The USSR weren't able to enter the war against Japan soon because of the treaty of non-aggression signed by the two countries in April 1941 and for a duration of 5 years. But at the Yalta conference, Staline promessed to Roosevelt that his country would declare war to Japan 3 months after the end of the war in Europe. April 2nd 1945 Molotov tells the japanese diplomate Naotake Sato that the treaty of neutrality is canceled.
Until the end of the war in Europe only the Siberian army (40 divisions) was facing the japanese army (500 000 soldiers) of general Yamada stationed in Mandchouria. But Deutchland is crushed and thus Staline makes many troops movements by train and soon 1 500 000 soldiers and 5 500 tanks positioned on three fronts are ready to attack Mandchouria, all these forces are under the orders of marshal Vassilievsky.
The soviet tactic is that a first group of 4 armies (marshal Malinovsky) will attack East toward Kharbine and Moukden. A second group of 2 armies (general Pourkaiev) will attack South beside the river Tsoungari. The third group of 3 armies and one tank corps (marshal Meretzkov) will start at Vladivostok and attack West toward Kharbine. So about 60 soviet divisions will fight the 24 japanese divisions. To complement the attack the soviet Pacific fleet led by admiral Ioumachev and the 16th army will conquer the Kouriles and the South part of the Sakaline.
August 8th the diplomate Sato is told by Molotov that the USSR are now in war with Japan. The next morning the attack is launched and in 8 days 400km are conquered and so on August 16th the soviet army meet the chinese army. On August 23rd Port Arthur (conquered by the Japaneses in the 1904-1905 war) is reconquered by the Soviets.
The cease-fire had been asked to the Japaneses on August 18th. All the soviet objectives are met, 500 000 Japaneses are captured, the Soviets bring back home the factories of Mandchouria, like they did in Germany. On September 2nd lieutnant-general K. Deremyanko signs the official capitulation of Japan.
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