Which European countries received economic aid as a result of the Marshall Plan speech?

• A. United Kingdom and Sweden
• B. Spain and Switzerland
• C. Soviet Union and Poland
• D. France and West Germany

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of the Marshall Plan, which was an American initiative to provide economic aid to European countries after World War II to help rebuild their economies.
2. Recall that the Marshall Plan primarily targeted Western European countries that were aligned with the United States and opposed to Soviet influence.
3. Identify that countries like France and West Germany were major recipients of this aid because they were key Western European nations needing reconstruction and economic support.
4. Recognize that countries such as the Soviet Union and its satellite states (e.g., Poland) did not receive aid because they were under Soviet influence and rejected the plan.
5. Conclude that the correct answer involves Western European countries like France and West Germany, rather than neutral or Soviet-aligned countries.