Storm in the East v2.0: The Second Russo-Japanese War

I wouldn't say it's necessarily a Soviet wank, I think I've at least kept things somewhat plausible so far. :p

Thanks for the kind words everyone. :)

Oh it's definitely plausible, I think there is such a thing as a plausible wank, but so far it's more an issue of the USSR in a more fortunate situation than it was historically rather than a serious wank.
 
Oh it's definitely plausible, I think there is such a thing as a plausible wank, but so far it's more an issue of the USSR in a more fortunate situation than it was historically rather than a serious wank.

It won't just be the Soviets who get a better deal though. How about a plausible Japan screw? :)
 
Both the Anglo-French and the Soviets desired a concrete assurance on the others willingness to fight. With this in mind, a guarantee was made by both sides that within six months of war with Germany, each would have launched a major offensive if the other had been attacked, or both would launch an offensive if neither had been attacked. If this deal wasn't honoured there was an acceptance that the Alliance would be abandoned and peace would be made with the Germans. The deal seemed to please both sides, each being given something of an insurance policy should the other choose to play the alliance for their own gain with the fear of a stronger Germany. Then Stalin began to squeeze.

To further the aim of making any war two-front as soon as possible, the Soviets proposed that they station a quarter of a million troops in Poland and the Baltic States to be able to stick to this commitment as well as being able to more effectively help Poland defend itself if it were attacked. The Poles refused this out of hand, they were unhappy enough about any alliance with the Soviet Union. Soviet troops on Polish soil, even during a war, was a nightmare. The Soviets ensured the Poles of their peaceful intentions, arguing that this was the only way they could keep their commitment of an offensive within six months. The British and French were divided over the issue. The French, a continental power, were much more eager to have an alliance with the Soviets secured and suggested that the Polish be told to accept the Soviet offer or lose any guarantee of security whatsoever. The British, who still believed that war could be avoided even without an alliance with the Soviets, were less eager to put the Soviets in a position where they could take over Poland in the blink of an eye. The French valued the British an ally more than the Soviets however and went along with the British line of politely telling the Soviets that they could not dictate to the Polish what their foreign policy would be. The Soviet response of 'You didn't mind telling the Czechs' did not end the talks but it ended any hopes of a once strong alliance.

The Soviets explained that, eager as they were for an anti-fascist alliance, they could not enter into one were promises would be disregarded. If they could not keep their commitments then what obligation had the British and French to avoid watching the Germans and Soviets bleeding each other white. Dealing came down to more basic requirements, could the Soviets be persuaded not to make a deal with the Germans? The final deal remained controversial, and largely secret. Officially talks broke down, but a deal had been made. The Soviets would not become bedfellows with the Germans, and in exchange the British and French would turn a blind eye to Soviet encroachment on the Baltic states.

Neither side was happy, but the Germans were unhappier still.
 
Whilst negotiations broke down in Europe and the Kuomintang prepared to liberate their homeland, the Imperial Japanese Navy closed in for the kill. The continued stalemate in the air left the Soviets unable to effectively defend the sea lanes to Sakhalin, the Soviet Pacific Fleet or even Vladivostok, all now effectively belonged to the IJN. Attempts to guard the supplies to the defenders of Sakhalin but by late August, after the loss of all three of it's destroyers and one cruiser the fleet began to withdraw. Attempting to run supplies to northern Sakhalin was now essentially a suicide mission. Furthermore, Japanese strikes on Sakhalin from both sea and air had began to render the port ineffective. The Soviet Pacific Fleet, reduced to one cruiser and a handful of small boats, fled.

With Northern Sakhalin now surrounded, the Soviet defence became increasingly weak and ineffective. By late August 1939, severe shortages of fuel and ammunition led to most Soviet armour being abandoned or cannibalised. The Soviets began to move into the islands mountainous terrain, where they were less vulnerable from the sea and the air. Stalin had decreed that the island wouldn't surrender, and that the Red Army would terrorise and massacre Japanese occupation troops until their liberation. Shtern knew that with no prior preparations and with the islands harsh conditions, there wasn't much hope of this being realised.

chinese-T-26-tank-captured-japanese.jpeg

Japanese troops inspect a battered T-26

By September 2nd, conventional resistance on the island had ended. The worn out Soviet defenders, those who not disappeared, where paraded in front of the cameras as the Japanese claimed outright victory over the Soviets. Their offer of the return of northern Sakhalin in exchange for Soviet withdrawal from Manchuria was ignored officially but it was caused fury in the already savage mind of Stalin, he would not be humiliated like this again. Throwing caution to the wind, largely amounts of armour, planes and men began to move east. The Japanese would be crushed, they would be humiliated and then they would beg for mercy. Stalin liked it when they begged.

In the west the Germans had tried in vain to make a deal with Stalin, but the Kremlin's door had remained closed. Hitler could at least comfort himself in the knowledge that he wouldn't be fighting the Soviets either, the Red Army's increased focus towards the Japanese all but ensured this. To be safe however, his war would have to be much more different than how he had originally envisioned. Poland would be safe for now, indeed in good time they would be brought on side momentarily. Europe had stepped back from the brink, but soon three sisters would threaten to set it alight once more...
 

pike

Banned
Will USSR winter war with Finland be averted? Because of Stalins destraction in the East and what about the partion of Poland?

Subscribed also.
 
The Japanese are lucky that they took the island in summer. I couldn't put pass Stalin that he sends an army there once the sea ices in winter. :D
 
I personally don't know why the Soong Sisters would throw Europe into turmoil, although they were the only sisters I had in mind.

Ai-ling: Doubtful. Her husband might be the richest man in China, but I don't know if he had that much influence abroad... :confused:
Ching-ling: Possible. I imagine she'd have a quite some sway in Chinese politics, being the widow of Sun Yat-sen and all... :)
May-ling: Quitely likely. I've read somewhere that she attempted seduce Wendell Willkie in one of her tours to America... :eek::p

Great TL, The Red!! :D

Marc A
 
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