ACROSS THE GOBI AND KHYANGAN FOR THE COMMON CAUSE OF VICTORY (CONTINUATION)

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In order to enter the war against Japan, the Soviet Union created a high military command in the Far East by transferring a great amount of military forces to the Far East from its fronts in Europe. This included 1.5 million people, 5,500 tanks, 3,800 bombers, 80 divisions with 26 thousand artillery weapons and mortars, four crops and 30 special brigades. The command was officially approved on July 30, 1945 and Marshal of the Soviet Union A.N.Valilevsky was appointed its commander. Also, a Mongolian and Soviet mechanized horse group consisting of 43,000 cavalries, including 21,384 Mongolian soldiers was established under leadership of General-Colonel I.A.Pliyev. Thus, guided by the earnest desire to accelerate the defeat of Japanese militarism, the Soviet Union officially declared war against Japan on August 9, 1945, and by MPR the next day. Judging from the special appeal by the MPR Government to the people of Inner Mongolia, and the address of Marshal Kh.Choibalsan to the personnel of the Mongolian People’s Army, the country put forward its main political purpose in this war to strengthen the state’s independence and become a sovereign and unified family of Mongolian nationalities. Having taken an active part with the Red Army in the battle against the Kwantung Army, the Mongolian People’s Army made a tangible contribution to defeat the land forces of Japan. The cavalry divisions of the Mongolian People’s Army went to attack Doloonnuur and Jehe and travelled in average of 60-90 km a day overcoming harsh natural and weather conditions. They occupied Doloonnuur on August 16, and Jehe on 19, Gubeikau city and variety of Japanese garrisons on the 21st and finished their marches on August 22 approaching to Miyun city near Beijing. They army units marched in the direction of Khaalgan, travelled 500 km, and fought Japanese troops defending forcefled places at the Janchakau Mountain pass near Chuulalt Khaalgan city on August 19-21 and captured them. Thus, in September 1945, WWII ended with Japan signing at Act of unconditional surrender. (to be continued)