Incidents become battle
Border clashes widen. Both sides seek to reinforce their positions, but the Japanese underestimate the Soviet ability to bring in heavy forces.
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War
Soviet–Japanese Conflict at Nomonhan
1939
A border war determines Japan’s strategic direction
Military history
The strategic problem
The Nomonhan conflict pits Japanese expansion from Manchuria against the Soviet determination to secure the Mongolian border. Khalkhin Gol begins as a local crisis, then becomes an operation combining armour, artillery, aviation and supply to trap the opposing bridgehead. Its outcome weighs on Japan’s choice to favour the south rather than attack the USSR immediately.
The Soviet–Mongolian offensive
Zhukov pins Japanese forces in the centre and concentrates tanks, artillery and aviation on the flanks. Surprise comes from combination and depth more than from any single weapon type.
The pocket and the political decision
Japanese exit routes are cut and the bridgehead is destroyed. Japan reassesses the risk of a land war against the USSR and turns more towards southern objectives.
Explore
1 published battles, in chronological order
Military history
Sources
Contemporary sourcesRapports soviétiques sur les opérations de Khalkhin Gol
The 20 August offensive, attack sectors, encirclement and outcome.
Military studyCharles Otterstedt, Nomonhan
Chronology, forces and operational decisions on both sides.
Standard monographAlvin D. Coox, Nomonhan
Japanese perspective, testimony, limits of the figures and strategic significance.