What was the codename of the Soviet offensive against Japanese forces in Manchuria in August 1945?

The Soviet offensive against Japanese forces in Manchuria in August 1945 is commonly called Operation August Storm.

The campaign began on 9 August 1945, when Soviet forces attacked Japanese-occupied Manchuria and the puppet state of Manchukuo. Soviet troops advanced from multiple directions, supported by forces from Mongolia, and quickly overwhelmed much of the Japanese Kwantung Army.

The timing was crucial. The Soviet declaration of war came between the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the invasion destroyed Japan’s hope that Moscow might mediate a favorable peace. Historians debate the relative weight of the Soviet attack and the atomic bombings in Japan’s decision to surrender, but both transformed the strategic situation.

The operation is also known as the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation. It should not be confused with Operation Downfall, the planned Allied invasion of Japan, which was never carried out.