



Battle of Lake Khasan

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseOn 15 Jul 1938, long-existing tension between Japan and the Soviet Union regarding borders in Northeastern China was tested. On that day, Japanese diplomats in Moscow, Russia demanded that Soviet troops be removed from Bezymyannaya (Shachaofeng in Chinese) and Zaozernaya (Changkufeng in Chinese), west of Lake Khasan and Vladivostok. The demand was rejected. Believing that the Soviet Union was occupying Manchukuo (Japanese puppet kingdom in Northeastern China) territory in violation of the First Convention of Peking of 1860, on 29 Jul 1938 Japanese troops moved in to the region, but was driven back by Soviet troops. On 31 Jul, a larger force consisted of the Japanese 19th Division and Manchukuo units attacked again, defeating the fortified Soviet 39th Rifle Corps during a night battle. Between 2 and 9 Aug, Soviet reinforcements arrived, and drove out the Japanese once again. Though tensions remained high, no further actions broke out after 11 Aug. In this series of engagements, 717 Soviet troops were killed, 75 were missing, and 2,752 were wounded. On the Japanese and Manchukuo side, 526 were killed and 916 were wounded.

ww2dbaseIn China, this event was also known as the Changkufeng Incident; in Japan, it was also known as the same, though pronunced Chokoho Incident.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Update: Dec 2009

Battle of Lake Khasan Timeline

14 Jul 1938 Japanese diplomats in Moscow, Russia demanded that Russian troops be removed from Bezymyannaya (Shachaofeng) and Zaozernaya (Changkufeng), west of Lake Khasan and Vladivostok in a contested region on the northeastern Chinese border. The Soviets rejected Japanese demands, citing Japanese violation of the First Convention of Peking of 1860 by occupying Chinese territory. 29 Jul 1938 Japanese and Russian troops clashed on the border region between Manchukuo and Russia, starting the Battle of Lake Khasan. 31 Jul 1938 Japanese 19th Division and Manchukuo puppet units defeated the Soviet 39th Rifle Corps during a night battle during the Battle of Lake Khasan. 2 Aug 1938 Soviet reinforcements arrived in the Lake Khasan region where Soviet and Japanese troops had engaged in battle for the few days. 9 Aug 1938 Soviet troops drove Japanese out of the Lake Khasan region on the northeastern Chinese border. 11 Aug 1938 The Battle of Lake Khasan ended indecisively. During this battle, 717 Soviet troops were killed, 75 were missing, and 2,752 were wounded. 526 Japanese and Manchukuo troops were killed and 916 were wounded.

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