Post by ndrthl on Dec 14, 2005 7:38:02 GMT -5
www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/drea2/drea2.asp
"Influence on World War II
Although this engagement is little-known in the West, it had profound implications on the conduct of World War II. It may be said to be the first "decisive battle" of World War II because it determined that the two principal Axis Powers, Germany and Japan, would never geographically link up their areas of control.
The defeat convinced the Imperial General Staff in Tokyo that the policy of the North Strike Group, favored by the army, which wanted to seize Siberia as far as Lake Baikal for its resources, was untenable. Instead the South Strike Group, favored by the navy, which wanted to seize the resources of Southeast Asia, especially the petroleum- and mineral-rich Dutch East Indies, gained the ascendancy, leading directly to the attack on Pearl Harbor two and a half years later in December 1941.
It was the first victory for the famed Soviet general, Georgy Zhukov. The battle experience gained by the Siberian army was put to good use in December 1941 outside Moscow, under the command of Zhukov, when Siberian divisions spearheaded the first successful Soviet counteroffensive against the German invasion of 1941. The decision to move the divisions from Siberia was aided by the Soviet's masterspy Richard Sorge in Tokyo who was able to alert the Soviet government that the Japanese were looking south and were unlikely to launch another attack against Siberia in the immediate future.
In addition, as a result of this battle, Japan was reluctant to attack the Soviet Union, preferring eventually to fight the United States. The enormous deterrent effect upon the Japanese is almost inexplicable on the historical record, suggesting something missing in the account. It is speculated that this could be either Japanese losses being much greater than revealed, or the Japanese military regime feeling its status vulnerable to internal insurrection if obviously defeated in war, particularly to the revolutionary egalitarian principles of the USSR. As neither side in this battle was open about their opinions as to its result, Adolf Hitler had no idea when he declared war on the United States. He had hoped to gain Japanese support against the Soviet Union with this act, unaware that his ally was unwilling to do so because of the previous encounter".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khalkhin_Gol
"Influence on World War II
Although this engagement is little-known in the West, it had profound implications on the conduct of World War II. It may be said to be the first "decisive battle" of World War II because it determined that the two principal Axis Powers, Germany and Japan, would never geographically link up their areas of control.
The defeat convinced the Imperial General Staff in Tokyo that the policy of the North Strike Group, favored by the army, which wanted to seize Siberia as far as Lake Baikal for its resources, was untenable. Instead the South Strike Group, favored by the navy, which wanted to seize the resources of Southeast Asia, especially the petroleum- and mineral-rich Dutch East Indies, gained the ascendancy, leading directly to the attack on Pearl Harbor two and a half years later in December 1941.
It was the first victory for the famed Soviet general, Georgy Zhukov. The battle experience gained by the Siberian army was put to good use in December 1941 outside Moscow, under the command of Zhukov, when Siberian divisions spearheaded the first successful Soviet counteroffensive against the German invasion of 1941. The decision to move the divisions from Siberia was aided by the Soviet's masterspy Richard Sorge in Tokyo who was able to alert the Soviet government that the Japanese were looking south and were unlikely to launch another attack against Siberia in the immediate future.
In addition, as a result of this battle, Japan was reluctant to attack the Soviet Union, preferring eventually to fight the United States. The enormous deterrent effect upon the Japanese is almost inexplicable on the historical record, suggesting something missing in the account. It is speculated that this could be either Japanese losses being much greater than revealed, or the Japanese military regime feeling its status vulnerable to internal insurrection if obviously defeated in war, particularly to the revolutionary egalitarian principles of the USSR. As neither side in this battle was open about their opinions as to its result, Adolf Hitler had no idea when he declared war on the United States. He had hoped to gain Japanese support against the Soviet Union with this act, unaware that his ally was unwilling to do so because of the previous encounter".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khalkhin_Gol
