battles of khalkhin gol tank battles ww2

As such, the Soviet military was in a compromised state. On top of that, Stalin’s Great Purge of 1935 to 1937 had effectively crippled the Soviet officer corps.

Japan already had experience fighting against Russia and winning in the Korean war of 1904-05 which would allow Japan to occupy the Korean peninsula. Both choices had their merits and issues. The Army of Japan wanted a northern campaign against the Soviet Union, while the Navy wanted a southern campaign into South-east Asia.

In 1939, Japan wasn’t quite sure about its actual invasion plans that would come later. From here they carried out missions deep within China and Mongolia. It occupied the north-western province of China called Manchuria. The Kwantung Army was part of the Imperial Japanese military and it was notorious for its brutal tactics and suppression of its opposition. But, the outcome of this war would change the very course of WWII. This conflict isn’t considered part of WWII, as such many don’t know much about its significance. “Kwantung Army” of Imperial Japan would face off against a combined force of Soviet and Mongolian forces near their respective border. In the year 1939, at the plains of Mongolia near the river “Khalkhin Gol” a series of battles would take place.

Battles of khalkhin gol tank battles ww2