could russia have defeated japan in ww2 without americas help?

Answer 1

They would have taken any mainland territory away from Japan fairly easily. But the Japanese had much, much larger Navy and would have been able to prevent an invasion of the home islands fairly easily. Then eventually the Russians would have been spending just as much effort holding onto their asian territories with all the internal fighting and open revolts. If you assume an indefinite period of time, eventually the Russian navy would have grown and then they would have posed a serious risk to Japan. But by that point the Japanese would likely have finally learned armored warfare and the USSR ground advantage would have been lost. So in the end, likely a very bloody stalemate.

Answer 2

The USSR probably couldn't have defeated Germany or Japan without American help. Although the Soviets pushed back the Nazis, they would have had a much more difficult time stopping the Germans if it hadn't been for American and British pressure against Germany. Without the constant strategic bombing and other theaters of war, Germany probably would have conquered Russia - at least the main populated parts.

The USSR held back a tremendous number of troops that they could have used against Germany because they were afraid Japan was going to attempt to invade. It was literally at the last minutes - when the Nazi's were only a matter of miles away from Moscow - that they were sure the Japanese weren't going to attack the USSR and were able to push back the Germans with their troops.

It wasn't until Germany had fallen and the United States had already dropped one atomic bomb on Japan that the USSR even declared war on Japan. They declared war on August 8, 1945 and played a big part in Japan's decision to surrender.

If the Soviet Union hadn't been attacked by Germany and Japan hadn't been at war with the United States, it's unlikely that the Soviet Union would have been able to defeat Japan on their own. The Japanese had the most powerful navy in the world, and the Soviet Union would likely have never been able to defeat Japan. On the other hand, Japan probably would never have been able to defeat the Soviet Union either.

If you are interested in seeing how Japan and Russia would match up, the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War was a war fought between Russia (pre-communist) and Japan. The Japanese soundly defeated the Russian Navy, and most of the losses the Japanese suffered were because of outdated infantry tactics. By WW2, Japan had developed far better tactics.

Edit - Although Russia and Japan are close to each other and Russia has far more soldiers, Japan is an island and has a very strong navy. It's unlikely that the Soviet Union would be able to land any significantly sized invasion force on the Japanese Mainlands, and it's extremely unlikely that they would be able to hold any land they did take against the fanatical Japanese.

Amphibious invasions are very difficult - American amphibious invasions against Iwo Jima and Okinawa were extremely costly, and the American forces had naval and air superiority - something that the Soviets would probably not be able to get.

Answer 3

The Red Army won its first engagement against Japan in 1937 near the Russian-Manchurian border. The Red Army showed its superiority even then.

Japan fought a series of border skirmishes with the USSR in Manchuria culminating in the battle of Nomonhan, a decisive defeat for the Japan's Kwantung Army.

This engagement was decisive in Japanese military strategic planning because it ended the hopes of the "Strike North: faction urging Japanese expansion into Northeast Siberian/Manchuria. Instead the "Strike South" faction prevailed, and Pearl Harbor signaled Japan's move into Southeast Asia.

It is doubtful that Russia could have succeeded in invading the home islands of Japan, lacking both military requisites, a marine landing force and a blue water navy. It most certainly could have driven Japan out of mainland Asia.

Answer 4

Defeating Japan required fighting across the entire Pacific ocean, Indonesia and SE Asia...almost all the way west to India. That required a naval force far greater than anything the Russians had, plus all the land resources. There was no way for any one country to have defeated Japan.

In addition, it would have been impossible for Russia to fight ably in both the Pacific and on the Eastern Front and maintain all of their positions throughout the borders with the lands of the Middle East and China.

It may be a vast country, but its resources aren't vast enough to do all of that. It was a "world war" because it literally took the whole world to bring the situation back under control.

Answer 5

Russia only declared war on Japan near the end of the conflict. Check your history books. They entered the Pacific theatre only after the Japanese were well on their way to being defeated.

Answer 6

Probably not. Russia would have faced a two-front war with two better equipped and led armies. Resources that th Soviets were able to husband while they reorganized would likely have been used up before they could mount an effective defence against two invading armies.

Answer 7

Only if Germany had already been defeated. With Russia's close proximity and sheer size/population versus japan, i feel Russia would overwhelm the Japanese main islands with a continuous onslaught of attacks through conventional warfare.

Answer 8

Probably. As it was they went through Manchuria in '45 like **** through a goose, in Patton's immortal phrase

Answer 9

Japan surrendered before the Russians entered the war. The Russians claimed, or tried to claim the Northern islands of Japan as a victory.

Answer 10

NO. It was the U.S. Navy and Air Force that defeated Japan. Russia had neither a world class air force or navy. They also had questionable nuclear/atomic ability. The US had the nuclear ability and used it. Without that there might be sushi in Moscow !