Which Soviet military offensive began against Japanese forces in Manchuria on 9 August 1945?

The Soviet invasion of Manchuria began against Japanese forces on 9 August 1945.

The offensive was launched shortly after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Soviet forces attacked Japanese-controlled Manchuria from several directions, using large formations of infantry, armor, and air power against the Japanese Kwantung Army.

The invasion coincided with the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on the same date. Japanese leaders therefore faced two major shocks in the final days of the war: the continued American atomic attacks and the collapse of their hope that the Soviet Union might mediate a negotiated settlement.

Soviet operations also extended into southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Fighting continued in some areas after Hirohito’s 15 August announcement, and the Soviet advance continued until early September.