World War II was divided into the European theater and the Asian theater, and the protagonists of the Axis powers were none other than Germany and Japan, and the forces against the Axis powers included China, the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain and other countries.
The European battlefield was dominated by the Soviet Union and Britain, while the Asian theater was dominated by China and the United States against Japan. However, before the United States entered the war, the Axis powers actually had a large advantage.
Especially in June 1941, after Germany launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union, in just three months, the German army advanced into the heart of the Soviet Union and almost took Moscow. So the question is, why didn't Japan go north and Germany to attack the Soviet Union at this time?
Many people blame this incident entirely on the Battle of Nomenhan and the Zhanggufeng Incident that occurred before this, believing that it was precisely because Japan tasted the steel torrent of the Soviet Union that it had a psychological shadow, so it did not dare to fight against the Soviet Union easily. I think Japan does have a certain psychological shadow, but this is by no means the main reason why Japan did not go north.
Nomenhan and Zhang Gufeng did let Japan see the power of the Soviet Union
In July 1938, the Soviet Union forcibly stationed itself in Zhanggufeng, which caused strong dissatisfaction in Japan. For this reason, a skirmish between the two sides took place here that lasted more than 1 month.
In this battle, the Japanese sent 7,000 troops, basically no heavy weapons, and only 37 artillery pieces. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, sent 15,000 troops, and used 237 artillery pieces, 285 tanks, and 250 aircraft.
The result was the defeat of Japan, with 1440 dead and wounded, and the victory of the USSR, but also 847 dead and wounded. Some people say that Japan saw the great power of the Soviet Union's steel torrent in this battle, so it did not dare to fight against the Soviet Union.
This is completely untenable, because doesn't Japan have these equipment? Doesn't Japan have tanks and planes? It's not that Japan doesn't have them, it's just that they didn't use it for this small-scale friction, so there is no such thing as being afraid of the Soviet Union's steel torrent because of this battle.
As early as 1937, when Japan invaded in full-scale moderation, they had more than 2,700 aircraft, more than 2,000 tanks, 16,000 artillery pieces, 9,500 vehicles, 6 aircraft carriers, and a total tonnage of more than 1.9 million tons of warships. Why did Japan in 1938 be afraid of the Soviet Union's steel torrent? Aren't they also the steel torrent of that time?
In May 1939, Japan launched an attack on Outer Mongolia in the name of the puppet Manchurians, which became known as the Battle of Normenheim. Outer Mongolia was covered by the Soviet Union at that time, and for this reason, the Soviet Union decisively sent troops to fight back.
At that time, the Soviet Union and Mongolia sent 57,000 troops, and the Japanese sent 75,000 troops. The Soviet-Mongolian armament consisted of 542 artillery pieces, 515 aircraft, 498 tanks, and 385 armored vehicles. It was equipped with 500 artillery pieces, more than 300 aircraft, and 182 tanks.
Both sides were slightly superior to Japan in terms of numbers and equipment. The result of the war was also the defeat of the Japanese side, and it was a heavy loss, and as for the amount of losses, both sides insisted on their own words, no matter what they said, so Japan gave up its plan to get involved in Outer Mongolia.
The Battle of Normenheim did cause a lot of shock to Japan, but I don't think it proves that Japan was afraid of the Soviet Union's steel torrent, and it can only be said that Japan could not defeat the Soviet Union. After all, in terms of equipment, although Japan is a little worse than the Soviet Union, it is not much worse.
It is a cliché to always exaggerate how fierce the so-called steel torrent is, and at that time Japan was actually not bad in this regard, and it was purely that its comprehensive combat effectiveness was inferior to the Soviet army. After all, if the Soviet Union was really in a crushing position, it would have directly used the victorious division to march into the northeast. The Soviet Union also realized that Japan was not easy to provoke, so it would stop in time.
The Soviet Union was the first to recognize the puppet Manchurians and sold the Eastern Railway
The Soviet Union did not take the opportunity to advance into the Northeast, which gave Japan hope of a timely stop-loss. After all, the strength of the opponent is there, and if it has to fight the opponent to the death, Japan will have to concentrate all its national strength.
At that time, Japan's core interests were in the northeast, and further south in China. If they put all their energy into dealing with the Soviet Union, they will be unable to do anything on the Chinese battlefield, and they will even lose everything.
After two small trials, Japan knew that even if it concentrated all its forces to the north, it might not be able to completely defeat the Soviet Union. The attitude of the Soviet Union satisfied Japan.
After all, the Soviet Union won both times, but it did not gain an inch because of the victory. It stands to reason that after the Battle of Nomenhan, the Soviet Union won a complete victory, and it should be driven straight into the northeast and take the entire northeast. However, the Soviet Union did not do this at all.
For this reason, Japan is reminded of the attitude of the Soviet Union in Northeast China, and they believe that in a short period of time, although the Soviet Union cannot become a friend, at least it will not become an enemy.
- In March 1932, with the support of Japan, when the puppet Manchurians were first established, the Soviet Union immediately sent people to congratulate them, and since then, the Eastern Railway under the control of the Soviet Union has been full of the banner of the puppet Manchurians. Moreover, in May, the Soviet Union took the initiative to invite the puppet Manchurian consuls to establish consulates in Hailanpao and Chita. Therefore, it can be said that the Soviet Union was the first country in the world to recognize the puppet Manchurians.
- In 1935, the Soviet Union simply sold the China Eastern Railway to Japan for 140 million yen. It is equivalent to saying that the Soviet Union acquiesced to all of Japan's rights and interests in Northeast China and completely withdrew from Northeast China itself.
Recalling this series of attitudes of the Soviet Union, Japan felt that the Soviet Union might not be the most dangerous enemy, and they had even given up all rights and interests in the Northeast and recognized Japan's position in the Northeast, so after seeing the strength of the Soviet Union, why did Japan bother with this guy?
In April 1941, the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact was signed, and the Soviet Union became an alternative source of oil for Japan
In April 1941, Japan and the Soviet Union reached an agreement and signed the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty, which logically stated that the two sides could not attack each other, and although they did not become allies, they at least did not become opponents.
Some people say that treaties are not just waste paper? The Soviet Union and Germany also signed the "Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact," but as a result, Germany did not attack the Soviet Union?
It's really different. How lonely it was for Germany to be invincible in Europe at that time, and there was no opponent at all, and there was no better choice than to attack the Soviet Union.
In Asia, however, Japan is still far from being able to see all the mountains like Germany.
- First of all, Japan is deeply trapped in the Chinese theater of operations and simply cannot defeat China in a short time.
- Second, the relationship between Japan and the United States is getting worse and worse, and the oil support of the United States to Japan is close to zero, so the two sides may make a move in the Pacific Ocean at any time.
If, under such circumstances, Japan attacked the Soviet Union again, would it not be putting itself in a situation of fighting on three fronts and fighting the enemy in all directions? They are not stupid.
Besides, the United States used to provide Japan with about 80 percent of the oil it needed, and when the United States cut off the oil supply chain, who should Japan ask for oil?
Previously, the Soviet Union also had some oil export trade to Japan, but the amount was too small compared to the United States, so it was not easy to attract everyone's attention. But if the United States does not give Japan oil, Japan can completely reach an oil trade agreement with the Soviet Union and get some oil from the Soviet Union.
Compared to Siberia, the allure of southern China is too great
Even if Japan went north to attack the Soviet Union, even if it won, it would be nothing more than occupying the territory of the Far East, including eastern Siberia, and they would not be able to advance all the way to the core of the Soviet Union in Europe.
Siberia, including the Far East, is not a good place to settle. Although there were sufficient resources, there was still a need to step on some points and develop relevant technologies, which took a long time, and Japan at that time did not necessarily have these technologies.
On the other hand, compared with Siberia, China at that time was a large piece of fatty meat, not to mention how delicious it was. China has countless fertile land, suitable continents for settlement, a long coastline, a large number of laborers, and a lot of resources. Isn't it more fragrant than Siberia?
Instead of desperately defeating the Soviet Union and taking the bitter cold land of Siberia, it is better to concentrate on marching south into China and seizing the warm and comfortable places in the south.
After World War I, Japan failed to defeat Russia
In fact, after World War I, the Allied armies, including Japan, invaded Russia. Moreover, Japan sent the most troops, all the way to the Baikal region.
It can be said that if Japan had been willing and had ignored the accusations of the international community, the entire Outer Northeast would have been at least occupied by Japan at that time.
But in the end, Japan gave up on this plan, why?
- First, the Anglo-Japanese alliance of 1902 helped Japan gain a firm foothold in the international community, which Japan clearly felt. They are not afraid of international condemnation, but they are afraid that the Anglo-Japanese alliance will be broken up because of this issue.
- Second, in accordance with the support of the locals in the Far East, Soviet Russia established an independent Far Eastern Republic, ostensibly forming a situation of confrontation with Soviet Russia. Since it was not a country under the control of the Russians, the Entente had no reason to attack.
- Third, Siberia is indeed a bitter cold land, and this experience has made Japan realize that the significance of this region is not very large, at least at that time. So, it's okay, who's going to take this area at such a big cost?
As a result, Japan abandoned its plans to seize Siberia and the Outer Northeast. That was the best chance for Japan to seize the region, when they all gave up, not to mention launching an attack on Siberia and the Far East after the Soviet Union gradually became stronger, and then launched an attack on it, was that not a slap in the face?
On August 8, 1945, the Soviet Union finally declared war on Japan
Since Japan did not go north, it was naturally impossible for the Soviet Union to touch this brow and take the initiative to find trouble with Japan. After all, the European theater was enough for the Soviet Union to burn out.
However, even at the most difficult moment of the Soviet Union in the European theater, the Soviet Union did not completely transfer troops from the Far East back to support the European theater, which shows that the Soviet Union's defense against Japan has not weakened.
By February 1945, the war situation in Europe was clear, and the Soviet Union still had no intention of declaring war on Japan. It was not until Britain and the United States held the Yalta Conference with the Soviet Union and agreed to a series of excessive demands of the Soviet Union that the Soviet Union reluctantly agreed to declare war on Japan within three months of Germany's surrender.
As we know, Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. And the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 8, 1945, exactly three months later, and this account is clearly calculated.