When the Soviet-German war broke out, the Japanese army wanted to send troops to the Soviet Union, but why did it give up in the end?
On June 22, 1939, the Nazis launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union, known as Operation Barbarossa. But Japan also considered joining the war at that time. However, after carefully weighing the pros and cons, they chose to abandon this plan.
It is important to understand that the world during World War II was a place where complex international situations were intertwined. The United States, Britain and other countries have already established alliances with the Soviet Union, and if Japan chooses to attack the Soviet Union at this time, then it will face a three-front war situation - that is, against three powerful opponents at the same time: China, the United States and the United Kingdom.
At that time, although Japan had already achieved tremendous territorial expansion in Asia and had abundant resource reserves, its national strength was limited and it could not withstand the pressure of multi-front warfare. Moreover, as one of the world's largest industrial powers, the Soviet Union possessed huge human resources and technological strength, and if a war broke out, it would be a great challenge for Japan.
The Japanese military believed that attacking the USSR would not only distract them, but also isolate them in the Far East. Because the Soviet Union was located in the eastern part of Europe, far away from Japan, it would take a huge amount of time and material consumption to mobilize troops from Japan to Russia.
Japan was also concerned that even if it succeeded in occupying parts of the Soviet Union, it would be difficult to maintain its long-term rule. Because in history, many conquerors were unable to control the conquered lands for a long time. If Japan wants to maintain its control over these regions for a long time, it will have to invest a lot of resources to consolidate its rule, which will undoubtedly put a heavy burden on the domestic economy.
Although Japan once had the idea of participating in World War II, it eventually chose to abandon this plan for various reasons. This decision led to a gradual decline in Japan's position in World War II, which eventually led to its own defeat. And for the course of world history, Japan's choice also helped to prevent a large-scale conflict that could have been even more brutal.