Soviet invasion of Manchuria

Quick Facts: Who was Soviet invasion of Manchuria?

Subject:

Soviet invasion of Manchuria

Known for:

The massive Soviet military campaign against Japan's puppet states in Manchuria in August 1945.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Soviet invasion of Manchuria, formally known as the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation or simply the Manchurian Operation (Маньчжурская операция), began on 8 August 1945 with the Soviet Union's invasion of the Empire of Japan's puppet states of Manchukuo and Mengjiang, in Japanese-occupied Manchuria and Inner Mongolia respectively. It was the largest campaign of the 1945 Soviet–Japanese War, which resumed hostilities between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Empire of Japan after almost six years of peace. The invasion began two days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and one day before the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The Soviet entry into the war against Japan is often considered a major factor, alongside the atomic bombings, in the Japanese government's decision to surrender unconditionally by 15 August. The Japanese government had previously hoped the Soviet Union would act as a third party, and end the Pacific War by negotiating a conditional surrender for Japan with the Western Allies.

Career & Major Achievements

The Kwantung Army officially surrendered on 16 August, although fighting continued until 2 September, when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed. The Soviet Union occupied Manchuria as well as the Japanese Mengjiang puppet state in Inner Mongolia. The Soviet Navy also launched an amphibious assault capturing the northern half of Japanese-occupied Korea, later establishing the Soviet Civil Administration. On 14 August it signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance with the Kuomintang government. The resumption of full-scale conflict in the Chinese Civil War prompted the Red Army to withdraw by 3 May 1946, handing much of Manchuria and Inner Mongolia to territories controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Soviets continued to occupy northern Korea until 1948 and the Port Arthur naval base until 1955. Soviet forces also captured scientists of the Kwantung Army's Unit 731 division, involved in Japanese biological warfare and chemical warfare, sentencing them in the 1949 Khabarovsk war crimes trials while allegedly using their information and experience in the Soviet biological weapons program. As agreed with the United Kingdom and the United States (Western Allies) at the Tehran Conference in November 1943 and the Yalta Conference in February 1945, the Soviet Union entered World War II's Pacific Theatre within three months of the end of the war in Europe. The invasion began on 9 August 1945, exactly three months after the German surrender on May 8 (9 May, 0:43 Moscow time). Although the commencement of the invasion fell between the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August, and only hours before the Nagasaki bombing on 9 August, the timing of the invasion had been planned well in advance and was determined by the timing of the agreements at Tehran and Yalta, the long-term buildup of Soviet forces in the Far East since Tehran, and the date of the German surrender some three months earlier; on August 3, Marshal Vasilevsky reported to Premier Joseph Stalin that, if necessary, he could attack on the morning of 5 August.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1943: 1943 Milestone — As agreed with the United Kingdom and the United States (Western Allies) at the Tehran Conference in November 1943 and the Yalta Conference in February 1945, the Soviet Union entered World War II's Pacific Theatre within three months of the end of the war in Europe.
2. 1945: 1945 Milestone — The Soviet invasion of Manchuria, formally known as the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation or simply the Manchurian Operation (Маньчжурская операция), began on 8 August 1945 with the Soviet Union's invasion of the Empire of Japan's puppet states of Manchukuo and Mengjiang, in Japanese-occupied Manchuria and Inner Mongolia respectively.
3. 1946: 1946 Milestone — The resumption of full-scale conflict in the Chinese Civil War prompted the Red Army to withdraw by 3 May 1946, handing much of Manchuria and Inner Mongolia to territories controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
4. 1948: 1948 Milestone — The Soviets continued to occupy northern Korea until 1948 and the Port Arthur naval base until 1955.
5. 1949: 1949 Milestone — Soviet forces also captured scientists of the Kwantung Army's Unit 731 division, involved in Japanese biological warfare and chemical warfare, sentencing them in the 1949 Khabarovsk war crimes trials while allegedly using their information and experience in the Soviet biological weapons program.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Soviet invasion of Manchuria

True or False: “The Soviet invasion of Manchuria was the first major military action taken by the USSR against Japan after World War II ended.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it was a massive operation, the Soviets had already engaged in border incidents with Japan prior to 1945, such as the Battle of Lake Khasan.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Soviet invasion of Manchuria