Invasion of the Kuril Islands

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Japan campaign

The Invasion of the Kuril Islands, also called Kuril Islands Landing Operation (Курильская десантная операция in Russian) was the Soviet military operation aimed at capturing the Kuril Islands from the Japanese in 1945.

The operation took place between August 18 and September 1, using the army of the Kamchatka defense area (Major General A.R.Gnechko commanding), ships and transportation from the Petropavlovsk military base (Captain D.G.Ponomarev) and with the support from the 128th Airborne Division.

Successful military operations of the Soviet Army in Manchuria and South Sakhalin created the necessary prerequisites for invasion of the Kuril Islands, which had been occupied by the Japanese 91st Infantry Division (islands of Shiashkotan, Paramushir, Shumshu, and Onekotan),42nd Division (Shimushiro),41st detached regiment (Matua Island), 129th detached brigade (Urup Island) and 89th Infantry Division (islands of Iturup and Kunashiri). The Japanese commander was Lieutenant General Tsutsumi Fusaki.

The Soviet operation began with the landing on the Shumshu Island. The Soviet forces suffered great casualties due to insufficient preparation and lack of intelligence on the Japanese strongholds there. On August 23, the Japanese garrison surrendered as part of the general surrender of Japan, despite its superiority in terms of force and equipment.

Between August 22 and September 1, the Soviets occupied all of the Kuril Islands without further resistance.

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