p Right al’ter the defeat of the Japanese forces at Lake Khasan in August 1938, Tokyo decided to launch a wellprepared invasion of some Eastern regions of the Mongolian People’s Republic in the spring of 1939.^^146^^ Early in May, the Japanese General Staff received the Emperor’s order to undertake military operations against the Mongolian People’s Republic in the area of the Khalkhin-Gol Riv- er. ^^147^^ Soon afterwards, the first few Japanese army contingents invaded Mongolian territory, but were thrown back.

p The Soviet government came out in support of the Mongolian People’s Republic. On May 19, V. M. Molotov having summoned Japanese Ambassador Shigcmitsu made a serious warning to him. He reminded him of the SovietMongolian pact of mutual assistance. ^^148^^ Speaking at a session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 31, 1939, Molotov declared: "We shall defend the border of the 253 Mongolian People’s Republic—in virtue of the Treaty of Mutual Assistance wo have concluded—witli as much determination as we would our own border.”^^149^^

p It soon became obvious that the Japanese intended to seize a slice of Mongolian territory. Tlie Soviet Union lost no time in coming to the aid of its ally. A big Soviet army contingent was sent to the Mongolian People’s Republic. Hitler fighting went on between the Soviel-Mongolian and Japanese troops for several months. One idea of the scale of that fighting is provided by the fact that the Japanese Air Force lost 646 planes in air battles and on the airfields from May to September.^^150^^ Within two months, July and August 1939, the enemy lost 18,868 officers and men killed and 25,900 wounded.^^151^^

p Having launched a full-scale counter-offensive on August 20, the Soviet Armed forces, in co-operation with the Mongolian troops, dealt a devastating blow at the aggressors. Hy the end of August the whole of Mongolian territory had been cleared from Japanese and Manchurian invaders. The USSR demonstrated its loyalty to its allied commitments.

p The defeat of the Japanese and Manchurian troops on the Khalkhin-Gol River did not, however, signify the end of the armed conflict. The Japanese aggressors did not want to resign themselves to the defeat and to cease military operations. The Japanese government decided that in the event of war between the USSR and Germany, Japan would be prepared to take part automatically in it.^^152^^

The Soviet government was informed of that decision. So the situation on the Soviet Far Eastern frontiers remained extremely tense. The USSR was faced by a grave danger of war breaking out both on its Western and Eastern borders.