Japan Invades the Soviet Union in April 1945

By 1945, Japan is on the brink of collapse. However, with the bulk of Soviet forces in Europe, the Japanese High Command makes once last desperate gamble for victory and the Kwantung army invades the Russian Far East on 1st April 1945
 
By 1945, Japan is on the brink of collapse. However, with the bulk of Soviet forces in Europe, the Japanese High Command makes once last desperate gamble for victory and the Kwantung army invades the Russian Far East on 1st April 1945

It wouldnt help neither japan nor Germany.
 
We're losing the war, the Americans are beating us like a drum, we're facing total economic and societal collapse and our cities have become weapon testing sites for the enemy.

I know! Let's invade a brand new powerful enemy with whatever remaining military strength isn't already desperately trying to slow down the US!:)
 

Xen

Banned
1945 is bad for Japan to invade Russia

The best time for Japan to invade Russia would have been in 1941/42, as long as Japan does not get too greedy they should be able to force Russia to capitulate. This would be a way for Japan to claim the entire Sakhalin Island, perhaps resurrect the Far East Republic as a puppet state.

There is no way Stalin is going to spare enough troops to prevent Japan from doing this, so long as Japan doesn't bite off more than it can chew. If Japan gets too greedy, then the United States will have a nice little base from which to operate against Japan in the North Pacific.
 

Markus

Banned
By 1945, Japan is on the brink of collapse. However, with the bulk of Soviet forces in Europe, the Japanese High Command makes once last desperate gamble for victory and the Kwantung army invades the Russian Far East on 1st April 1945

The bulk of Soviet forces was in fact in Europe, but whta remained in the Far East was powerful enough to defend Siberia, actually even before the re-deployment the soviet forces were more powerful than the Kwantung Army.
 
Arguably they were mad to think they could take on the United States but on the verge of defeat they woulsd only hasten their defeat assuming they were even capable of attacking Soviet Russia. The only winners in that situation would be the Russians who would have had a bigger foothold in any post war Japan and South East Asia
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
By 1945, Japan is on the brink of collapse. However, with the bulk of Soviet forces in Europe, the Japanese High Command makes once last desperate gamble for victory and the Kwantung army invades the Russian Far East on 1st April 1945

Taking national seppaku to the next level?

The Japanese High Command had demonstrated a willingness to slaughter its military for no reason at all, so it possible, I guess. Be a bitch to do it on foot, with no aircover (Fuel and aircraft having been almost totally shifted to Kyushu and the Okinawa campaign).

If they tried it, my estimate is that they don't even breach the border defenses in significant numbers. Stalin NEVER really trusted the Japanese & the Far East Front, contrary to popular belief, was never denuded of forces, By 1945, the forces in the Far East had, if anything, been upgraded with newer armor, artillery and aircraft. Since the IJA had dempnstrated that it was incapable of dealing with the 1939 version of the Far Eastern Front this result seems pro-ordained.
 
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