Which Soviet marshal commanded the 1945 invasion of Japanese-held Manchuria?

Aleksandr Vasilevsky commanded the 1945 Soviet invasion of Japanese-held Manchuria.

Marshal of the Soviet Union Aleksandr Vasilevsky served as the Soviet commander in chief for the campaign against Japan. Soviet forces began their invasion shortly after midnight on August 9, 1945, attacking Japanese positions in Manchuria from several directions.

The campaign targeted the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo and the Kwantung Army. Soviet forces advanced through difficult terrain with a large, coordinated operation involving armor, artillery, aircraft, and troops from multiple fronts. The Kwantung Army, once regarded as one of Japan’s most important forces, was rapidly overwhelmed.

The invasion began between the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and contributed to Japan’s decision to surrender. Japan’s leaders had hoped the Soviet Union might mediate with the Western Allies, but the Soviet declaration of war destroyed that diplomatic strategy. The Kwantung Army officially surrendered on August 16, although fighting in the region continued until the formal surrender on September 2.