic of postwar reconstruction in central and eastern Europe. Many of the meetings were held at colleges and universities in the United States including Antioch College, Hofstra College, New York University, and the University of Wyoming. The withdrawal of Yugoslavia and Greece from the Board in August and September of 1943, the severance of relations between the Czech and Polish governments, and the changes in the political climate all contributed to the closing down of the Board in 1945.