statement from Putin regarding Soviet Union's assault on Japan during World War II
In August 1945, shortly after Japan had surrendered in World War II but before the full cessation of hostilities, the Soviet Union launched an attack on Shumshu Island, a strategically important location in the Kuril Islands. This military operation, marking the last major Soviet military action in World War II, was part of the Soviet Union's invasion of Japanese-controlled territories in the Kuril Islands.
Historically, the Battle of Shumshu was a three-day affair with fierce fighting. The island was well-fortified and stocked with Japanese troops and equipment. Despite heavy casualties, Soviet forces ultimately overcame Japanese defenses, securing the Kuril Islands. This battle was one of the final critical episodes of the war.
The significance of this action lies in its impact on the postwar geopolitical map of the region. The Soviet occupation of the Kuril Islands, including Shumshu, played a pivotal role in defining the territorial status quo between Russia and Japan after the war. Reports suggest a Soviet plan to occupy northern Hokkaido, which was prevented by Japanese defensive efforts. The seizure of the islands also contributed to Japan’s decision to capitulate following American atomic bombings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of the battle, emphasising it as a fulfillment of the Soviet Union’s wartime obligations as an Allied power. He referred to the event as the "liberation of the Kuril Islands," a decisive closing chapter of World War II.
The Soviet Union gained control of the Kuril Islands, including the four Japanese-claimed islands at the southwestern end, on September 5, 1945. This event, now a significant historical moment, remains a point of contention in the history of World War II, particularly in Japanese-Russian relations.
Putin's statement was read at a ceremony to unveil a monument on Shumshu island, marking the occasion and underscoring the historical importance of the event. At the time, Japan and the Soviet Union had a bilateral neutrality treaty, making the Soviet Union's actions a departure from their agreed-upon neutrality. However, Putin noted that the attack followed an agreement made at the Yalta Conference with the United States and Britain, fulfilling the Soviet Union’s duty as one of the Allied powers.
In summary, the Soviet attack on Shumshu Island was a crucial final military campaign that both enforced Allied agreements and altered territorial control in Northeast Asia, with lasting implications for Japanese-Russian relations. Putin’s statement commemorates this event as a significant Soviet contribution to the Allied victory and the shaping of postwar order.
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