1937 and beyond Kantokuen

commissar 3rd class lyushkov, photographed prior 1939

after war began between china , japan in july 1937, japanese options manchuria became limited. soviets capitalized on vulnerability signing non-aggression pact china , supplying them arms , equipment. pravda s publication of february 13, 1938 noted that

...the japanese army, possesses strength of 1,200,000 men, 2,000 planes, 1,800 tanks, , 4,500 heavy artillery pieces, committed 1,000,000 troops , greater part of arms in china.

the japanese predicament did not prevent them continuing formulate war plans against ussr; operational plan of 1937, though crude , deficient logistical perspective, provided basis subsequent developments through 1944. plan (and others after it) called sudden initial onslaught against soviet maritime province facing pacific ocean (also referred primorye ), coupled holding actions in north , west. should first phase meet success, other fronts likewise transition offensive after arrival of reinforcements.

in 1936, soviet leader joseph stalin began great purge of opposition including red army officer corps, killing or incarcerating tens of thousands of high-ranking figures, on trumped or fictitious charges. red army s fighting power severely weakened, observation seemingly confirmed relatively poor showings @ battle of lake khasan in 1938 , winter war against finland in 1940. fear led people defect or flee abroad; on june 13, 1938, genrikh lyushkov, chief of far eastern department of nkvd (soviet secret police), crossed border manchuria , turned himself in ija, bringing him wealth of secret documents on soviet military strengths , dispositions in region. lyushkov s treason major intelligence coup japan, , continued work against country until disappearance amidst soviet invasion of manchuria in august 1945.

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