The Kwantung Army surrendered to Soviet forces after the invasion of Manchuria in August 1945.
The Kwantung Army was Japan’s major military formation in Manchuria, where it had helped establish and protect the puppet state of Manchukuo. In August 1945, the Soviet Union launched a large offensive against Japanese positions across Manchuria, overwhelming many of the army’s formations within days.
Its final commander, General Otozō Yamada, ordered a surrender on 16 August 1945, one day after Hirohito’s radio announcement. Some Japanese units continued fighting for several days, so the surrender was not instantly obeyed everywhere.
Despite its intimidating reputation, the Kwantung Army in 1945 was weaker than its earlier wartime image suggested. Experienced personnel and modern equipment had been transferred to other fronts, leaving many units with outdated weapons and poorly trained replacements. More than 500,000 Japanese prisoners were eventually sent to Soviet labor camps.