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5.0 out of 5 stars
Coverage of the tactical assault on Manchuria, May 23, 2009
This is volume 2 of Mr Glantz's 2 volume set. The first volume dealt with the strategic and logistical planning of the campaign. This volume actually describes the battles. The book has 11 chapters. The first ten describes each battle and the last is the author's overall conclusions. The chapters are broken down in the following format: Terrain, Soviet missions and objectives, Japanese defenses, compositions of both armies, assault details, chapter conclusions.
The ten engagements follow:
1. The 5th Army's assault on northeastern Manchuria into central Manchuria in the Suifenho area.
2. The 1st Red Banner Army's advance into eastern Manchuria through the heavily wooded mountains toward Paientung.
3. The 35th Army's advance southward through the swampy lowlands to Mishan.
4. The 1st Far Eastern Front's advance and subsequent battles for the city of Mutanchiang. This is extra coverage of the key battle for the city within the advance of 5th Army described in chapter 1. This is also the largest chapter in the book.
5. The 35th Army's assault on the Huton Fortress region at the juncture of the Ussuri and Sungacha Rivers.
6. The 39th Army's envelopment of the Halung-Arshaan Mountain region.
7. The 36th Army's advance through the mountains to Hailar in northwestern Manchuria.
8. The 15th Army's advance to Chiamussu along the Sungari River in northern Munchuria, near the Soviet border.
9. The amphibious landing of southern Sakhalin Island.
10. The amphibious landing on the Kuril Islands.
11. Conclusions.
Besides having an outdated war doctrine, the Japanese underestimated the Soviets. Their defenses and their expectations were designed for a frontal attack. In the last two years of war with Germany, the Soviets had honed their fighting skills. They attacked the Japanese positions on axes of concentrated force, similar to Operation Bagration in June of 1944. The Japanese lines broke almost instantly and it was an easy task of driving behind and rolling up the Japanese. Mr Glantz describes this action in great detail. Even if you're not interested in this campaign but are interested in war doctrine, strategy and tactics, consideration should still be given to this two volume set. Its a learning experience on those three aspects. Its also intriguing to compare the performance of the 1945 Red Army to the bumbling 1941 Army in Operation Barbarossa or even ealier against the Finns.
Mr Glantz is very impressed with the Soviet's precision and planning of this invasion and gives details for his beliefs. One key point will be that the Soviets transformed its inept Army of 1941 into a world class military force by 1945.
There is also a photo section as well as 45 maps to add to the narrative. Some of the maps are hard to see the details. The photos are good but were a little faded from age.
If you have ever wondered about this "lost" campaign in August 1945, this 2 volume set is probably the best there is.
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