Nomonhan: Japanese-Soviet Tactical Combat, 1939 (Leavenworth Papers, Number 2)

Abstract

Before World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) developed an offensive tactical doctrine designed to allow its infantry forces to fight successfully against a superior foe, the Soviet Union. A battle test of that doctrine's effectiveness occurred from June through August 1939 along the Outer Mongolian-Manchurian border, This essay follows the daily combat operations of the lJA's 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, for a two-month period. During that time, the 2/28th Infantry was in constant contact with Soviet combined arms forces. In July the battalion participated in offensive operations against Soviet units commanded by General Georgi K. Zhukov. When Japanese tactical doctrine failed against a Soviet combined arms force, the Japanese went on the defensive. Japanese officers, however, regarded defensive doctrine as transitional in nature and adopted it only to gain time to prepare for a counterattack. Defensive doctrine dictated that terrain be held until the resumption of offensive operations that would destroy the enemy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA322749

Entities

People

  • Edward J. Drea

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Anti-Tank Weapons
  • Army
  • Artillery
  • Artillery Fire
  • Attrition
  • Combat Operations
  • Doctrine
  • Far East
  • Grenade Launchers
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Small Arms
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies