Kuril Islands: Pacific Hot Spot in the Cold War

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Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video on the Kuril Islands, as we try to summarize why these islands became a potential hot spot between Japan and the USSR, as both sides used diplomacy and their allies to get the upper hand.
Japanese Economic Miracle: • How Japan Became an Ec...
Japanese Culture in the Cold War period: • How American Occupatio...
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#ColdWar #KurilIslands #USSR
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[@TheColdWarTV]

​🍘 Get 10% off (save up to $47!) your own authentic Japanese snack box from Bokksu using my link: bit.ly/3fPXoCT and code COLDWAR10

[@shrinivas2802]

Hi Can u make a video on 1971 India Pakistan war where Soviet and American ships had come face to face. This topic is oftenly overlooked

[@tonyantonio8956]

Please make a video on the 1971 Indo Pak war and show the standoff in between the US 7th fleet and Soviet task force .

[@gmanbo]

So technically military hostilities Between Russia and Japan don't need a formal declaration of war at all.

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

Yes, just like the Korean war is at a stage of a 'temporary cease fire' with no ending (and no current talks of an end to that war). Take Care, John

[@ashapuhin9825]

@@___-cp6or not strictly but it still does..

[@JCDenton3]

As if the need for an official declaration of war has ever stopped Japan before... (Russo-Japanese War - sneak attack on Port Arthur, 2nd Sino-Japanese War - Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Pacific War - Pearl Harbor, etc...)

[@bsadewitz]

The last time the US formally declared war was under FDR.

[@buonaparte11]

This is a common story, but it's probably a misunderstanding. The end of the war between the two countries has been mutually confirmed by Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956.

[@dinolandia8978]

Very interesting. My Russian teacher grew up in the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka during the 1980s and 1990s. She was the daughter of a Soviet military family. According to her, those regions are a natural paradise and unlike nothing that could be found back in the rest of the USSR. The soldiers, scientists, and other staff would enjoy fresh caught fish or venison regularly to supplement their rations. There is no overcrowding or pollution. Some of the soldiers and scientists continued to stay there (off base of course) even after receiving orders to return home b/c of tales of anarchy, unemployment, and criminal violence in the rest of the former USSR during the 1990s and early 2000s. These individuals continue to live off the land, hunting and fishing, and earn a living as tour guides. As for her family they ended up relocating to Vladivostok for a better life.

[@spyczech]

I'd imagine there would be no overcrowding after the soviets expelled all Japanese and Ainu off the islands!

[@MrJack1992]

@@eugenlitwin5887 I mean ask people in eastern ukraine that again. Most of the speak Russian and are more in line with Russian values the. Ukrainian.

[@frankrenda2519]

@@eugenlitwin5887 belarus belongs to russia

[@mongolballempire8664]

@@spyczech Ainu still live there

[@Armorius2199]

Wow, this was an extremely interesting topic, that has actually never before got mentioned.

[@igorsmihailovs52]

Nowadays there is another piece to the puzzle, as in 1992 large rhenium ore deposits were discovered on Iturup/Etorofu. Rhenium is very rare and pricey metal, so it definitely contributes to the problem.

[@user-df1ek5rc1h]

4:42 I think this section could be quite misinterpreted as the Japanese ruling the entirety of the Sakhalin island during the interwar era. Though the portion of the island north of the 50th parallel was briefly occupied by the Japanese during the civil war, rsfsr eventually regained control of it and administered it since then.

[@theprincipalityofstopmotio2146]

I think Karafuto was divided between Japan and Russia during the Russo-Japanese War, with Japan annexing the south, and Russia occupying the north of the island, not during the civil war.

[@igorsmihailovs52]

@@theprincipalityofstopmotio2146 no it was that way also after the Russian Civil war. I had to correct this mistake on one of Wikipedia's maps once (using info from Wikipedia articles, duh). Northern Sakhalin was returned to (Soviet) Russia in 1925.

[@kylebarton778]

I'm very happy that the Ainu weren't left out. Thank you for the video!

[@nileshkumaraswamy2711]

One of those disputes that lasts to today.

[@justcallmeSheriff]

The Ainu and Okinawans should compare notes about how their homes are used as Cold War bargaining chips.

[@kvltntr00]

I was about to comment on a similar vein. Japan has zero right to claim the Ryukyu Islands, Hokkaido, or the Kuril Islands. This doesn't justify other countries' claims, but I certainly have no sympathy for the Japanese position.

[@cbrtdgh4210]

​@@kvltntr00 Japan conquered the Ryukyus 400 years ago, becoming a vassal state after that time. By the same logic, China has no right to Xinjiang or Tibet. The USA should shrink back to the Thirteen Colonies or better yet, sail back to Europe.

[@patricksputnick5094]

@@kvltntr00 What makes you think that the Japanese "have zero right" to claim Hokkaido or the islands ? Who has lived in Hokkaido always, and/or is supposed to have lived in Hokkaido in your opinion ?

[@jonathankessler7436]

actually i'm glad the ainu were relocated away from those valuable lands.

[@black10872]

@Histori Wrong! Iwo Jima was the airbase that was used to nuke Japan.

[@cbrtdgh4210]

If Bokksu were around at the end of WW2, the Kuril Islands would still belong to Japan.

[@benkamelmayssem5780]

thanks for the new video and the great work.

[@antoniogerardogiampaolo259]

Outstanding job as usually

[@hughmcfarlane5191]

Fantastic video team!

[@Sequoia204]

Russia's part in Japan's surrender does indeed get overlooked in the west. Guess cold war rivalries preclude giving credit where it's due.

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

Joining the war 2 weeks before it ended is not particularly big contribution.

[@Sequoia204]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv oh yeah, why would 1.5 million troops invading your territory have any impact on your decision to carry on the war...

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

@@Sequoia204 , bcs Russian soldiers themselves said that japanese began to surrender only after Hirohito's order

[@ryhanzfx1641]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv which is caused by both the nukes AND the soviet invasion of Manchuria, check your history books

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

@@ryhanzfx1641 , I highly doubt u spoke with actual soldiers of that war to know this. History books is written by the victors, they not supposed to be 100% honest

[@beachboy0505]

Amazing video for a lovely Saturday afternoon.

[@789french5]

leeeaaarrning!! Its so great, thank you!

[@marshalondro9692]

Awesome video

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nicely informative video. I hope this very thorny issue does get solved one day.

[@deanbuss1678]

A nugget of history, that's really interesting 👍🤔

[@coldwarmilitaria6593]

Really interesting

[@brianfeely9239]

Good work

[@gabrielferrer7194]

You should do one about Spanish Franco's dictatorship and how he managed to remain in power after the defeat of the Axis. Would be really interesting!!

[@TheColdWarTV]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnWxZJ-XpM-Be6M

[@ogjk]

Great video, you should so one on the territorial dispute of Dokdo Island between Japan and South Korea whitch started during the cold War.

[@blanyeeast2928]

Big ups for ending the segment on a very strong note about the Ainu people!

[@iDoTechOK]

Fantastic - thank you. Great new knowledge for an experience historian like myself. :)

[@Alex_FRD]

RIP Karafuto Prefecture.

[@jean-huguesaubry6778]

As a history and religion teacher, thank you for mentioning the Ainu people.

[@blueberrypirate3601]

Ussuri bears live on the Kuriles and are very dangerous animals 🐻🐻

[@macosta3499]

A wonderfull video like always! Could you make a video on Thailand? I can't find any on KZbin about the situation in the country at this moment.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@tng2057]

Actually there was a rare chance of reviving the 1956 near agreement, in 1988/89, when the USSR was in financial dire straits and appeared to be keen to cut a deal similar to the 1956 one with Japan hoping for financial aids. As things turned out the USSR was so busy with other things in the dying months and the deal never materialized.

[@gedgar]

So cool…!!!

[@DISK2000]

"Temporary Occupation of Okinawa".... mhmmm

[@sodinc]

it is nice that it ended so fast, yes?

[@vasjakur]

Nothing is more permanent than something temporary.

[@jtsnowman66]

*destroys subscribe button* It's mine all mine!!!!! If I can't have it no one can. Great channel ;)

[@darrell3O87OO]

So no peace treaty between the USSR (now Russia) and Japan. So Russia could invade Hokkaido and it wouldn't violate International law?

[@jamesdouglas1492]

Correct however the U.S. is still responsible for the defense of Japan. Russia will not go to war over Japan. Only if an aggressive Japan and the U.S. were to try and take back these islands.

[@diddlypoop4722]

@@jamesdouglas1492 Not to mention Russia does not have the naval capability to establish a foothold on Hokkaido and Japan has the naval capability to defend it.

[@frankrenda2519]

@@diddlypoop4722 russia could deteat japan in hours just like in ww2

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

@ , wrong. Japan wants only 4 southern islands that never belonged to Russia before 1945.

[@huntermad5668]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv The reason is the spoil of war motive nothing to do with the right before that.

[@MyBoomStick1]

The Will of the Inu made me think about Tolkien/Silmarillion. The Will of Iru and the Will of the Inu

[@matiasd5216]

Hi there. Sorry I'm watching like 2 years later. Great video as ussual. Just turned excellent in the last minute about the original people of those islands. Can you please help me understand these. Some territories like Kaliningrad, or Karelia or these Kuril islands... were they anexed by Russia as a SSR or were they anexed by SSRU as a whole? In this last case, when were the territories passed to independent Russia? (I do acknowledge legal issues were not much of a problem for Soviet governors, who could just put or take wathever they wanted)

[@BichaelStevens]

Are you related in any way to Indie Nidell from The Great War?

[@user-jd1du4yd7s]

I want to tell you absolutely impartially in this video! About whose Kuril Islands. . By the way, I recommend buying these Japanese sweets, on which my financial situation depends.

[@stephengayton5246]

Is Shintaro Abe related to Shinzo Abe?

[@oxis77gas]

He was his father.

[@vortimerofkent128]

The bell-button puns

[@coffeeNTrees]

1st. Thanks again for become our saturday morning cartoons! 2nd Would like to see you do a video about all the nazi collaborators at ivy league universities in the US during the 50's

[@andrewdegozaru74]

04:50 The attractive benefits of participating in Project Hula (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hula?wprov=sfla1) and the ease with which clauses in the Soviet-Japan neutrality pact (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93Japanese_Neutrality_Pact?wprov=sfla1) allowed it's dissolution would no doubt have influenced Stalin's decision to go to war against the Japanese Imperialists in the closing days of WW2.

[@jacobedward2401]

Are the Ainu people the ones that Miazaki used as inspiration for the hidden tribe in the start of Princess Mononoke?

[@shrinivas2802]

Hi can you do a video on the 1971 Indo Pak war where American and Soviet ships were face to face in the Indian Ocean. This event is oftenly overlooked

[@user-df1ek5rc1h]

You know we're still mainly doing the 1950s and early 1960s here right? I'm sure they'll do it eventually, since they've done a few more peculiar topics as well.

[@shrinivas2802]

@@user-df1ek5rc1h ya i know that but still this topoc is mostly overlooked by many historians so i just thought of saying it

[@mattanderson6336]

Long live Bangladesh!

Ah yes It was fun to cut pakistan in two pieces. except I call this war a "WASTED POTENTIAL" to get back PoK.

[@EffequalsMA]

Thanks for noting the affects of Imperialism on indigenous cultures.

[@stefanodadamo6809]

Good intentions? Dulles? Be serious.

[@htrland]

ikr, how can you know for certain that someone's intentions are truly good?

[@kuzakani4297]

@@htrland starting with Japan

[@clausbecker9350]

Not sure if it was mentioned that Russia has changed its constitution such that it can't give up the Kuril islands

[@followerofjulian1652]

Nuts.

[@OldchannelSamuel]

5:19

[@rupvictoria3017]

Japan is like Ukraine right now cause they’re literally near the border with Russia but the US is down in Japan to protect Japan from a Russian invasion

[@tibchy144]

if the text say Kurils but it doesn't mention which islands are not included, then it is understood that all of the islands are included

[@tng2057]

Imagine Germany asking Poland for the return of the former German territories east of Oder Nesse line or Italy asking Croatia for the return of Dalmatia.

[@tng2057]

@@dragosstanciu9866 It has to be said that ‘winner’s justice’ dominates all territory disputes. Japan, being the WW2 aggressor, ironically has more legal basis than the USSR and Russia in this matter, such as these islands not being part of Russia’s lost territory after the 1905 war, the USSR scrapping the 1940 non-aggression pact, and the Red Army seized these islands after the moment the Tokyo Bay instrument of surrender was signed. However demanding territory changes after losing a war always have to involve another conflict.

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

Sounds pretty silly. Germany *did* attacked Poland while Japan *was* attacked by USSR. When u attack someone and took their land it called occupation (look at Golan hights), but when u are victim of attack and took others land it called annexation (look at kaliningrad).

[@monkberrymoon4042]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv Yep. And of course the fact that the neutrality treaty between the USSR and Japan was still in effect when the USSR declared war. (Though I have to disagree with you about the Golan Heights -- that was the origin of many attacks on Israel)

[@zulfhashimmi2040]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv japan attacked the Allied powers , USSR was well within its rights to occupy kurils

[@isprikitikburkabush6200]

The acquisition of the Kuril Islands by the Russians is a result of WW2. That makes thier claim stronger.

[@monkberrymoon4042]

Huh? By that logic, West Germany should be an American state by now.

[@isprikitikburkabush6200]

@@monkberrymoon4042 Does the US claim West Germany?

[@monkberrymoon4042]

@@isprikitikburkabush6200 Sorry, I shoulda said, by that logic, the US should claim West Germany as its sovereign territory. Is that clearer?

[@isprikitikburkabush6200]

@@monkberrymoon4042US never wanted west germany so its not comparable to the Russian acquisition of the Kurils. But the US did acqured Okinawa from Japan and only returned it as a goodwill gesture.

[@monkberrymoon4042]

@@isprikitikburkabush6200 What the hell are you talking about? You seem to think that a country's desire for territory makes it morally right to take it. Honestly, in a sea of dumb ass comments on this page, yours makes the least sense. And on what planet do you think the US had any plans to actually annex Okinawa. It was never considered inherently American sovereign territory.

[@thegunslinger1363]

Go's to show how massive Russia is. That it stretches all the way to China, North Korea, and close to Alaska.

[@zeitgeistx5239]

@Histori Goes to show how well genocide works. Czars then Stalin committed genocides on dozens of ethnic groups.

[@johnl.7754]

@Histori with nuclear weapons it’s hard to envision it done by force

[@mayoite160]

All of the like button for name-dropping the Ainu

[@davidjohansson113]

Is that Abe related to the recently Prime Minister Shinzo Abe?

[@slimpickens9103]

I wonder how many end of the world scenarios start with a conflict of over these Islands.

[@DavidKutzler]

You mean that you're not willing to die in an atomic war over the fate of Quemoy and Matsu (refer to the 1958 Taiwan Straits Crisis)?

[@Admin-gm3lc]

None. Japan is smart enough to understand that attack on these isles is suicide

[@teabagfc]

Check the spelling in the thumbnail - PAFICIF

[@jarrodyuki7081]

japan still wants the kurils and sakkhalin back and this time they have iron man and america.

[@twilightstar9973]

No they don't and Japan should have taken Russia's offer of Shikotan and Habomai when they had the chance to and gone against USA* pressure.

[@theshadowman1398]

They don’t have America at all.

[@jarrodyuki7081]

@@theshadowman1398 we have the avengers and hulk. we have captain america.

[@alexchopov]

"Stalin unilaterally broke the non-agression treaty with Japan" - you make it sound like USSR was an evil treaty-breaker who attacked Japan for no reason, however, it was a promise he made to the American Allies, in Yalta to open a Second Front against Japan 3 months after the fall of Germany. Which is exactly what he did fullfilling his word and allied obligation

[@bcvetkov8534]

The agreement with Japan was still in effect when he agreed to the Allies demands. So yes he still broke the treaty. Stalin is a POS in general. Why defend a monster?

[@StalinTheMan0fSteel]

True. The result was the Soviet Union got back everything the Japanese took in the 1905 War.

[@alexchopov]

@@eugenlitwin5887 oil futures were at negative prices in 2020, why didnt Golden Horde/Russia collapse then?

[@alexchopov]

@@bcvetkov8534 then cancel all the evil things the monster Stalin did - return Vilno snd Lwow to Poland snd Selesia to Germany. You cant pick and chose in debunking a POS

[@StalinTheMan0fSteel]

@@eugenlitwin5887 No comprendo señor.😀 Inglés o español.

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan6687]

South Kuril islands would be economically better under Japan

[@koreytobias5255]

O the Dulles family again lol

[@LoveFactorySweatShop]

Take em back, Japan!

[@mrmr446]

I hope the establishment of US military bases during and after WW2 gets covered, it wasn't just the moustache who enjoyed planting flags.

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

Are they going to start fighting again?

[@twilightstar9973]

No

[@JenniferinIllinois]

My bell button is unfortunately no longer under my control. I hope one day that I am able to regain control or it and thus, use it for it's intended purpose. ;) Stalin is the Mustache. I think Brezhnev should be the Eyebrows. Hehehe...

[@jonaspete]

Times to take it back now

[@mattpurgare5678]

HOLD UP!! NEWS FLASH, What's this I here about a war between Russia and China in 1969? Video time 11:40

[@jonduong8331]

Yes, March 2nd 1969, the PLA attacks the USSR border outpost on the Ussuri river (North of Vladivostok ).

[@mattpurgare5678]

@@jonduong8331 thank you

[@Charlisimo123]

I don't want to be that negative person, but there is no way the Ainu are going to get a mention in future deals when it comes to this situation. Super Powers and Regional Powers have always put their interests first when it comes to situations like this. No one cares about what is right or just. Hell, the Koreans weren't at the table of negotiations when both the US and Soviets split Korea in half after World War 2. You know, the people who actually live in that peninsula. The moral of the story is, if you are a weak or irrelevant nation in global politics, powerful outsiders will always decide the fate of your people. Which is messed up, but is the reality of things.

[@ab9840]

When it comes to the Kuril islands it seems there are no Ainu left. Even the language is extinct. Read - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuril_Ainu_language

[@meganoobbg3387]

American history is the best example tbh. We dont even know the exact number of native americans who were annihilated. But ofcourse everyone knows the "Black book of communism"s 100 million deaths... a part of which are the 8 million Wermacht soldiers who are considered "innocent victims" of Stalin. haha

[@leviticusemmanuel4421]

Japan will never have those islands.That is the Price Japan has to pay for having american as its security provider. Russia will never give those islands where america will use as it's military base.

[@py8554]

Just heard that Putin might turn the Kurile islands into special economic zone.

[@Norg1]

Russians be like " its free real estate "

[@hybridarmyofthegdl2193]

With cost of “black gold” at 15-23 dollars per barrel, the USSR economy collapsed, and the sovok itself collapsed, and the "golden" horde ("russia") budget can only be fulfilled only with oil price at $ 42.4 and higher

[@valdispistoletov4554]

@@hybridarmyofthegdl2193 oil price fell below this value for half of the year in 2020 and russia still exist as far as i know

[@hybridarmyofthegdl2193]

@@valdispistoletov4554 „Mосковская империя это Хаос разруха и рабство, Хамы пьяницы и воры, и нечего не может,....“

[@uncleadi]

@@hybridarmyofthegdl2193 Idk you have some expert saying: "Russia can only sustain themselves with an oil price of X", but that X drops every couple of years because they are wrong every time. I think it's pretty clear Russia isn't going anywhere unless something very dramatic happens in Russia or the world that changes the current trends.

[@MrTTuguldur]

Ainu people are ethnically close to Siberia and Mongols

[@DorothyLee939]

Not just Kuril Islands.. Hokkaido also belonged to Russia

[@monkberrymoon4042]

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!! You funny

[@christiandevey3898]

Is Japan still at war with Russia or did it end with the Soviet Union?

[@Afdch]

Soviet - Japanese treaty of 1956 has ended the state of the war between 2 countries. There was never a peace treaty though. So i guess a ceasefire? FYI Russia is a successor state of the soviet union and all of its treaties.

[@jonduong8331]

@Venera Andskij Russia did declare war with Japan on September 8th 1945.

[@louisecorchevolle9241]

So Soviet Soviet is the same as Russia this is illettrism

[@ligayamatira2164]

We Wish to Feature about the Death of Francisco Franco

[@Bob31415]

@5:19 - The Soviet capture of the Kurils in September of 1945 "apparently had the blessings of Roosevelt"????? ROOSEVELT WAS DEAD in September of 1945.

[@hb2495]

they talked about it b4 he died gamer , when the big 3 came together.

[@HaohmaruHL]

You can compare Sakhalin to Hokkaido in terms how everything is built and well maintained to easily end the dispute on who between the two should have the islands. If the kuril islands stay with russia nothing good will ever come out of it. Russia can't even maintain moscow well, let alone other regions. P. S. Moscow born and raised. Now in japan, seeing firsthand what miracles Japanese can actually do to surrounding areas. (and also getting really tired hearing about something-something kuril islands every time I start talking to a Japanese person and end up having to mention I'm from russia...)

[@user-li4xn6gm1f]

Kuril Islands belongs to Russia, Absolutely.

[@91043]

Japanese*

[@crazyplasmaman5198]

The thumbnail looks like a red ape staring at a Japanese flag.

[@josehasegawa3979]

I hope those islands should be back to Hokkaido.. Russia don't care and need

[@ernestbatiy1070]

Such relocations are an underrated evil. I think that the empires believed in contiguous colonialism.

[@legokingtm9462]

Guys, Losing a war as an Axis has consequences those islands don't need to be return

[@chrisx2953]

Japan wasn’t in Axis they were in Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere.

[@legokingtm9462]

@@chrisx2953 ok and USA is not a part of Nato they just like North Atlantic because its cold.

[@zarkomodric6509]

Next Germany could ask for the return of Poland, half of France, Austria, Czech Republic and Italy could demand the return of half of Croatia, Albania, Ethiopia and Libya?

[@NikkyElso]

I tend to fall on the side of "just leave it." The people there now are Russian, and integrating them into Japan would be problematic amd it wouldn't feel right ejecting the people that live there now from the islands, especially since many have speant their whole lives there. This would be like Germany demanding the return of Kaliningrad from Russia. I think Russia should compensate Japan for the Islands, however. Of course, there are other considerations of strategic and resource perspectives, but at the end of the day, the needs of the people living on the islands should win out over the desire of the fatass politicians in Moscow and Tokyo.

[@Zenmyster]

I do enjoy hearing Stalin referred to as "the mustache". An appallingly dull bureaucrat, completely undeserving of a cult to his lack of personality. Mao deserved to be "the great helmsman" even though he kept running the ship aground.

[@KOTYAR1]

Putin ve done screwed this up too

[@tnarggrant9711]

PAFICIF

[@elendal]

Japan was on the wrong side of history and should accept the loss.

[@iagokhvipsen8487]

well... Russia is always on Bad side (demi bad side) of history, they should leave all non-RUssian lands and become big european country (nevRussia should be 30% of todays russa)

[@elendal]

@@iagokhvipsen8487 always?

[@theshadowman1398]

@@iagokhvipsen8487 We don’t want to be an European country, we are a mix of many things. Now bugger off before we decide to take back Finland since it actually does belongs to us. And if you are not pleased take that up with Sweden.

[@monkberrymoon4042]

Well, fair enough, I guess -- but what is the acceptable loss? Why not obliterate the country? Kill its inhabitants? Give up more islands? How much is enough?

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

You missed the fact that April 1945 was the first point that either the Soviets or the Japanese could say the neutrality treaty was void. You are trying to paint Stalin as the bad guy, when in this occasion he kept to the treaty's terms.

[@Afdch]

Well, technically the pact was still in full power until the mid april 1946. Soviets denounced the pact in 1945 but that only meant that it would not be automatically prolonged in 1946. So USSR broke the pact with Japan, but only because the Yalta conference treaty obliged USSR to DOW Japan no longer than 3 months after the victory over Germany. Which USSR did, exatly 3 months later, day by day. Considering all this it is not like Stalin is a bad guy because of this, but technically the pact was broken.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@@Afdch in Article 3 of the treaty it clearly states that either party can denounce the treaty in its last year, ie 13 April 1945 at the very earliest. The Soviets warned the Japanese on 5 April 1945. So the treaty was no longer in effect.

[@monkberrymoon4042]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 No. That's not what it says. Afdch is correct that Article 3 only allows either party to "denounce" the treaty in order to prevent its automatic renewal.

[@trevortaylor5501]

The Russians are right on this one, they were fascist then and that's the consequence. Being Canadian I get it, my grandparents fought them too.

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

So u can attack North Korea for it being fascist and as a winner annex part of their land?

[@trevortaylor5501]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv The Koreans have nothing to do with fascism, their communist. I don't agree with their system either. Nor do I agree with this woke nonsense. But fascist deserve to be destroyed immediately as we seen what they did with live footage and historical evidence collected when they lost. Pure evil their politics. Luckily I had old people tell me their stories of the Nazis cruelty to remind why they must be shown no quarter.

[@monkberrymoon4042]

@@trevortaylor5501 Well, then, let's be a little precise in our definitions. Japan was a semi-authoritarian state (they still had a functioning parliamentary system) that was ruled by a military junta. Without the corporatism of fascist Italy. It wasn't really a fascist country. I mean, unless you wanna define fascist as "anything I don't like."

[@trevortaylor5501]

@@monkberrymoon4042 Your defending fascism, crazy.

[@monkberrymoon4042]

@@trevortaylor5501 You might want to start reading what you reply to.

[@briansmith9439]

Fair and equitable? Like the treatment of POWs held by Japan during the war? Or the respect for human rights displayed by Japan during the war? And don't forget - Japan lost the war. That they continue to exist at all is more than fair and equitable.

[@juliusraben3526]

Remember the backfire of the versaille treaty? Try again :)

[@ab9840]

@@juliusraben3526 - Japan could have been divided into three part with Hokkaido become an Ainu republic. Problem solved.

[@juliusraben3526]

@@ab9840 hmmm yes, BUT, that not what Brian said or what i was refering to

[@legokingtm9462]

@@juliusraben3526 Lol you cant compare small islands with a treaty that rekt the German economy.

[@juliusraben3526]

@@legokingtm9462 i can and i didnt Edit: what did brian say, what was my reply and what did i say about those islands?? Im curious if you can read or understand whats written

[@alexd9735]

Hugely overlooked on the west is the significance of Soviet war declaration on Japan. Atomic bombs did not prompt the Japan to surrender and narrative about millions of life's saved (both Japanese and Americans) due to Japan would fight to the death, is established only after the consequences of this de facto war crime, where becoming clear in early '50s. It is a narrative sold to western audiences to justify war crime. Real reason for Japan surrendering is Soviet declaration of war. Ambassador of Japan in Moscow tried to negotiate with Soviets and was rejected. As soon as the news hit Japan, they surrendered next day. Lot of sources on the net , look it up. Probably the biggest myth of WW2

[@impaugjuldivmax]

same myths as 'allies won the war' while 80% of germans were crashed down on the east. it is all about politics

[@StalinTheMan0fSteel]

That's the Russian version, there was s naval blockage in place several Months before the surrender (Operation Starvation), Japan was finished. The Imperial Army in Manchukuo had always acted independent of Tokyo. In Japan proper, they had thousands of fighter aircraft but no fuel or skilled pilots. People were starving. It was the end. As far as war crimes, every major nation that fought in that war was guilty.

[@impaugjuldivmax]

@@StalinTheMan0fSteel blockade does not mean defeat. such blockade can lasts for decades

[@alexd9735]

@@impaugjuldivmax exactly ...D-day, from the sole "body count" perspective, would be considered as mild ordinary skirmish if it happened anywhere on the eastern front. Not downplaying strategic importance, it was hugely important although very late.

[@alexd9735]

@@StalinTheMan0fSteel True about all sides making war crimes although you simply can not find anything on this scale. To deliberately kill several hundreds thousand civilians, knowing there is no any major military target to be hit, its definition of psychopathy. Once they understood that it will be hard sell to domestic audience, they came up with narrative that is today thought in every western school. If you ask today what made Japan surrender, 9 out of 10 will be inline with this narrative, justifying nukes. It a lie in Russian or any version you like. Its also giving interesting insight on how to shape public opinion. Perhaps in 50 years from now, children will be thought that WMD was found in Iraq and that Sadam was 'this close' to nuke NY. So yes, there was few millions victims, but hey, it was necessary, sleep tight and don't worry.

[@peterwa6567]

just remember, Russian will never returned to the Japanese those inlands, maybe 2 little one

[@theprincipalityofstopmotio2146]

I would like to see Japan reclaiming those northern territories, and the rest of the islands become an independent Ainu state.

[@J__C_]

🇯🇵♥️🇰🇷♥️🇹🇼

[@nevitogladito9307]

Get French and Indian war

[@valentinstoyanov304]

Using unsettled territorial issues as "diplomatic leverages" is a typical approach in the Russian foreign policy. South Ossetia, Abkhasia, Transnisstria, Donetsk, Lugansk etc. are just some of the examples.

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

"The way Japan had tried to build up a modern state modelled on the West was cataclysmic" - Kenzaburo Oe