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This thread is aimed at ascertaining the Japanese Kwangtung Army's motive(s) in engaging in a border war with the USSR from 1937 to 1939.

Were the Kwangtung Army commanders hoping to snowball the clashes into an all-out war of conquest, or did they have only lesser objectives?

Did they Japanese think they had a shot at winning glory and territory against the USSR?

Did they think this could be accomplished in a one-on-one fight?

Did they expect to have allies also attack the Soviet Union? Japan had some positive military and intelligence relations with Germany and Poland during the border war of summer 37 to summer 39. However, despite the Anti-Comintern Pact, German war on the Soviet Union was not realistic because Germany was still rearming from a low base and had no common border with the USSR. No realistic or even reasonable estimates of Polish intent and capability would support the idea that Poland could pose an offensive threat to the USSR by 1937 certainly.
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