History 30/12/19 Why Japan accused the Soviet Union of treason in 1945
In some countries there was and still are of the opinion that the Soviet Union, declared in August 1945, Japan’s war, has made treachery. Whether such a proposition is without Foundation or is it another manifestation of Russophobia?
Their militarist ambitions against the Soviet Union, Japan began to show from mid-thirties of the last century, some senior Japanese officials even offered the idea of expanding the borders of the Empire to lake Baikal. Shortly before the outbreak of the great Patriotic war there were two significant clashes between the Soviet and Japanese armed forces at lake Khasan and the river Khalkhin-Gol, there was a high probability of large-scale war. Ultimately, however, Japan refocused its warmongering in the British dominions and the zone of interests of the United States.
on 13 April 1941 in Moscow between the USSR and Japan had signed a Pact of mutual neutrality. According to the document, each of the parties, if it will be the object of military action by outside powers, was obliged to remain neutral. Germany was not happy with the contract, as was counting on his ally in the coming war with the Soviet Union. This turn of events concerned were the US and Britain realized that Japan will now be able to strengthen its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
on 22 June 1941, Germany with European allies invaded the Soviet Union, but Japan has complied with the agreement and remained aloof from the conflict. However, this did not prevent certain circles in Japan to bear against Soviet expansionist plans. By the beginning of July 1941, the military command presented the plan of the Soviet occupation “of Kanokwan”, according to which a Declaration of war was scheduled for August 10, 1941. To this date, German troops had to capture Moscow.
In Manchuria was carried out urgent mobilization of the Japanese troops, and the strength of the Kwantung army was doubled. Most eager for covert preparations for the invasion of the Soviet Union was the Minister of foreign Affairs of Japan, Yosuke Matsuoka. He hoped that once the German-Soviet front, there will come a good change, Japan will immediately start to solve the “Northern problem”. However, not everyone in the Japanese government was happy with the intention Matsuoka, and before the expiration of July 1941 he was forced to leave his post.
meanwhile the Soviet General staff, had little confidence in Japan, by mid-September 1941, significantly strengthened the grouping of troops in the far East. As Japan was observing the situation on the German-Soviet front, and the Soviet Union have taken a wait, intently watching the actions of the Japanese in the Pacific theater of operations.
the more precarious became the situation of Germany in the occupied territories of the Soviet Union, the less Japan paid attention to its plans for the Soviet far East. In February 1945, when the collapse of the Third Reich was only a matter of time, the leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition in Yalta, signed an agreement that obliged the Soviet leadership to join the war against Japan no later than 3 months after Germany’s surrender. Stalin did not object, however, provided that the Soviet Union will depart the southern part of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
Closer to the summer, when the defeat of Japanese troops seemed imminent, the allies have not insisted on opening the Soviet-Japanese front. In his memoirs Dwight Eisenhower, the Supreme commander expeditionary forces, there are words addressed to President Harry Truman: “Since the available information points to the inevitability of imminent collapse of Japan, I strongly oppose the entry of the red Army in this war”.
April 5, 1945 the Soviet Union unilaterally denounced the Soviet-Japanese neutrality Pact. About the cause of the gap, the following is stated: “Inwords, when Japan was at war with Britain and the United States, allies of the Soviet Union, the Covenant loses its meaning and the extension of it becomes impossible.” In Tokyo wondered, Japan is not the first year fighting with the allies, but it wasn’t for Moscow the reason for withdrawal from the agreement?
the Japanese Ambassador in Moscow, Sato Naotake Molotov remarked that, not being rejected, and denounced unilaterally the Covenant legally remains in force for another year, i.e. to 5 April, 1946, after the terms of the contract one party should notify the other of denunciation for the year. Molotov agreed with this.
In July 1945, when Japan’s position in the Pacific theater of military action was critical, she turned to the USSR for help in mediation in peace negotiations. In Moscow said that Stalin left for Potsdam conference, and no one except him has the authority to resolve such issues. According to many researchers, Soviet leader still refused to Japan since the USSR was interested in acquiring the Kurils and southern Sakhalin, as well as strengthening its position in China and Korea.
on 8 August 1945 the USSR declared war on Japan, which was previously agreed with the representatives of great Britain and the United States in Potsdam. That the war will start on August 9 at 9 am, the Japanese Ambassador announced just before midnight Moscow time, but in the far East at that time it was already early morning. When you consider that some time was spent on the encryption, transmission and decryption of the reports of the Japanese Ambassador, the Japanese official message I received after the beginning of the attack the Soviet troops. In Tokyo of course accused the Soviet Union of perfidy and compliance with the terms of the joint agreement.
Not only Japan, but also its former allies characterized the behavior of the Soviet Union as evil. They drew attention to the fact that due to allowing Tokyo to the Soviet-German war on the Soviet Union was able to transfer to the West Siberian division, who played a key role in the defense of Moscow and to suspend the advance of the Wehrmacht.
the Soviet Union has always held the opposite view and regarded it as justified a withdrawal from the Covenant of neutrality. However, this position is sometimes criticized even by Russian experts. For example, the Colonel of KGB in resignation Alexey Kirichenko drew attention to the fact that the Japanese command twice, on 16 and 17 August, issued orders for the surrender of the Kwantung army, but the Red Army contrary to the rules did not stop the offensive.
the Second point which stops Kirichenko, this is the fate of more than 600 thousand Japanese prisoners of war who are in the labor force were sent to Siberia and the far East. About 55 thousand of them died, the fate of 47 thousand remained unknown. The expert refers to the fact that the Union in this case violated the Ninth article of the Potsdam Declaration, which was signed by them. According to this article, the Soviet leadership ensured that after the disarmament of the Kwantung army, the Japanese soldiers will be able to return “to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and working life”.
the Result of the Russo-Japanese war, which lasted from August 9 to September 3, 1945, was the accession to the Union territories of southern Sakhalin, main and the southern group of the Kuril Islands, and establishment in China and North Korea Communist regimes.
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