Aleksashenko examines the transformation of Germany and Japan between 1945 and 1955. Looking to prevent another war, the US initially concentrated on transforming political institutions with no desire to help these countries recover economically. Still, by 1947, it became evident that the recovery of Western Europe required significant political courage—the US designed the Marshall Plan, which included Germany as one of the aid recipients. The fear of communist expansion fueled the emergence of NATO as a mutual defense system, where Germany was gradually incorporated. Thus, Germany became a part of the US-led economic system and a member of a military-political alliance with the US. The Korean War pushed the US to adopt a similar solution regarding Japan.