Battle of Lake Khasan - Opening Moves*
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Date: 31st of July, 1938*
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Location: Zaozyornaya and Bezimyennaya Hills (Changkufeng and Shachaofeng), near Lake Khasan, Soviet-Korean border*
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Type: Japanese night assault vs. Soviet defend*
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When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7th December, 1941, it was not after a major change in the directions of expansion devised by Empire of Japan. Widely unbeknownst, the original Japanese global objective was the control of eastern Siberia and its rich natural resources the Home Islands were missing. Thus, Japanese and Soviets clashed several times during the '30s, testing each others might and resolve. These incidents - barely noticeable at first - developed into two major battles in the history of Asia, namely Battle of Lake Khasan in 1938 and Battle of Khalkyn-Gol in 1939.
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Lake Khasan is a small lake located just near the Tumen river, that is considered today as undisputed and natural border between Russia and North Korea. Back then, after numerous border changes due to events occuring in Russia, China and Korea, these borders were rarely officially accepted or regulated. Just north of Tumen River, the number of hills stood, covering the Khasan Lake, the most important ones being Zaorzyornaya - or Changkufeng, Bezimyennaya - or Shachaofeng, and Podyozornaya. Technically speaking, those hills were part of Soviet territory. Yet, if a good spoter was deployed on one of those hills, he could observe and record military nad civilian movement around the port of Rason (or Rajin) that was a major centre of Japanese interests.
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Shortly before the incident, Soviet NKVD General Genrikh Lyushkov defected to Japan. In his testimony, he informed the Japanese officers of poor state of Soviet Far East forces, as well as he provided a most valuable information - that thousands of good quality commanders were purged a year before and Soviet army is basically headless. Under these circumstances, Japanese decided to escalate.
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In the middle of July 1938, Soviet Border Guards moved in and occupied hills around Lake Khasan. Japanese border patrols - on the other hand - regularly crossed the Tumen river and exchanged fire. Finally, when the approval from Tokyo came, the local 19th Infantry Division, commanded by ambitious General Suetaka Kamezo, was given free hand at expulsing the Soviets. General Kamezo ordered this to the commander of 75th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Kotoku Sato. His regiment was to take the hills and the rest of the division would follow and dug-in, awaiting Soviet response.
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Colonel Sato executed the order during the night of 31st July 1938. Japanese troops crossed the river blindly, without lights. There was no artillery support in order to maximize the effects of surprise. Soldiers were ordered to advance without bullets in their rifles. This was first example of tactics Japanese troops would be known of and feared during the World War 2 - quick, sudden night and bayonet attacks.
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Japanese advanced from several directions and took Soviets by surprise. After bitter fighting, Soviet forces were decimated and forced to flee in disarray. When the dawn came, Japanese stood victorious over the Bezimyennaya and Zeozyornaya hills and watched the sun reflections on Lake Khasan.
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A day later, Soviet Fieldmarshal Vasily Blutcher was ordered to take command over Soviet Far East forces, garther, regroup and reaquire lost positions. After a week time, Soviets had more than 20000 troops in the area and about 350 tanks and hundreds of artillery pieces, not forgetting a quarter thousand aircraft. Against them stood partially deployed 19th Division with about 6000 men, 50 guns and ho air support.
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But for now, this scenario depicts opening moves only. Advance close to the Soviets, get them agressively and secure both hills. We expect Soviet troops to be a weak battalion strength.
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When playing against the AI, Player should take Japanese side.
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Design: Marcin "SaS TrooP" Kaluza*
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Sources: Various internet sources, as well as Because We Were Japanese Soldiers: The Failure of Japanese Tactics at Changkufeng
and Nomonhan and Lessons Left Unlearned" by Ryan Schulz