May 22, 2006 May 22, 2006
"On April, 5th of 1945 the USSR denounced Neutrality Pact with Japan.
On April, 15th Stalin met with General Il'ichev, the Chief of GRU [Military intelligence].
He asked:
"We know about 17 Japanese fortified regions [in Manchuria]. What can you say about them?"
Il'ichev:
On the west [of Manchuria] the Japanese have 4 fortified regions, on the north, along the Amur - 5, on the east - 8. All they were made as a base for aggression but now all they are re-built for a defence only. Each fortified region contains up to 7 strongholds, each of them contains a lot of weapon emplacements. They are placed on the predominant hills and cover each other with crossing fire. Their flanks usually rest against an impassable terrain - swamps and mountains.
Stalin:
"Does it mean that it is impossible to outflank them?"
Il'ichev:
"It is impossible to outflank them with significant forces."
Stalin:
"How are they made? Is our artillery able to crush them?"
Il'ichev:
"They contains powerful firm fire fortifications which consisted of artillery and machine gun pillboxes, armored hoods, armored observation posts, wooden-ground fortifications, tank ditches, trenches and barbed wire lines. The buildings for personnel, ammunition and food storages, stationary electric power stations, systems of water supply and ventilation are placed deeply underground. The improved network of underground communications connects all the bunkers in a centralized closed complex.
The situation on Sakhalin and the Kuriles is the same."
On April, 20th the Japanese Supreme Soviet Council for Ruling the War gathered.
Sudzuki, the Prime Minister, spoke that Japan had to do everything what possible to prevent the war against USSR. He spoke about diplomatic efforts.
Umedzu, the Chief of General Staff:
"I am not panic-stricken? If to speak about military questions we have no to despond and to think that everything has been lost. In the north our hopes are related with the firmness of the defence of the Kwantung Army. It is impassable due to its deep echelonment and the relief in main strategic directions. General Iamada, the commander of the Kwantung Army, is sure in the firmness of his troops. For a few months powerful minefields will cover the Grand Khingan and the probable crossing points on the Amur and Sungari...
Now Iamada has 930,000 men. His army has 5,500 guns and mortars, 970 tanks, 1,600 planes. I suppose it is not a small force."
Toioda, the Chief of Naval General Staff, added:
"We have 23 combat ships on border rivers."
Sudzuki:
"I suppose those forces will be reinforced. Am I right? "
Umedzu:
"Yes. But we have no enough weapons for new units, so we'll take the weapons from troops in the mother country."
Anami, the Military Minister, added:
"We have two special units in Manchuria - Detachment #100 of Vakamatsu and Detachment #731 of Isiia - which have biological weapons. Both units are subordinated to the Kwantung Army. Iamada believes that those units’ outturn so great that even Detachment #731 is able by itself to supply Iamada’s troops by enough biological weapons..."
Sudzuki:
"Anami, we have to increase our amount of biological weapons. Maybe, we have to increase the amount of Isiia's unit, and we have to do it quickly, in the next 1.5-2 months..."
Ionai, the Naval Minister:
"... On the Kurile Islands and Sakhalin we suppose to use the same tactics that we had used so successfully against the Americans and Brits..."
Khara, the Chairman of the Secret Council:
"... I understand it would be a suicide to fight against the USSR now. We ought to apply our efforts to the fortifying of our bastions on the north [against the USSR] and on active diplomatic efforts in Europe..."
April, 29th.
Anami told Sudzuki about forming of new divisions in the mother country and in Manchuria and Korea.... In the mainland 8 divisions and 7 separate brigades were forming. They were preparing as an operational reserve of the Kwantung Army and had to stay in constant increased alertness.
May 3rd.
Allen Dulles received permission to negotiate with the Japanese.
In parallel with the contacts with Dulles the Japanese tried to increase the strength of their forces.
Special attention was drawn to the preparations for a biological war with the hope that the biological weapons would permit Japan to win the battle on the mainland. On May 5th, Isiia ordered his subordinates: "The war between the USSR and Japan is inevitable. We have to increase our production. We have to wait for the day X when the biological war starts"
On May 6th, Iamada ordered his troops:
"If our troops are forced to retreat in the region of the Grand Khingan at the beginning of the war against the USSR, all the rivers, reservoirs, and wells on the lost territory have to be infected by a biological weapon, and all the crops and cattle have to be eliminated"
May 11th.
Stalin met with Vasilevskii:
"...What is your impression about the Kwantung Army?"
Vasilevskii:
"The Kwantung Army is the best, most faithful to the Emperor, the most battleworthy troops. In Japan it is considered to be a large honor to serve in that Army"
Stalin:
"What is about its arms?"
Vasilevskii:
"In the mainland the Japanese Command has two thirds of their tanks and planes and more than a half of their artillery. The troops are mainly dispersed in the fortified regions."
May, 28th
Been in Moscow Harry Hopkins asked Stalin about the confirmation of Yalta's Soviet engagement to begin the war against Japan. Stalin answered that the Soviet troops would be ready by the August, 8th in the accordance with Yalta's agreements.
At the end of the May the Japanese got a new plan of future military actions.
Iamada's conception was based on the idea that the morale of the Soviet troops would be decreased by difficult conditions of combats in most parts of Manchuria. He had hopes that the rate of the actions of the Russians would be, as slow as the Allied rate in the Pacific and in the South-Eastern Asia. Morally he was ready to use biological weapons.
The threat from the north forced the Japanese Supreme Command to keep their eyes on the preparations of the Kwantung Army to the war against the USSR. At the end of May Anami, the Military Minister, personally arrived to the headquarters of the Kwantung Army. He was concerned with this formation for his entire military career. General Iamada received that army, which was in good condition, 6 years ago from General Umedzu.
Anami prepared to that trip very carefully. He spoke with several generals of his ministry, who had served in the mainland in that elite formation, also he met with General Umedzu.
The Kwantung Army staying in Manchuria was composed from a few formations. It contained the 1st and 3rd Fronts, the 4th Separate Army, the 2nd Air Army and the Sungari River Flotilla.
The 3rd (Western-Manchurian) Front of General Usiroku had the 30th and 44th Armies and was deployed to the west from the Vanemiao-Chanchun-Mukden line. Two infantry divisions were deployed close to Mongolian border. Six infantry divisions, three infantry and one tank brigades were deployed in Mukden area. It was considered a reserve in the case of the Soviet advance from the region of Vladivostok.
The 4th (Northern-Manchurian) Separate Army of General Mikio, which had three infantry divisions, 1 infantry and 3 mixed brigades was deployed across a very large territory in the triangle of Sakhalian-Hailar-Harbin. Their main hopes were set on the rivers of Argun and Amur and on extremely difficult terrain. The headquarters of the army were located in Tsitsikar.
The 1st (Eastern-Manchurian) Front of General Kita was the most powerful and covered Mudantszian and Hunchun directions. It had the 3rd and 5th Armies. The 3rd Army had four infantry divisions, one separate mixed brigade and several support units. The 5th Army had three infantry divisions and several support units. Three infantry divisions were designated as a reserve of the Front commander.
The 34th Separate Army of General Sanity was deployed in the Northern Korea. It had two infantry divisions, one separate brigade and several support units. The 34th Army was a strategic reserve of the Commander of the Kwantung Army. The units of the 34th Army were deployed around the Korean ports and were ready for been transferred to the mainland.
The direct reserve of the commander of the Kwantung Army was one infantry division, one separate infantry and one separate tank brigades. Also the troops of Manchou-Go, of pro-Japanese ruler of Innner Mongolia De Van and of the [Chinese pro-Japanese] Suiiuan Army Group were subordinated to the commander of the Kwantung Army. Those troops commonly had eight infantry and seven cavalry divisions, fourteen separate infantry and cavalry brigades.
The Kwantung Army could be reinforced with the reserves from the Northern China, where more than two Japanese Armies (eight divisions, 115,000 men) had been deployed in the region of Pekin.
Also the troops of the 17th (Korean) Front of General Kodzuki could be considered as a possible reserve of the Kwantung Army. The 17th Front had seven infantry divisions and two separate mixed brigades (97,000 men) forming the 58th Army with the headquarters situated in Seoul.
In the case of military actions the command of the Kwantung Army supposed to use the armed detachments, formed from Japanese colonists. Those detachments contained 100,000 men and were dispersed all over the Manchurian territory.
During the revision Iamada with a great pride declared his one million-men army continued to grow, as a result of the efforts of the command. As the compensation of the technical superiority of the Soviet troops, the Japanese prepared for wide usage of special forces - ground "kamikaze"-soldiers - whose mission was to destroy Soviet commanders and equipment.
The Military Minister was satisfied by Iamada's report about the situation with the largest [Japanese] ground forces formation. He was sure that the Soviets would be repulsed in Manchuria and one more long campaign in huge Asian space would begun.
On May, 28th the Japanese Supreme Council for Ruling the War gathered. Anami reported about his trip to the Kwantung Army. His conclusions about the readiness of it were optimistic and were completely approved by the other members of the Supreme Council.
General Umedzu was ordered to apply the experience of the Kwantung Army in the using of preparing of ground "kamikaze" units to the 5th Front of General Higuti. The 5th Front contained the 27th Army on the Kurile Islands, the 88th Separate Infantry Division on Sakhalin and two separate infantry divisions on Hokkaido.
Also Anami reminded the Council that the Kwantung Army had 54 tons bacteriums of plague, anthrax, typhus, cholera, as strike weapon of a large war. It would show the increasing might of the Japanese Army.
Sudzuki asked when the Soviets were going to attack.
Anami answered that the USSR, having only 40 divisions, mainly rifle ones, along the Soviet-Manchurian border, has no supremacy over the Kwantung Army. Moreover, the Soviets would have large casualties during the attacks against the fortified regions. So a breakthrough of the large Soviet forces deep in Manchuria is impossible. The Soviets need more than three months to increase twice their forces in Far East. Anami made his conclusion: "The advance of the USSR is not possible earlier than at the middle of September, after the end of monsoon rains in Manchuria. The Soviet ground forces cannot be supported by more than 2,000 planes."
The other members of the Council agreed with Anami. Sidzuki said in closing:
"We have to hurry to increase the transfer of our troops to Manchuria. We have to finish forming the group of troops, which are necessary according to our plan of a war against the USSR, not later than at the beginning of September."
On May 30th, Emperor's Stavka ordered Iamada to prepare for defence.
It also ordered Okamura, the commander of the Expeditional forces in China, "to transfer immediately four divisions and supporting units into Manchuria; to transfer in Central and Northern China and in Manchuria from Hunan, Guansi and Tsiansi some units of the guards of railroads and roads."
On June 5th, Umedzu met with Iamada, the commander of the Kwantung Army, and Okamura, the commander of the Expeditional forces in China, in Dalian, where they defined more exactly the actions according to the order of May, 30th and defined the actions to prepare the troops for the fight against the USSR and USA in China, Manchuria and Korea. Those actions intended the cooperation between the Kwantung Army, the 17th Front in Korea and the troops in China.
Following to the order of the Stavka the Japanese troops in China were regrouping. Only covering forces were left against the Chinese Gomindan forces and against the territories of the Chinese Communists. The main forces concentrated along the main communications having the task to move to the coastal regions of the Eastern and South-Eastern China and to defend against US landings. The largest groups of troops were organized in Northern China as a possible reinforcement of the Kwantung Army and the 17t Front in Korea in the case of the war against the USSR.
On June, 10th Umedzu returned in Tokyo and spoke with Anami. Anami said:
"The main efforts of my Ministry and of General Staff are concentrated on the mainland, on the Kwantung Army. But we also have to remember about the Kurile Islands and about Sakhalin."
Emperor's Stavka gradually changed its military priorities. China was not more as important as a target for capturing. The Japanese troops were preparing to the battle in the mother country, on the mainland and on the isles.
From the middle of the May the Japanese aerial and agents intelligence informed about a large amount of the Soviet troops redeploying to the Far East. As an opposite action on June, 16th the Japanese began to transfer to Manchuria simultaneously four infantry divisions from the 43rd Army from China.
On June, 22nd the Japanese Supreme Council for Ruling the War gathered again.
Sudzuki opened it. He said that the situation is very difficult.
Okinawa was lost. The war approaches to the mother land. But the situation is the most dangerous from the north. If the USSR joins the war the situation becomes unpredictable. Japan is not able to fight on two fronts.
The Supreme Council decided to organize the 30th Army in Manchuria and to form it from Japanese colonists. The 30th Army had to become a part of the 3rd Front.
At the beginning of July, Allen Dulles informed the Swedish banker Jakobsen that the separate negotiations would begun as soon as possible because in the case of the joining of the USSR to the war all the separate negotiations would be stopped. Jakobsen passed those words of Dulles to the Japanese. It was the first info for the Japanese that the USSR would join the war soon.
On July, 7th General Umedzu, the Chief of General Staff, spoke with Togo, Foreign Affairs Minister.
Umedzu:
"Togo, what did the Americans say about the USSR?"
Togo:
"They said that the USSR is going to join the war soon."
Umedzu:
"If to speak about the war against the Soviets, I can calm you. The war will begin after a half year or even later."
Togo:
"What is the basis of your optimism?"
Umedzu:
"Togo, the Soviets have to decide the problem of the Kwantung Army. Million of its soldiers occupies 17 well-fortified fortified regions. And more. The positions of General Iamada are covered with the 400-km Grand Khingan, the rivers of Argun, Amur and Ussuri and with the Chanbaishan Mountains. If the conditions of ammo supply for the Kwantung Army are good, it can resist the Red Army for two years."
Togo:
"But the Russians will transfer against us their best troops which crushed Germany."
Umedzu:
"It is not so easy, Togo. The Western Russia is connected with Far East only by a single railroad whose carrying capacity is limited."
Togo:
"I agree, Umedzu. But we have to continue the reinforcement of the troops of Iamada to avoid any surprises."
Umedzu:
"All the efforts of General Staff are related with those urgent problems, Togo."
On July, 18th the USSR had rejected Japanese offer to receive the Japanese delegation, which wanted to ask the USSR to become an intermediary between the warring groups in negotiations.
On August, 1st Togo and Umedzu met again.
Togo:
"Umedzu, you don't want to agree that the Soviets are close to join the war?"
Umedzu:
"Togo, you are a diplomat. I am a military. Speaking about the military questions I disagree with your anxiety. They are still not ready to advance. Their main forces, which had crushed Wehrmacht still are on the West. The Russians were not able to get a supremacy for the last two months. A supremacy is the main factor for any advance."
Togo:
"Umedzu, do you really suppose that the USSR is able to gather enough troops only to the middle, or to the end of September?"
Umedzu:
"Togo, it is important not only to concentrate enough forces, but also to use them effectively in a following advance. Where to place the main forces, where to direct the main blow? The rate of the following advance will also depend on terrain. In Manchuria the situation is better for the Kwantung Army in all the directions. It is possible to say that the positions of the Kwantung Army are surely protected by high mountains, primeval forests, and impassable swamps."
At the beginning of the August the main forces of the 5th Air Army were redeployed to the Northern China and Korea and were subordinated to the command of the Kwantung Army.
On August, 8th the Japanese ambassador in Moscow got a notification to arrive to Molotov at the evening.
All the day of August, 8th the leaders of Japan waited the news from Moscow. They had the single question: "What is going to be with the position of the USSR towards Japan?" Nobody believed war would begin soon.
In the region of Vladivostok and along the Amur river a typhoon with a cloud-burst had begun at the evening of August, 8th. The wide streams of muddy water gushed out from the hills in valleys, washing out the roads and being the reason of the flood of the rivers. Darkness fell on everything.
Umedzu received the weather report from the mainland and called by telephone to Togo:
"Togo, you have to see how it is difficult to estimate all the factors. There is a typhoon in Manchuria. The roads are washed out with a cloud-burst. It is impossible to speak about any advance of the Soviet troops. I foresaw it."
Togo:
"I suppose, Umedzu, you mix your wishes with reality. The Soviets can break your suggestions and attack the Kwantung Army in spite of a bad weather with all their might. I do not believe a bad weather can stop them."
Umedzu:
"Weather affects any type of troops. Planes cannot fly, tanks cannot attack during a storm. And you, Togo, are a follower of Potsdam Declaration. You hope for the shameful capitulation of the Great Empire."
Togo:
"Umedzu, I am waiting a telegram from Moscow. I have bad presentiments. We can fall into an abyss."
At the evening of August 8th, the Japanese ambassador in Moscow Sato was informed by Molotov that the USSR had declared a war to Japan from August, 9th.
Togo called Sudzuki by phone and offered to gather the Japanese Supreme Council for Ruling the War, as the USSR had declared the war. The question was to agree with Potsdam Declaration.
Sudzuki himself called to each member of the Council and informed that the USSR had declared the war.
The Supreme Council for Ruling the War gathered on August 9th, soon after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. But no one spoke about Hiroshima.
Sudzuki began the first:
"I have decided that the only thing to do is to agree with Potsdam Declaration and to stop any military actions as soon as possible."
The militaries were against.
Umedzu said:
"Today the information from Moscow was the most significant. According to our calculations the USSR has no supremacy over our forces, so I suppose we have to reject Potsdam Declaration and to continue fights for better conditions of peace. I continue to believe in the firmness of the Kwantung Army."
Anami, the Military Minister:
"Japan will not survive without the minerals and industry of Manchuria. Now Manchuria gives us 1,500,000 tons of synthetic fuel, it is a half of our national fuel production. The eight fuel plants in Girin, Fusun and Sypin have to be covered from air attacks. More than twenty largest Manchurian plants produce air and armor equipment, artillery and rifle equipment, explosives and poison-gas. Based on that huge military arsenal, the Kwantung Army is able to withstand against any enemy".
August, 11th.
The Supreme Council for Ruling The War gathered.
The situation was extremely bad, the news from Manchuria were bad.
Togo, a follower of capitulation, asked Anami, a follower of the fight to the end:
"Anami, you declare that the Japanese army has real forces for successful long resistance. But answer why do our largest formation - the Kwantung Army - is retreating everywhere from the beginning of the military actions? Earlier for many times we heard your categorical declarations that the 17 fortified region along the Manchurian border were an impassable bastion against the Soviets."
Anami:
"Togo, the most significant is not the ratio of troops but the tactics. Who could suppose that the Soviets would begin their advance in the period of monsoon rains, two-three weeks before the time that was estimated by us?"
Togo:
"According to my data on August, 9th the Kwantung Army had more than one million men, 1,200 tanks, about 7,000 guns and mortars, 2,000 planes. It was a huge military force from any point of view. Is it possible that the USSR had transferred more troops from Europe, which are advancing so successfully in Manchuria now?"
Anami:
"I am not ready to report right now about the real ratio of the forces on the mainland. Most likely, we made a mistake in the abilities of the USSR. They practically had no forces in Mongolia but now whole tank formations are advancing against the Grand Khingan."
Togo:
"If the defence of Iamada stopped the Russians, it was easier for us to discuss our diplomatic actions. But the Kwantung Army is losing on the battlefield. Our aircraft do not operate. What do you offer to do for the Japanese government?"
Umedzu:
"Togo, you speak like you are a neutral spectator. The inability of the Kwantung Army to hold their border positions can be fatal to the fate of the Empire"
Sudzuki:
"Umedzu, as I remember your inspections on the mainland also calmed the government. What will be with the Empire if the Soviets will crush Iamada's troops and invade on the mother land?..."
