WW2 Question....?

Question

Should Japan launched an attack against Russia the same time as Germany?Or if not at least shortly after...
Russian reserves posted in Eastern Russia were used after Russia felt Japan wouldn't launch an attack.

Answer 1

They tried a couple of times before attacking the US, but got there butts handed to them....they ended up signing a non-aggression treaty because they felt they couldn't take on the 2 fronts at the same time....plus it freed up resources to take most of SE Asia.

Answer 2

A Japanese attack on the Soviets would have helped Germany by forcing the Soviets to fight on two fronts...but did Japan have the capability for such an endeavor? Again the bulk of the Imperial Japanese Army were already bogged down in China, so I doubt they would have more than a few reserve divisions which would be available for an invasion of Siberia. The Imperial Navy and the Air Forces would not be of much use against the Soviets...since the Soviet Pacific Fleet was non-existant and the Air Forces cannot guarantee victory on the ground. And yes the Imperial Army's tanks and equipment was of no match for the Soviet forces...

So basically while the Japanese could have helped destroy Russia...they cannot get involved against the USA and Britain at the same time. Maybe if the Axis were more concerted in their efforts maybe a different outcome would have been reached...fortunately we will never know.

Answer 3

One of the reasons Japan did not launch an attack against Russia is that during the Japan-Russo War, Japan basically got its butt kicked. Also, Japan knew of the reserves in SIberia and most of the Japanese Army was bogged down with issues in China. It could not afford a new land front.
In fact, this was one of Hitler's fatal mistakes. Germany declared war on the United States believing Japn in turn would declare war on the Soviets. It never happened.
Theoretically, if Japan had declared war on the Soviets and launched an attack, I personally feel it would have only benefitted the Soviets. The Soviets would have rolled over the Japanese and their inferior equipment. The Germans still made the ill fated mistake of not pressing to Moscow as fast as possible and turned south to Kiev, and under equipping its armies for the harsh winter.

Answer 4

Or better yet...The Germans should have committed more troops to North Africa instead of operation Barbarossa. If they would have waited couple years they may have been able to attack the Soviet Union from the south from more resource rich regions.

Your Japanese attack may have worked but I think the Japanese were being held down in China fighting. But just like the Germans fighting on several fronts, I think in the end with the Japanese in Russia they would have run out of men and resources and would have been defeated by the Americans that much faster.

Although if they could have defeated the Soviet Union fast then both German and Japan could have concentrated the on the United States.

When the Soviet Union battled the Japanese in 1939 and 1945 the Japanese were easily pushed back by Soviet forces.

Answer 5

I don't think Japan had the capability to conduct a massive offensive against the Russians in manchuria or siberia. They wouldn't have had the manpower or transport. True, the Russians might have been tied down with Germany, but I think japan might have only seized non strategic areas.

Answer 6

Japan really wasn't into helping Nazi Germany achieve its goals. Japan was part of the Axis powers mainly so it could further its imperialistic goals. Japan was more into taking over small defenseless islands than wrestling with the Bear. Plus, I think Japan was already anticipating Pearl Harbor and really didn't want to have to fight with America and Russia.

Answer 7

there is nothing in Russia Japan wanted. They would have been attacking through a desert into Siberia.

Answer 8

Er, Japan never attacked Germany. They were allies in WWII.