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

(Continuation of Colonel S.Ganbold’s interview “The contribution our Mongolia made to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War”) Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During the War of Liberation, thousands of Mongolian soldiers dedicated their lives to fight for the independence and wellbeing of the People’s Republic of China, and sanguinary combats took place near the Janchkhuu Davaa (Zhangjiakou). The highest government awards, orders and medals were conferred on soldiers and officers for their feats during the 1945 liberation war. Heroes of the MPR L.Ayush, D.Danzanvaanchig and S.Dampil and others were distinguished among their compatriots. Colonel S.Ganbold concluded that by involving the Mongolian People’s Army in this war side by side with the allied powers, not only liberated Inner Mongolia from Japanese occupation, but strengthened the freedom and independence of the country, and demonstrated that Mongolia is a legal nation in international relations. The threat of Mongolian forces seizing parts of Inner Mongolia induced the Republic of China to recognize Outer Mongolia’s independence, provided that a referendum was held. The referendum took place on October 20, 1945 with 100 per cent of the electorate voting for independence. The Chinese Kuomintang Government, which had long been considering Mongolia as a part of China, had to recognize the independence of the Mongolian People’s Republic and on February 13, 1946, signed the protocol to establish diplomatic relations. In 1949, only three years later, the People’s Revolution of China led to establishment of the People’s Republic of China. This created favorable external conditions for strengthening independence of the Mongolian People’s Republic (MPR). The everlasting significance of the Great Victory over international barbaric forces lies in the fact that it greatly influenced the entire course of world development. It ushered in a new epoch in people’s national and social liberation. In this context, lessons of the Second World War are particularly topical and significant.