What was the Invasion of Manchuria all about?
In August 1945, Soviet forces attacked the overstretched Japanese army in Manchuria and quickly overran them. The Soviets captured huge amounts of Japanese army military equipment which they turned over to their Chinese communist allies. These ‘Red’ Chinese were then able to defeat the American supported ‘Nationalist’ Chinese. The Soviets/Russians thought they would then at last have full access to the resources and warm water ports of Manchuria. Unfortunately for them, the new Chinese leader, Mao, had other ideas. As soon as he had full control of China, he began separating the Chinese from their alliance with the Soviets. Ultimately this split became total and the two nations have gone their separate ways. Manchuria is now fully integrated into the Chinese political and economic system.
