Article

2008-01-23 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Khalkhin-Gol: The Battle that shaped WW2

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Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-23 10:03|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 More info here.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-01-23 13:13|| 2008-01-23 13:13|| Front Page Top

#2 Very interesting.

The battle of Khalkhin-Gol decisively showed the expansionist Japanese military that it was not a match for the Soviets

Actually, it decisively showed you could no longer attack without air cover. If the Japanese high command had not inexplicably grounded its planes things might have gone very differently.

Posted by Excalibur 2008-01-23 14:19|| 2008-01-23 14:19|| Front Page Top

#3 innerstin'. I only knew of the late 30's dust-up between Japan and Russia via a couple of old Steel Panthers scenarios.

Posted by Hupererong the Full Bosomed4708 2008-01-23 15:06|| 2008-01-23 15:06|| Front Page Top

#4 The overlooked consequence of the Khlakin Gol is that it propelled G K Zhukov to the high spheres. Without it is dubious he would have been commanding more than an Army (soviets ionfflated the disgnation for propaganda purposes. A Soviet Army = A Western
Corps) or a front (an Army in western terms). Instead he was commanding the equivalent of a Group of Armies. Without the Khalkhin Gol it is probable that the defence of Moscow would heva been entrusted to mediocrities like Voroshilov, or Boudiennny or the, at best, average Timoshenko. Eremenko and Konev still had not escalated to the high ranks. Vatutin had still not found his way. With an Eremenko defending Moscow God knows what would have happened.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2008-01-23 15:29|| 2008-01-23 15:29|| Front Page Top

#5 Thank you JFM for the insight.
HFB4708, always felt I learned more from SP scenario descriptions than from school teachers : )
Also, always wondered what was going on up there on that Axis/Allies board but didn't know where to start...a little island space in AA Europe encouraged me to learn a little.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-01-23 16:40|| 2008-01-23 16:40|| Front Page Top

#6 Excalibur, the decision was not inexplicable. Basically Tokyo was not looking for a war withn the Soviet Union, it was an initiative of the Japense command in Mandchouria. After the first clashes Tokyo sent him a severe reprimand and, apparently decided to curtail his freedom of action. He ended being discharged and his successor got firm orders to stay on the deefensive or else...

Posted by JFM">JFM 2008-01-23 17:32|| 2008-01-23 17:32|| Front Page Top

#7 During WW2 the Soviets launched an attack on the Japs AFTER the Hiroshima bombing, and kept captured land as their own. Another fruit of Yalta.

Posted by Injun Shusoling9192 2008-01-23 18:22|| 2008-01-23 18:22|| Front Page Top

#8 Weren't they looking for access to oil as part of their reasoning for expanding their sphere of influence?

Posted by gorb 2008-01-23 23:15|| 2008-01-23 23:15|| Front Page Top

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