Support HistoryMaps

Settings

Dark Mode

Voice Narration

3D Map

MapStyle
HistoryMaps Last Updated: 02/01/2025

© 2025 HM


AI History Chatbot

Ask Herodotus

Play Audio

Instructions: How it Works


Enter your Question / Request and hit enter or click the submit button. You can ask or request in any language. Here are some examples:


  • Quiz me on the American Revolution.
  • Suggest some books on the Ottoman Empire.
  • What were the causes of the Thirty Year's War?
  • Tell me something interesting about the Han Dynasty.
  • Give me the phases of the Hundred Years’ War.
herodotus-image

Do you have a question about History?


ask herodotus

History of Mongolia

Battles of Khalkhin Gol

© Anonymous

History of Mongolia

Battles of Khalkhin Gol

1939 May 11 - Sep 16
Khalkh River, Mongolia
Battles of Khalkhin Gol
Mongolian cavalry in the Khalkhin Gol (1939). © Anonymous

Video

The Battles of Khalkhin Gol in 1939 were a pivotal series of engagements between Soviet-Mongolian forces and the Japanese Kwantung Army, set against the backdrop of escalating border tensions in East Asia. Named after the Khalkhin Gol (Khalkha River), these battles unfolded in the remote grasslands near the border of Mongolia and Manchukuo (Japanese-occupied Manchuria). Known in Japan as the Nomonhan Incident, the conflict decisively shaped the strategies of both powers during the early stages of World War II.


Background: Rising Tensions on the Steppe

After Japan's occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and its establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo, border disputes with Mongolia, a Soviet ally, became frequent. The situation escalated with Japan's Anti-Comintern Pact in 1936 and its full-scale invasion of China in 1937. The Soviets, allied with Mongolia under a Mutual Assistance Pact, sent reinforcements to the region, while the Kwantung Army fortified Manchukuo's borders.


In 1938, skirmishes at Lake Khasan signaled Japan's ambitions to test Soviet defenses. By 1939, the disputed border near the Khalkhin Gol had become a flashpoint. The Japanese claimed the river marked the boundary, while the Soviets and Mongolians maintained that the border lay farther east, near Nomonhan village.


Initial Clashes: May to June

The conflict erupted on May 11, 1939, when a Mongolian cavalry unit entered the disputed area seeking grazing land. Japanese-backed Manchu forces attacked and forced them to retreat. However, the Mongolians returned with Soviet support, leading to a cycle of skirmishes. On May 28, Soviet and Mongolian forces encircled and annihilated a Japanese reconnaissance force led by Lt. Col. Yaozo Azuma, signaling the start of larger hostilities.


Throughout June, both sides built up their forces. Soviet commander Georgy Zhukov, newly appointed to lead the 57th Special Corps, brought in motorized units and tanks, while Japan mobilized its under-equipped 23rd Infantry Division. A Japanese airstrike on a Soviet airbase at Tamsak-Bulak escalated the conflict but failed to tilt the balance.


The Japanese Offensive: July

In early July, the Japanese launched a two-pronged assault across the Khalkhin Gol, aiming to encircle Soviet forces. However, Soviet counterattacks, spearheaded by armored units, inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese, who were hampered by logistical shortcomings and outdated equipment. By mid-July, the Japanese advance had stalled, and both sides settled into a tense stalemate.


The Soviet Counteroffensive: August

With tensions rising in Europe, Zhukov planned a decisive operation to end the conflict. On August 20, under cover of massed artillery and airstrikes, Soviet and Mongolian forces launched a coordinated assault. Employing a classic double envelopment, Zhukov's forces trapped the Japanese 23rd Infantry Division near Nomonhan.


By August 31, the Japanese position was untenable. Their attempts to break out failed, and Soviet artillery and air attacks decimated the remaining troops. The ceasefire agreement signed on September 15 brought the fighting to an end, solidifying Soviet-Mongolian control of the disputed territory.


Aftermath and Legacy

The Soviet victory at Khalkhin Gol was a strategic turning point. Japan shifted its focus away from Siberia, abandoning its "Northern Expansion Doctrine" in favor of southward expansion, leading to its confrontation with the United States and Allied powers in the Pacific. For the Soviets, the victory secured their eastern borders, allowing them to focus on the growing threat in Europe.


The battles also marked the rise of Georgy Zhukov, whose innovative tactics and leadership would later prove crucial in the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany. For Mongolia, the conflict underscored its reliance on Soviet protection and cemented its role as a strategic buffer state in East Asia.

Page Last Updated: 12/30/2024

Support HistoryMaps

There are several ways to support the HistoryMaps Project.

Shop Now
Donate
Say Thanks