Soviet Invasion of South Sakhalin

The Invasion of South Sakhalin, also called the Battle of Sakhalin (Russian: Южно-Сахалинская операция, Japanese: 樺太の戦い), was the Soviet invasion of the Japanese territorial portion of Sakhalin Island known as Karafuto Prefecture. The invasion was part of the Soviet–Japanese War,[3] a massive campaign of the Second World War.

For the Mongol invasion, see Mongol invasions of Sakhalin. For the 1905 Japanese invasion, see Invasion of Sakhalin.

Invasion of South Sakhalin
Part of the Soviet–Japanese War

Map of the Invasion of South Sakhalin
Date11–25 August 1945
(2 weeks)
Location
Sakhalin Island
Result Soviet victory
Territorial
changes		 Karafuto Prefecture is annexed by the Soviet Union and incorporated into Sakhalin Oblast.
Belligerents
 Soviet Union  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Maksim Purkayev
Leonty Cheremisov
Anatoly Petrakovsky
Ivan Baturov		 Kiichiro Higuchi
Saburo Hagi
Junichiro Mineki
Units involved
16th Army
Pacific Fleet		 Fifth Area Army
Strength
100,000 men 19,000 men (excluding 10,000 reservists)
Casualties and losses
56th Rifle Corps:
527+ killed
845+ wounded[1]
Pacific Fleet:
89+ killed
Total killed:
616-1,191+ killed[2]		 Northern Army:
700–2,000 killed
18,202 captured
3,500–3,700 Japanese civilian casualties

Background

In the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905, control of the island was split, with the Russian Empire controlling the northern half and the Japanese controlling the portion south of the 50th parallel north. It was known in Japan as Karafuto Prefecture and the Northern District.

During the Yalta Conference of 1945, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin pledged to enter the fight against the Empire of Japan "in two or three months after Germany has surrendered and the war in Europe is terminated." This would create another strategic front against Japan, deemed necessary to end the war. As a result of their participation, the Soviets would be awarded South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, among other concessions. The United States would aid the Red Army in Project Hula, in preparation for the invasion.

On 5 April, the Soviet Union formally repudiated the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact.

On 9 August the USSR launched a full-scale invasion of Manchuria, beginning the Soviet–Japanese War. The invasion began three days after the United States atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and included plans to invade South Sakhalin. The main purpose of the invasion was to clear Japanese resistance and then — within 10 to 14 days — be prepared to invade Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's home islands.

Order of battle

Soviet Union

Imperial Japan

Karafuto Line

On 11 August, the Soviet 16th Army commenced the ground invasion from northern Sakhalin of the southern portion of Sakhalin Island controlled by Japan. The Soviet advance was halted by the strenuous Japanese defense of the Karafuto Fortress defense line. The Soviet 16th Army which consisted of roughly 20,000 men and supported by 100 tanks outnumbered the Japanese defenders 3 to 1. However the Soviet advance was minimal and held off for four days on the Karafuto line.

On 15 August, Imperial Japanese headquarters issued the order to halt all offensive combat operations and engage in a cease-fire dialogue; however, the 5th Area Army issued a contrary order to the 88th Division to defend Sakhalin to the last man. The same day 3,000 Japanese troops surrendered the Karafuto Line. Japanese military casualties were 568 dead.

Soviet naval invasion and blockade

In order to speed up the invasion of Sakhalin island and relieve pressure on the ground invasion the Soviet Navy launched an amphibious assault operation against the key Japanese ports. A naval blockade of Sakhalin island was put into place to prevent the evacuation of Japanese troops. Civilian convoys were targeted by Soviet submarines in the Aniva Gulf.

On 16 August, the Soviet coast guard ship Zarnitsa, four minesweepers, two transports, six gunboats and nineteen torpedo boats docked in Port Toro. Around 1,400 Soviet troops of the 365th Separate Marine Battalion and one battalion of the 113th Rifle Brigade landed in Toro (now Shakhtyorsk) and engaged a Japanese garrison of 200 men. Toro was captured and the next day they captured four populated areas and the port city of Esutoru (now Uglegorsk), Anbetsu (now Vozvrashcheniye) and Yerinai. Japanese casualties were 100 killed, 150 wounded and 30 captured. Soviet casualties were 12 killed.

On 20 August, 3,400 troops of the Soviet Navy combined marine battalion and the 113th Rifle Brigade landed in Port Maoka (now Kholmsk). The landing party was met with fierce Japanese defense. A few naval vessels were damaged which led to the Soviet response of intense naval bombardment of the city, causing approximately 600 to 1,000 civilian deaths. Maoka was captured on 22 August, with heavy Japanese resistance continuing throughout the city. Japanese military casualties in this battle were 300 killed and 600 captured. Soviet casualties were 60 army soldiers killed and 17 naval infantry killed.[5]

On 25 August, 1,600 Soviet troops landed in Otomari (now Korsakov). The Japanese garrison of 3,400 men surrendered. The same day the remnants of the Japanese 88th Division surrendered to the 16th Army and the city of Toyohara was captured without resistance officially ending the Invasion of Sakhalin.

Aftermath and casualties

Japanese casualties are approximately 700 to 2,000 soldiers killed and 3,500 to 3,700 civilians killed. Around 18,202 were captured and many of the Japanese prisoners of war in Sakhalin were sent to labor camps in Siberia and held after the war. At least 100,000 Japanese civilians fled Soviet occupation during the invasion. The capture of Sakhalin Island proved a necessary prerequisite for the Invasion of the Kuril Islands. Following the Japanese surrender Sakhalin island remained under the control of the U.S.S.R., and remains Russian territory to this day. It became part of Sakhalin Oblast.

See also

References
  1. Retrieved 6 April 2018
  2. Our Kuriles and Japanese Claims p. 22, retrieved 6 April 2018
  3. Ealey, Mark. "As World War II entered its final stages the belligerent powers committed one heinous act after another". History News Network. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. Glantz, David (2 August 2004). Soviet Operational and Tactical Combat in Manchuria, 1945: 'August Storm'. Routledge. ISBN 1135774773.
  5. "Battle of Shumshu island and Sakhalin - Historum - History Forums". historum.com. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
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