Final answer:
The Marshall Plan offered economic aid to Western European countries after World War II, including France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and Belgium, aiming to rebuild their economies and prevent the spread of Communism. The Soviet Union and its satellites rejected the aid. The Plan's success contributed to the recovery and political stabilization of Western Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The European countries that could receive aid through the Marshall Plan included nations in Western Europe affected by the devastation of World War II. The United States launched the plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, in 1948 and provided economic aid to help rebuild these countries and prevent the spread of Communism by fostering a stable and prosperous business climate. Notably, the countries of France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and Belgium directly benefited from this aid. The Marshall Plan was also offered to the Soviet Union and its satellite states, but they rejected it and were thus excluded from the benefits.
Nevertheless, the aid extended to the Western European countries laid the groundwork for economic recovery and played a critical role in the establishment of the Common Market, which eventually led to the creation of the European Union (EU). The plan's implementation also benefited US businesses by opening new markets for their products in Europe's recovering economies.
The program's success was evident in the substantial recovery of Western Europe, especially in Germany, and the overall decline in support for Communist parties in the region by the early 1950s.