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Re: Friday, December 27, 2002
I made a search in the 'net but most materials are in Russian. E.g. this analysis has been written by professor Afilov, doctor of history: "Causes and Consequences of the Entry of the USSR in War on the Far East" http://www.ng.ru/polemics/2000-09-02/8_reasons.html. I tried to translate some parts here (sorry for the grammar): "In the summer 1945 Japan was in a condition to linger the war against China, USA and the Great Britain. By August, 1945 its armed forces totaled about 7 million. Besides, there was an opportunity to mobilize additional 1.5 million. Allied command assumed that landing to the islands will cost USA and the Great Britain of one million lives. American intelligence reported that Soviet operations against Japan are extremely desirable since it was impossible to achieve capitulation of Japanese by neither blockade, nor bombardment. Moreover, Churchill believed and Americans agreed that without participation of the USSR they would need 1.5 year to defeat Japan." "In Washington it was well understood, that the introduction of the USSR into war against Japan will be recognized in the world as event of huge value. Therefore Truman aspired to take steps, which would weaken this impression. The president of the USA has had big hopes to nuclear bombing, brutal in the essence. 447 thousand civilians were killed and crippled. Application of nuclear bombs has not made the Japanese command sober. Japanese had continued to stake on a lingering of the war." "Powerful attacks of the Soviets against 1 million Kwangtung Army in the first days have put Japan before catastrophe. August 14 the joint meeting of the Supreme military council and the government at the presence of emperor has made the decision on capitulation. Military actions however did not stop." "The Soviet armies continued to carry out the fighting ... By August 25 the Soviet armies have cleared completely all southern part of Sakhalin. By September 1st they have finished route of the opponent on Kuriles. In these areas it was captivated 63,840 Japanese soldier and officers. In total during almost monthly continuous fights with the Soviet armies 83,737 Japanese were killed and 594 thousand captured" "Entry of the USSR into war against Japan had huge value for outcome of whole Second World War. Defeat of the Kwangtung Army - the main land forces - has sped up the defeat and unconditional surrender of Japan. That was the major military-political result of the war of Soviet Union against Japan. In the post-war period in the West many efforts were enclosed to belittle a role of the USSR in defeating of Japan. Completely different, truthful appreciations of the role of Soviet Union in the war against Japan were given by Americans on the eve and right after the end. For example, Senator Connelly, when learned about the announcement of the Soviet government August 8, 1945, exclaimed: "Thank goodness! War is almost finished ". General Chennault, commander of the USA air forces in China, said to a correspondent of "New York Times" on August 15: "The entry of Soviet Union into war against Japan became the determinative which has sped up the ending of the war in Pacific ocean that would take place even if nuclear bombs would not be used. The fast attack by Red Army on Japan, has finished the encirclement, resulted in putting Japan on the knees" Again, my apologies for the grammar and accuracy especially when I translated Americans from Russian to English :) On the different note, it always amazes me how differently Russians and Americans tell the history of the WWII. E.g., who was the major force in defeating Germany?
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