Page 153 - The Chief Culprit

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Blitzkrieg in Poland and Mongolia

It was the Russians who first put forward the idea of amassing mobile units.
—C G F. H, C  G S 
G L A

n August 1939, on the river Khalkhin-Gol in Mongolia, aside from a crushing blow
there were other possible choices for action. Soviet troops could have, for example, taken
Idefensive positions and postponed the prepared attack. Aggression is always risky. In the
event of Soviet success, Japan would receive a lesson to last for years to come. In the event
of failure, the entire world would talk of Stalin’s army purges and accuse him of making the
army unfit for fighting. In the event of failure, Zhukov could be executed, but his blood
would not wash away the military’s disgrace.
On Saturday, August 19, 1939, Stalin sent to Zhukov only one code word: “Good.” A
few hours later, Zhukov delivered the blow. In Moscow, that historical day, August 19, had
just ended, but in Mongolia the sun was already rising over a new day. At 5:45 , 153 Soviet
bombers, under the cover of a corresponding number of fighters, carried out a surprise raid
over Japanese air bases and command posts. Artillery joined in immediately. e artillery
softening-up was short (2 hours, 45 minutes), but unbelievably intense and powerful. During
the course of the artillery action, Soviet aviation carried out a second raid, and at 9:00 
tank units broke through Japanese defenses. Zhukov’s plan was simple. He conducted a clas-
sic operation of encirclement. Zhukov had a relatively weak center and two powerful flank
groups. e center only holds the enemy, while the strike groups at the flanks do not enter
into prolonged battles but go around the main centers of resistance, and determinedly head
forward. On August 23, the fourth day of the attack, the circle drawn around Japanese troops
was tightened, and the rout began.
1
e operation on the Khalkhin-Gol was brilliant in planning and in execution. Zhukov
took a lot of risks, but they were justified. Zhukov ordered the air bases moved as close to the
front lines as possible. is allowed airplanes to carry less fuel and more bombs. e intensity

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