Regarding the incorrect picture of Vasilevsky: Our video editor edits from a template, and unfortunately an image was accidentally rendered from a previous project. Apologies for the confusion.

Those saying the picture is not actually Vasilevsky are mistaken. Vasilevsky was famously the first ever infant general, leading the red army to victories in manchuria at the age of 4 months. That is why he looks so young in that picture

My grandfather was Japanese Dutch born in 1921. His father never registered him with the embassy so when the war rolled around he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Army. He served in the regular reserve infantry until he met a friend of a friend had been in the same situation but was now working in intelligence. My grandfather took over his job and was stationed in Manchuria which was to listen to the Allied radio and report significant information. Because of his Dutch roots and “foreign” upbringing having been enrolled in Canadian and French schools and living in the foreign trade quarter of Yokohama. All of his friends had been Americans, Dutch, French, and Canadian but he was stuck as a Japanese citizen, unable to leave due to his father not registering him. All of this led up to him silently rooting for the Allies while listening to these broadcasts. The Russians rolled in and captured all of them and was held for a short time before the war was declared over. He thought they would be going back but instead the Russians took them to a Siberian gulag for 2 years and essentially used them as slave labor. The only reason he was released was because a female Russian doctor took pity on him probably because of his rapidly advancing case of tuberculosis. He distanced himself from Japan after his release, longing to become an American citizen.

Your picture of Alexander Vasilevsky is completely wrong, that's a 2018 picture of Marcelo Ebrard, a Mexican politician. The fact that the picture is in colour should've been a big give away that there was a mistake made considering Vasilevsky was a WWII general and if any colour photos existed of him they wouldn't be of such high quality either.

IMO the invasion by the USSR made one thing clear to the Japanese leadership: an unconditional surrender to the Western Allies left at least a possibility of retaining the imperial system in some form. An occupation by the USSR would mean a definitve end of the imperial system, period. That was I think the final straw.

5:01 Nunca hubiera sabido que Marcelo Ebrad ayudo a los sovieticos a conquistar Manchuria

Pretty sure Admiral Yamamoto was not “away at a training exercise” since the U.S. killed him by shooting his plane down in 1943.

Aleksandr Vasilevsky looking pretty spry for a WW2 general.

Great coverage of an often overlooked aspect of the war. Well done 👍

Didn’t really hear about Russia’s role on the pacific front in school, great coverage!

My grandfather participated this campaign as chief officer on minesweeper during landing operations in Korea and my wife's grandpa was LA-7 pilot and he fought somewhere near Dalian.

Does anyone el noticed that they use the picture of Marcelo Ebrad instead of Alexandr Vasilevsky? 😂

Please, more WW2 videos!

..I cannot imagine Simon speaking so fast and clear. KUDOS to the editors and sound techs

Interesting fact: The US military ordered so many Purple Heart medals (wounded in action awards) in preparation for the invasion of Japan, that almost 80 years later, after all wars since, there are still thousands left.

YES i wanted to know more about this thank you!

I fear we have reached peak Simon. The videos are becoming more numerous, more rushed, and picture sourcing/editing mistakes are becoming more frequent. Quality is preferable to quantity, son. I enjoyed your work a lot more when you weren't compelled to be expert in EVERYTHING...

Oops! At 12:32 you said that the possession of the Kuril Islands is still disputed by Russia and China. That should have been Russia and Japan. Other than that, another awesome video. I've been telling people about the Soviet invasion in East Asia and that it was a huge factor in when the Japanese surrendered because nobody in the United States seems to know this. "We're the good guys/the heroes! We defeated Japan all by ourselves...

I find it very odd you mention the Russo-Japanese war at 1:55,which was between the Russian Empire and Japan, instead of the Soviet-Japanese skirmishes, especially the battle of Khalkin Gol, which was a huge reason why the IJN’s southern plan won over the IJA’s northern war with the Soviet plan Especially since you specifically said “this was far from the first time the *Soviets* and Japanese faced each other on the battlefield” and not just Russians in general

A wonderful historical coverage video about Soviets assault on Manchuria and ejected Japan army at the last months of WW2.

5:01 the guy on that picture is a Mexican politician called Marcelo Ebrard, don't know what he's doing there lol

I just watched your video on Midway- great by the way! I am curious if you have considered a video on the Navajo Code Talkers and their impact on WWII. Thank you for all your content- I have been binge watching this channel, Biographics and Geographics for a few weeks now and loving life.

You should do a situation room episode. Showing what happens in actual situation rooms during high level operations. And the generals are there and the president and secretary of staff etc. What actually happens there, who has access to it, the feed, etc.

Thanks!

Another banger!

Great video

Absolutely brilliant video on an otherwise bare front of the war.

Simon, this is your best segment yet!! Even though I am a direct beneficiary of Truman's decision to drop the bombs, I fully appreciate the role of the USSR in invading Mongolia. My Dad sailed into Tokyo harbor on September 2, 1945 as a member of the First Cavalry. That was the day they signed the surrender. There may have been fighting up until very recently and Dad was not too sure how the US soldiers would be treated. He told my sister he realized "the war really was over" when they did not shoot at him. He turned 99 June first of 2023. He hates war to this day.

Admiral Yamamoto died in 43, how would he be away at a training exercise??? 😂😂😂

5:50 - I didn't know Yamamoto Isoroku was away at a training exercise during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, especially since he died in 1943.

Excelente video y saludos desde Lima Perú

A big what if? moment in history.

lmao what is that photo of Vasilevsky

A lot of historians argue that the Red Armies invasion had more of an impact than the atomic bombing because Japan was hoping for the USSR to act as some sort of intermediary with the USA. They had a none non-aggression pact after all. When Stalin invaded, that hope was dashed, and they surrendered, believing the US would be more... generous than the Soviets.

This is a really good take on August Storm and its role in ending the pacific war. Might have mentioned that on 22 June the Emperor directed the Japanese government to find a way to surrender which led to the negotiations with the Russians. Also, the Soviets took more than 40,000 prisoners - unheard of - which was a sign amongst others that the armies were not able to defend the home islands to the death!

Wasn't Yamamoto already dead at this point and didn't Togo step down before this? Surprised to see their photos as "Away on an exercise"

5:03 that's Marcelo Ebrard idk what happened... It's a Mexican politician lol. I mean that's an actual photo tha should have given it away. Love you Simmon

Soo many battles .. soo many videos. Do we have enough time to make and watch them.

It was a combo effect

Warograhics just a quick note at 5:02 that's a picture of Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs "Marcelo Ebrard"

11:40 Imperial Japan hated to lose that land; But then, just as now, there was zero threat of the Soviet Union attacking the Japanese mainland.

Some slight mistakes (in addition to the ones mentioned in comments China doesn't have stake in Kuril islands, Japan and Russia do), a good video overall. The script pretty much went to the counterpoints I was making at the time of watching, on multiple occasions.

I wish a World War II video game would have the Soviet invasion of Manchuria as a mission.

The definitive discussion of this event is David Glantz’s AUGUST STORM.

Could you do a video on the Aleutian Campaign?

You should show more maps

7:41 That's a 1938 picture of a Czech taken as the Nazis MARCHED INTO THE SUDETENLAND!!! Little hint...the little arm motions? Nazi salute. Come on...

5:01 Marcelo Ebrard!

The picture that you showed at 5:02 it’s a Mexican politician called Marcelo Ebrard!

Please do the battle of Agincourt

The Soviet Invasion of Manchuria would make a good film, but all I can find is a documentary.

4:58 Thats former Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ebrad

That's not a photo of Aleksandr Vasilevsky, that's a mexican polititian named Marcelo Ebrard 🤣

Lol that's not vasilevsky

Something to remember is that in the last Chinese Civil War there were three sides, not just two. Now everyone remembers The Communists and The Nationalists, but there was also a third faction of sorts, what you might call, "The Imperialists", and it was led by the former Emperor of China, Puyi. Puyi would later be installed as President, then Emperor of "Manchukuo", or Manchuria. Puyi was also the first, and only Chinese Emperor to learn English, and was apparently very good at it.

Did the Soviets have the capacity to launch a navel invasion of Japan say in 1946 very powerful land army but itresting if anyone has info be interesting cheers sioman for another great video

Enjoy the video, but this is the second video in a row with an incorrect picture. At 6:26, when talking about Japanese anti-tank guns, you show an image of British soldiers in North Africa.

Fuggin' Juggernaut !

MARCELO EBRARD Secretario de Relaciones Exteriores ✅ Destinatario de la Orden de la Victoria ✅ Libertador de Manchuria ✅

6:22 - is not a Japanese AT gun.

Great summation with facts n figures. Most revealing how the Soviets reshaped Eastern Asia with their one month conquest.

5:02 is that really Alexander Vasilevsky? He looks like Mexican foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard

U showed a picture of Yamamoto… he’s already dead by this date

I knew it MARCELO EBRAD its a vampire.

Is this some kind of joke? In the minute 5:01 the image shown for Aleksandr Vasilevsky is actually a Mexican politician named Marcelo Ebrard.

The nuclear attacks provided an indispensible excuse for the defeat. It allowed the japanese to "Lose with Elegance", as the japanese say.

The Kuril islands are in despute between Russia and Japan. Not Russia and China.

Who remain as military power in Korea after August 45?

The commander of the 5th Japanese Army, General Shimizu, commented that "each nation lives and dies by its own laws." Wounded Japanese soldier who were incapable of moving on their own were often left to die as the army retreated. British and U.S. reports indicate that the Soviet troops that occupied Manchuria (about 700,000) also looted and terrorized the local people of Mukden and we're not discouraged by Soviet authorities from "three days of rape and pillage".

3:08 It kinda sounds like the Soviets' plan was already made and put into motion, eh, Brain Boy?

5:02 This photograph looks like it was taken in 2005. Wtf?

There were ethnic Koreans who served in the IJA and namely the Kwantung Army.

It's even said if the Japanese didn't surrender then the Soviets and Americans would invade mainland Japan and capture Tokyo

Thought it was Manchester.. close 1...

Japan saw surrender and occupation by the Americans preferable to that of the Soviets. Considering what East Germany went through under Soviet occupation, they made the right call.

Why do you hate maps?

I am from Northeast China (formerly known as Manchuria) that was occupied by Japan from 1931-1945. We will always remember the Soviets help in liberating our lands from the enemy. Despite the Russian Empire stealing lands from Northeast China and Mongolia during fall of Qing dynasty. Everyone in Northeast China knows without the Russians, we would not be liberated because our armies were too weak at that time in the 40s

Hiro Onoda held out for a while too.

❤❤

Wtf is that how you treat your ally by installing the same enemy over them

Mi general y camarada Marcelito Ebrad peleando contra el imperio del sol naciente.

Sir, please double check your picture of Vasilevsky. It is not the correct person that commanded Soviet Forces.

I feel this part of WW2 is never taught in schools. I never knew Soviets were in China at all

Yea it was a nail in a coffin so to speak, but to be accurate the coffin was already nailed shut. With attacks erasing entire homeland cities the red army dash to re secure their eastern border was a side show. The loss of their navy, and the realization that they could lose Tokyo in the blink of an eye was more than enough to end the war and culturally shock their entire nation.

Hey Simon did you quit biographics?

Don't forget that the Soviets also captured the Last Emperor of China.

Love your videos but this was a bad thumbnail choice for the video.

Yamamoto had already been dead for two years, so no reason to have his picture in this video

Marcelo Ebrard 😂😂😂😂😂

5:04 whoever put the picture there should be fired it's not that vasilevsky I'm start to think the guy Just searched vasilevsky the 1sz image and good

Uncle Hi was there to protect injures usa pilots and treat heal then escorted safely to America military camp

5:01 ahahahhahaha cpme om editor that's plain embarassing using wrong aspect ratio for archival footage is one thing but calling Marcelo Ebrard russian marchal is really low

Bajate Marcelo! Esa no es tu familia!

I thought the Atomic bombs convinced Japan to surrender

The difference with the invasion of Manchuria vs the atomic bombs is they would've happily fought the Soviets to the last man. The bombs meant there was no one they were going to get to take down with them. They had to give up because the bomb denied them the opportunity to die a warrior's death in combat. THAT's the important thing to remember. That's why the US strategy was designed to avert an invasion; they really wanted an invasion.

You definitely been putting out “Fake News” on some of your videos

Vietnam?

This was a horribly edited video with several inaccuracies. So rushed

FDR was a man with more than a passing interest in socialism; he is probably one of the most overrated leaders in American history. FDR made a very foolish mistake partnering with Stalin inspite of Churchill's warnings and the world paid for it throughout the Cold War. The Stalinists and the National Socialist should have been left to cancel each other out. The Soviets were left with too much strength at the end of the fighting with the Germans and the Japanese which they were able to utilize to bolster proxies in China, Korea and eastern Europe during the next decade.

wait wait wait. you seriously focusing on Soviet war crimes vs civilians in China? In freaking China? Do you know what Japanese did there in terms of scale?