Liberation of southern Sakhalin 1945. Sakhalin Regional Children's Library. The progress of the Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation

The Berlin operation in 1945 After the end of the Vistula-Oder operation, the Soviet Union and Germany began preparations for the Battle of Berlin as the decisive battle on the Oder, as the culmination of the war. By mid-April, the Germans had concentrated 1 million

Balaton defensive operation 1945

Berlin operation 1945

Introduction

The progress of the Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation

Consequences of military operations in 1945 on Sakhalin

Conclusion

Introduction

Every year Sakhalin and Kuril residents, since 1945, celebrate September 2, a holiday that has been called differently. Some - the holiday of Victory over Japan, others - the Day of Liberation of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands from the Japanese militarists. In 2010, it was declared the Day of the end of World War II (Federal Law of 23.07.2010 No. 170-FZ "On Amendments to the Federal Law" On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia ").

The years go by. More than 65 years have passed since the last volleys of the Great Patriotic War died down. But the unparalleled feat of the glorious sons of the Fatherland lives and will live in our hearts. The Victory salute on Red Square, which fizzled out on May 9, 1945, marked the end of the war in the European part of the country. But in the east, the hot summer of 1945 was just beginning. Ahead was a war with Japan. And no matter how secret it was, rumors circulated among the soldiers about the upcoming war with Japan. The soldiers asked questions: "When will we start?" The answer was: "When there will be an order." Since May 1945, echelons with troops and military equipment rushed east one after another along the Trans-Siberian Railway day and night.

On August 1945, the Soviet government announced: "Consider the USSR in a state of war with Japan." On August 9, 1945, the Sakhalin region from a distant rear turned into a front-line area. Many participants in the battles in the west, not having time to visit home, began to smash the militarist Kwantung Army on the move. The fighting for the liberation of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands was carried out by units of the 2nd Far Eastern Front under the command of Army General Purkaev M.A. and the personnel of the ships of the Northern Pacific Flotilla under the command of Vice-Admiral V.A.

Despite the fact that more than 65 years have passed since the end of hostilities on the island's territory, Sakhalin residents still remember the events that took place in 1945, and some villages in the region bear the names of the heroes who died for the liberation of Sakhalin. In Leonidovo there is a memorial complex in which L.V. was buried. Smirnykh, A.E. Buyukly and another 370 dead Soviet soldiers.

1. The course of the Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation

South Sakhalin operation

On February 11, 1945, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill signed an agreement in Yalta on the conditions for the USSR's entry into the war with Japan. Among them are the return of South Sakhalin to the USSR and the transfer of the Kuril Islands. On August 8, the USSR declared war on Japan. From 11 to 25 August there were battles for the liberation of South Sakhalin. From August 18 to September 1 - the liberation of the Kuril Islands.

On August 10, the commander-in-chief of Soviet troops in the Far East, Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky ordered the 16th Army and the Northern Pacific Flotilla to begin the Yuzhno-Sakhalin offensive operation in the morning of the next day and capture South Sakhalin by August 25.

The plan of the Soviet command during the planning of the Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation was to break through the defenses of the Koton fortified area with the forces of the 56th rifle corps and, rapidly advancing south along the eastern coast of the island, interacting with a small landing in Esutoro and with a large landing in Maoka (Kholmsk ), destroy the enemy's Sakhalin grouping, liberate South Sakhalin from the Japanese invaders.

The South Sakhalin operation 1945, the offensive operation of the Soviet troops on August 11-25 to liberate South Sakhalin during World War II 1939-45. Conducted by the troops of the 56th Rifle Corps of the 16th Army of the 2nd Far Eastern Front (commander - General of the Army M.A. . Yumashev). On South Sakhalin, the troops of the 88th Japanese Infantry Division, parts of the border gendarmerie and detachments of reservists defended themselves. Long-term defensive structures were built on the island. The center of defense was the Koton fortified area. The offensive began on 11 August and was supported by two air divisions. By the end of August 18, Soviet troops captured all the heavily fortified strongholds in the border zone. On August 16, amphibious assault forces landed on the western coast near Toro (now Shakhtersk). In the period from August 19-25, in the ports of Maoka (now Kholmsk) and Otomari (now Korsakov), naval (in Otomari, in addition to air) landings were landed. On August 25, the administrative center of Southern Sakhalin - the city of Toyekhara (now Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) was occupied. 18,320 Japanese soldiers and officers surrendered. The southern part of Sakhalin, torn away from Russia as a result of the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905, was returned to the USSR.

The land border between the USSR and Japan on Sakhalin (140 km long) was defended by the Japanese 125th Infantry Regiment and the artillery battalion attached to it. In the middle part of the border (valley of the Poronai River) there was a Japanese Kharamitogsky (Kotonsky) fortified area, 12 km long along the front, which had 17 bunkers and more than 100 bunkers. The other two infantry regiments and artillery from the Japanese 88th Division were located on the southern tip of Sakhalin.

The command of the Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front (General of the Army Purkaev) allocated the 56th Rifle Corps (Major General Dyakonov) to capture South Sakhalin, as part of the 79th Rifle Division, 214th Tank Brigade, two separate tank battalions, two artillery regiments of the RGK, with the support of the 255th Aviation Division. The corps was based in the Soviet part of Sakhalin, near the land border. The Soviet 56th corps went on the offensive at 10 a.m. on August 11, 1945, with the task of breaking through the Japanese fortified area and capturing the city of Shikuka no later than August 12 (at the mouth of the Poronai River, 90 km south of the border, now Poronaysk). (TsAMO RF, fund 238, inventory 170250, case 1, sheet 217).

By the end of August 13, units of the 56th corps were able to overcome the forefront of the Japanese fortified area and came close to its main strip. An attempt by the Soviet 214th Tank Brigade to break through the Japanese defenses on the move was unsuccessful. On August 14 and 15, the Soviet 56th corps was preparing to break through the Japanese fortified area, divisional artillery and artillery regiments of the RGK, as well as the 2nd rifle brigade (from the reserve of the Soviet 16th army), were pulled up.

Due to the delay of the Soviet 56th corps in the battles to overcome the Japanese fortified area, the command of the 2nd Far Eastern Front ordered to land amphibious assault forces on the western coast of South Sakhalin only on August 15 (while the command of the Pacific Fleet insisted on the landing of this landing from August 11 ). For the landing, the 365th Marine battalion and one battalion of the 113th Infantry Brigade (from the Sovgavan naval base) were allocated.

August, these forces landed in the port of Toro (100 km south of the border, now - Shakhtersk). There were no Japanese troops in this area (only a few dozen reservists who surrendered to Soviet captivity without a fight), and the next day the paratroopers freely occupied several Japanese villages, as well as the neighboring port of Esutora (now Uglegorsk). However, due to inconsistencies between the landing force and the aviation, the Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft struck the Soviet landing force, inflicting losses on it.

August, a Soviet amphibious assault was landed at the port of Maoka (now Kholmsk) in the south-west of Sakhalin. The composition of the landing - the combined battalion of the marines and the 113th rifle brigade (without one battalion). In the Maoka area, there were two battalions of the Japanese 25th Infantry Regiment (88th Infantry Division). The landing forces, with the support of Soviet aviation, fought against the Japanese regiment until the end of August 23 (these were the last battles on South Sakhalin). The losses of the 113th brigade in these battles amounted to 219 people killed and 680 wounded. On August 22, a mobile detachment of the Soviet 56th corps without a fight occupied Shiritori (now Makarov), 70 km south of Sikuk (Poronaysk), on the eastern coast of Sakhalin. Part of the forces of the mobile group proceeded further south and on August 25, 1945, units of the 79th Infantry Division without a fight occupied the administrative center of Karafuto (Southern Sakhalin) - Toyokhara (now Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk).

On the same day, August 25, the Soviet amphibious assault (three combined battalions of the marines) and part of the forces of the 113th rifle brigade (which passed overland from Maok) occupied the port of Otomari (now Korsakov), in the south of Sakhalin, without a fight. Thus, the seizure of South Sakhalin was completely completed.

The assault on the Koton fortification was a decisive event for the outcome of the entire South Sakhalin operation.

Early in the morning of August 11, Soviet troops crossed the state border at the 50th parallel. Attacking in the first echelon, the 79th Rifle Division under the command of Major General I.P. Baturov immediately met stubborn resistance. Its forward detachment - a battalion commanded by Captain G.G. Svetetskiy - tried to seize a large stronghold of Khandas on the move, but, having no artillery and tanks, was forced to go over to the defensive. A stubborn battle ensued. By August 12, when the Khandas stronghold was surrounded and his fate was a foregone conclusion, the Soviet command offered the Japanese surrender. But the Japanese garrison rejected this proposal. It was destroyed by artillery strikes from the front and rear in half an hour.

The rest of the enemy strongholds were also blocked, but each of them had to be taken with a fight. Retreating, the Japanese blew up bridges, made ditches and blockages on the roads.

The battle on the heights went on for a week. Assault groups, tanks and artillery smashed the Japanese bunkers and bunkers one after another. Only in the evening of August 19, the remnants of the Japanese garrison (more than 3 thousand soldiers and officers), having laid down their arms, began to surrender.

Amphibious assault forces in the ports of Southern Sakhalin secured the western flank of the 56th Rifle Corps, which was advancing on Toyohara, and prevented the evacuation of Japanese troops to Hokkaido and the removal of material values. The main role in this was assigned to the ships and units of the marines of the Northern Pacific Flotilla, based in the port of Sovetskaya Gavan.

August, the first landing, numbering up to one and a half thousand people, landed in the port of Toro (Shakhtersk). The fighting in the Toro area and in the vicinity of the neighboring town of Esutora (Uglegorsk) lasted almost two days, so stubborn was the resistance of the units of local reservists. On August 18, the small landing operation at Esutora was completed.

August, the second landing of the unit of the 113th separate rifle brigade landed in the port of Maoka (Kholmsk), breaking the desperate resistance of the Japanese. In the next two days, there were battles at Kamyshovy Pass and for railway stations on the Toyohara-Maoka line. An airborne assault was launched at the Konotoro airfield (Kostromskoye). On August 24, Soviet ships with a landing party on board entered the port of Honto (Nevelsk), whose residents greeted them with white flags. In the evening of the next day, the paratroopers were already in the port of Otomari (Korsakov). A group of Japanese led by the mayor came out to meet them, announcing the surrender of the garrison.

In the evening of August 24, 1945, the advance detachment of paratroopers of the 113th separate rifle brigade under the command of Lieutenant Colonel M.N. Tetyushkin entered the city of Toyohara from the Kamyshovy Pass. At this time, the combat units of the 56th Rifle Corps, overcoming the resistance of the Japanese troops defending the Coton fortified area, advanced from the north of the 50th parallel. On August 25, the forward units of the corps entered the administrative center of South Sakhalin - the city of Toyohara. The Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation, carried out by the troops of the 2nd Far Eastern Front and the formations of the ships of the Pacific Fleet, ended.

2. Consequences of hostilities in 1945 on Sakhalin

1945-1946 numerous armed gangs operated on the territory of southern Sakhalin. At the time of their elimination, a huge amount of weapons was seized, and sabotage, terrorist and espionage groups were also eliminated. Work was underway to identify former soldiers, officers of the Japanese army and police officers who lived in an illegal situation, hiding in the taiga. The militiamen, together with the state security officers, managed to carry out a number of successful operational-search measures and find warehouses with weapons and ammunition, military-technical bases created by the Japanese after the surrender.

From large-scale operations of combing forests, they moved on to separate, well-prepared ones, which were carried out, as a rule, by small units. Particular attention was paid to an active night search, setting ambushes and secrets along the paths of the possible movement of gangs. In 1946, 13 armed gangs (60 people) were liquidated, consisting of former Japanese military personnel and members of paramilitary formations (Boetai units), which represented a serious danger. 18 robbery armed groups (72 people) were opened and liquidated, of which 43 were military personnel. In addition to eliminating gangs and predatory groups, the joint actions of the police and state security officers in South Sakhalin eliminated a Japanese sabotage group of 10 reservists, led by the former deputy chief of staff of the Japanese armed forces on Karafuto, Lieutenant Colonel Chikushi Fujio. This detachment under the command of Captain Kitayama set fire to the central part of the city of Sikuk (Poronaysk), as a result, most of the city was destroyed by fire, and the losses were calculated in the amount of 6 million 699 thousand rubles. ...

Conclusion

As a result of the Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation, the troops of the 16th Army, in cooperation with the Northern Pacific Flotilla, defeated the enemy grouping on the island, captured 18320 soldiers and officers, and captured a lot of military equipment. Soviet soldiers fulfilled their duty to the Motherland, returned to it the primordially Russian land - South Sakhalin.

The liberation of the Kuril Islands lay ahead.

In total, 63,840 Japanese were taken prisoner in South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands (TsAMO RF, fund 234, inventory 68579, file 3, sheet 101). During the hostilities in South Sakhalin and on Shumshu island, up to a thousand Japanese soldiers and officers were killed , about two thousand Soviet servicemen died and went missing.

And so until 1945 Russia-USSR owned the northern part, and Japan owned the southern part of the island. The current capital of Sakhalin, the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, became a Japanese city for 40 years.

Since 1945, both Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have been an integral part of Russia, according to the Japanese surrender act (September 2, 1945) and the 1951 San Francisco Treaty.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk makes a good impression today. It is a city with elements of the Soviet past, such as a monument to Lenin in the center, but having, however, its own special face. And this face is Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. For Sakhalin, Chekhov is “our everything”. Young Anton Pavlovich came to Sakhalin and lived here for a long time, studying ... hard labor and hard labor.

For example, the exhibition of the traveler, researcher, archaeologist Mikhail Sherkovtsov called "The Last Warmth of Karafuto" is popular with Sakhalin residents. The exposition is based on unique Japanese stoves of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, brought by the collector from various parts of the Sakhalin Region. The exposition is complemented by household items with the help of which the inhabitants of Karafuto were heated in the first half of the 20th century: water heaters - yutampo, teapots and cups, sakezuki, etc. So the period of the Japanese stay on Sakhalin will not be forgotten soon.

List of used literature

1. Bagrov V. N. Victory on the islands / V. N. Bagrov; [ed. foreword A. N. Ryzhkov]. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Dalnevost. book publishing house. Sakhalin. department, 1985. - 110, p. : h.-b. ph.

Bolotnikov A.F. 50th parallel: memoirs / A.F.Bolotnikov. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: B. and., 2001 .-- 45, p. : ill., ph.

Vishnevsky N.V. Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands during the Second World War: a short encyclopedia. ref. / N. V. Vishnevsky; State archive Sakhalin. region ; Sakhalin. modern history documentation center. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2000 .-- 167 p. silt

Heroes of Fire Days: Participants in the liberation of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in August 1945 - Heroes of the Soviet Union: [book-album] / Ministry of Culture of Sakhalin. region ; GBUK "Sakhalin Region Museum of Local Lore"; [comp. N. V. Vishnevsky]. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Sakhalin. region type., 2011. - 66, p. : col. silt - Lit .: p. 64-65.

History of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands from ancient times to the beginning of the XXI century: textbook. manual for students of higher educational institutions of the region in the specialty "History" / [ed. number: M.S. Vysokov [and others]. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Sakhalin. book publishing house, 2008 .-- 711 p. : ill., ph.

D.A. Kuznetsov Organization of law enforcement and the fight against crime in South Sakhalin (1945-1950) // Russia and Asia-Pacific, 2009, No. 2, pp. 101-109

The last volleys of the Great War. Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in August 1945: photo album / Sakhalin Archive Agency. region ; Sakhalin Cultural Agency. region ; ed. text: K. E. Gaponenko, I. A. Samarin. - Vladivostok: Rubezh, 2010 .-- 239 p. : ph.

Ryzhkov A. N. Monuments and memorable places of the Sakhalin region / A. N. Ryzhkov; ed. A. I. Krushanova; Sakhalin. regional department of the All-Russian island of protection of monuments of history and culture. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Dalnevost. book publishing house Sakhalin branch, 1977, 78, p. : ill.

Ryzhkov A. N. Battles for the native islands: diaries, memories, meetings, letters, documents / A. N. Ryzhkov. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Dalnevost. book publishing house Sakhalin branch, 1980, 143, p. : ill. - Bibliography. in the note.

Samarin I. A. Monuments of military glory of the Sakhalin region / I. A. Samarin; Sakhalin Cultural Agency. region - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Lukomorye, 2010 .-- 183 p., Fol. color ph. : ph., maps.

Serdyuk PT So it was ... In the battles for South Sakhalin: from the experience of the party-political work of the 79th Sakhalin division to prepare and support the battles for the liberation of South Sakhalin / PT Serdyuk; Ministry of Culture Sakhalin. region ; GBUK "Sakhalin Region Museum of Local Lore"; [ed. introductory article, note. and comments. IA Samarin]. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Sakh. region type., 2011. - 146 s: col. ph.

The word of the liberators: memoirs of the participants in the battles for the liberation of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands / comp., Input. Art. and ref. material by A. N. Ryzhkov. - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Dalnevost. book publishing house, Sakhalin. department, 1985. - 123, p. : ill. - Words. renaming of settlements: p. 119-123,.

August 8, 1945 year, the USSR declared war on Japan. During this war, Soviet troops conducted the Manchurian, South Sakhalin, North Kuril and South Kuril operations. The Hokkaid operation was planned but not carried out.

Yuzhno-Sakhalin operation

South Sakhalin (in Japanese - Karafuto, territory - 36 thousand sq. Km, population - about 400 thousand people) was defended by the Japanese 88th Infantry Division (three infantry regiments and an artillery regiment). There were no Japanese tank, air and naval forces on southern Sakhalin by August 1945.

The land border between the USSR and Japan on Sakhalin (140 km long) was defended by the Japanese 125th Infantry Regiment and the artillery battalion attached to it. In the middle part of the border (the valley of the Poronai River) there was a Japanese Kharamitogsky (Kotonsky) fortified area, 12 km long along the front, which had 17 bunkers and more than 100 bunkers. The other two infantry regiments and artillery from the Japanese 88th Division were located on the southern tip of Sakhalin.

The command of the Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front (General of the Army Purkaev) allocated the 56th Rifle Corps (Major General Dyakonov) for the capture of South Sakhalin, as part of the 79th Rifle Division, 214th Tank Brigade, two separate tank battalions, two artillery regiments of the RGK, with the support of the 255th Aviation Division. The corps was based in the Soviet part of Sakhalin, near the land border.

The Soviet 56th corps went on the offensive at 10 a.m. August 11, 1945, having the task of breaking through the Japanese fortified area and, no later than August 12, capture the city of Sikuka (at the mouth of the Poronai River, 90 km south of the border, now Poronaysk). (TsAMO RF, fund 238, inventory 170250, case 1, sheet 217)

By the end of August 13, units of the 56th corps were able to overcome the forefront of the Japanese fortified area and came close to its main strip. An attempt by the Soviet 214th Tank Brigade to break through the Japanese defenses on the move was unsuccessful.

On August 14 and 15, the Soviet 56th corps was preparing to break through the Japanese fortified area, divisional artillery and artillery regiments of the RGK, as well as the 2nd rifle brigade (from the reserve of the Soviet 16th army), were pulled up.

On August 16, after a powerful artillery barrage, Soviet infantry (79th Rifle Division) and then tanks (214th Tank Brigade) were thrown into the attack on the Japanese fortified area. As a result, the Soviet troops managed to overcome the stubborn resistance of the Japanese 125th Infantry Regiment, which was defending the fortified area.

On August 19, after 9 days of fighting, Soviet troops finally captured the entire Japanese fortified area and occupied the city of Kiton (25 km south of the border, now Smirnykh). Losses of the 56th corps - 730 killed and 44 missing.

On August 20, units of the 56th corps (mobile detachment - the 214th tank brigade and units of the 79th rifle division, under the command of Major General Alimov) finally completed the immediate task assigned to the corps - they occupied the city of Sikuka (Poronaysk). 8 days later than the deadline established by the order.

Due to the delay of the Soviet 56th corps in the battles to overcome the Japanese fortified area, the command of the 2nd Far Eastern Front ordered to land amphibious assault forces on the western coast of South Sakhalin only on August 15 (while the command of the Pacific Fleet insisted on the landing of this landing from August 11 ). For the landing, the 365th Marine battalion and one battalion of the 113th Infantry Brigade (from the Sovgavan naval base) were allocated.

On August 16, these forces landed in the port of Toro (100 km south of the border, now Shakhtersk). There were no Japanese troops in this area (only a few dozen reservists who surrendered to Soviet captivity without a fight), and the next day the paratroopers freely occupied several Japanese villages, as well as the neighboring port of Esutora (now Uglegorsk). However, due to inconsistencies between the landing force and the aviation, the Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft struck the Soviet landing force, inflicting losses on it.

On August 20, a Soviet amphibious assault was landed at the port of Maoka (now Kholmsk) in the south-west of Sakhalin. The composition of the landing - the combined battalion of the marines and the 113th rifle brigade (without one battalion). In the Maoka area, there were two battalions of the Japanese 25th Infantry Regiment (88th Infantry Division). The landing forces, with the support of Soviet aviation, fought against the Japanese regiment until the end of August 23 (these were the last battles on South Sakhalin). The losses of the 113th brigade in these battles amounted to 219 people killed and 680 wounded.

On August 22, a mobile detachment of the Soviet 56th corps without a fight occupied Shiritori (now Makarov), 70 km south of Sikuk (Poronaysk), on the eastern coast of Sakhalin. Part of the forces of the mobile group proceeded further south and August 25, 1945 units of the 79th Rifle Division without a fight occupied the administrative center of Karafuto (South Sakhalin) - Toyohara (now Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk).

On the same day, August 25, the Soviet amphibious assault (three combined battalions of the marines) and part of the forces of the 113th rifle brigade (which passed overland from Maok) occupied the port of Otomari (now Korsakov), in the south of Sakhalin, without a fight. Thus, the seizure of South Sakhalin was completely completed.

As a result, on South Sakhalin, Soviet troops were taken prisoner. 18.320 soldiers and officers of the Japanese 88th Infantry Division. As trophies were taken 71 guns and mortars, 2.000 horses ( TsAMO RF, fund 328, inventory 1584, file 162, sheet 27).

North Kuril operation

On August 15, 1945 (at 4.30), the commander of the 2nd Far Eastern Front, General of the Army Purkaev, ordered the commander of the Kamchatka defensive region, Major General Gnechko, to prepare and conduct an operation to capture the islands of Shumshu, Paramushir, Onekotan (Northern Kuriles):

“Japan's surrender is expected. Taking advantage of the favorable environment, it is necessary to occupy the islands: Shumshu, Paramushir, Onekotan.

I personally entrust the operation to you. Your deputy is the commander of the PVMB Captain 1st Rank Ponomarev. Forces: two joint venture 101 RD, all ships and floating craft of the base, available ships of the merchant fleet and border troops, 128 hell. As a forward detachment to have: two or three companies of the marines at the expense of the base. Immediately start preparing the operation, watercraft, rifle troops for loading, for the formation of a detachment of marines, reinforcing the sailors with the division's submachine gunners. Prepare radio equipment to ensure reliable communication with me and with the Peter and Paul base on the approach and during the operation. "(TsAMO RF, fund 238, inventory 170250, file 1, sheet 188)

The North Kuril Islands in August 1945 were defended by the Japanese 91st Infantry Division (consisting of the 73rd and 74th Infantry Brigades), as well as the 11th Tank Regiment. One infantry brigade and most of the units of the tank regiment were stationed on Shumshu Island (the northernmost of the Kuril Islands), Most of the units of another infantry brigade and part of the tank regiment were on Paramushir Island (south of Shumshu). Several companies of the 91st Division were stationed on other North Kuril Islands.

The landing of the Soviet assault force on Shumshu Island began at 4.30 am on August 18, 1945. First, the advance detachment (Marine Corps battalion) landed, at 9.00 am the 1st landing echelon (138th Infantry Regiment), then the 2nd echelon (373rd rifle regiment). In total, the Soviet landing force included 8,824 people.

Shumshu Island was defended by the Japanese 73rd Infantry Brigade (91st Infantry Division) and the 11th Tank Regiment (60 light tanks) - a total of 8,480 people.

The Soviet landing force had an approximately two-fold advantage in artillery (including shipborne), overwhelming in aviation, in small arms (approximate equality in the number of rifles - 4630: 4805, absolute superiority in machine guns - 2383: 0, advantage in machine guns - 492: 312, significant the number of anti-tank rifles - 215); the Japanese have an absolute advantage in tanks (light).

The success of the Soviet landing was facilitated by the fact that the Japanese did not expect a landing from Kamchatka, on the eastern tip of Shumshu. Three Japanese artillery batteries were stationed there, but there were no minefields or barbed wire. The main part of the Japanese forces was concentrated on the western tip of Shumshu (in the area of ​​the Kataoka base), there were also minefields and barbed wire, set up by the Japanese in anticipation of the American landing.

At 5.05 a.m. on August 18, the advance detachment of the Soviet landing force landed on the eastern tip of Shumshu unnoticed by the Japanese (moreover, the trenches at the landing site were not occupied by the enemy), and by 9 a.m. they reached the slopes of height 171.2 in the central part of the island, where they met resistance Japanese, entrenched and began to prepare for further advance, waiting for the approach of the main landing force.

By 11.30 on the slopes of this height the first landing echelon (138th rifle regiment) entered, and by 13.00 - the 2nd landing echelon (373th rifle regiment). They landed under the flanking fire of the Japanese artillery (which noticed the landing ships at about 6 am), having suffered losses of personnel and weapons (in particular, almost all radio stations were lost).

“At 14.00 18.8.45, the enemy by force up to a battalion supported by 18 tanks and artillery fire from the area of ​​the south-western slopes of vys. 171.2 counterattacked our units. Despite the stubborn resistance of our units, the enemy managed to sufficiently press the forward units of the 1/138 joint venture and reach the front line of defense.

However, by decisive actions of tank destroyers and crews of AT rifles, timely focused on the direction of the enemy's counterattack, none of his tanks passed the battle formations of our infantry. Having made a premature turn to destroy our battle formations, enemy tanks exposed their sides to fire from our 45-mm guns and AT rifles. As a result, 17 tanks were knocked out and only one managed to escape to the eastern slopes of heights. 171.2.

In this battle with enemy tanks, the heroes-sailors of the Red Army Vlasenko, the sergeant major of the 2nd article Babich and the sergeant Rynda covered their names with unfading glory. Komsomolets Vlasenko, tying himself with grenades, with an exclamation "For the Motherland! For Stalin!" rushed under the tracks of a Japanese tank, just as bravely and cold-bloodedly rushed under another tank Sergeant Major 2 of the article Babich. The third tank was blown up with a grenade by Sergeant Rynda.

At 18.00 hours, parts of the landing, with the support of naval artillery, launched an attack on heights. 171.2. The enemy stubbornly resisted, and only after a two-hour fierce battle with the release of the landing units to its western slopes, the height was taken.

During the day's battle, 139 prisoners were captured, 10 guns and 5 depots with various military equipment. Killed 234 and wounded 140 enemy soldiers and officers, destroyed 17 tanks.

The 128th Air Division during 18.8.45 carried out bomb-assault strikes on the naval base of Kataoka and Kashiwabara [the last one - on the island of Paramushir] with the task of suppressing coastal defense artillery and preventing the departure of enemy transports from the bases. The bombing was carried out by groups of 8 to 16 aircraft with a cloud cover of 6-7 points from an altitude of 1500-2000 m. A total of 87 sorties... 344 FAB-100 bombs were dropped. "(TsAMO RF, fund 238, inventory 1584, file 159)

At 9 o'clock in the morning on August 19, the envoys of the Japanese command came to the front line of the Soviet troops. They transmitted the text of a message from the commander of the Japanese 91st Infantry Division, Lieutenant General Tsutsumi Fusaki, which said:

“Our troops received the following order from above:

1. The troops today, on the 19th, by 16.00, cease all hostilities.

Note: The defensive actions that we are forced to take in connection with the active invasion of the enemy are not combat actions.

2. Our troops, on the basis of this order, today, on the 19th, at 16.00, cease all hostilities.

Note: If, after this time, our troops are attacked, I will resume defensive actions on the basis of the above order.

3. Therefore, I ask your troops to cease hostilities by 16.00. "

"At 17.00 19.8.45, General Gnechko met with the commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, Major General Suzino Iwai, Chief of Staff of the 91st Infantry Division, Lieutenant Colonel Yanaoka Takedji, and handed in his demands for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese troops, guaranteeing the safety of life and the preservation of personal property of a non-military type."(TsAMO RF, fund 238, inventory 1584, file 159)

At 18.30 on August 19, 1945, the commander of the Kamchatka defensive region received an order from the command of the 2nd Far Eastern Front:

“No later than 20.00 20.8.45, by forces of 101 SD (without one regiment) with reinforcement units and PVMB ships, to end the occupation of the islands of Shumshu, Paramushir and Onekotan, to disarm and capture the Japanese troops.

Headquarters 101 sd put in Kataoka.

The prisoners should be fed according to the norms of Japanese rations at the expense of local Japanese funds. "(TsAMO RF, fund 66, inventory 178499, file 3, sheet 266)

On August 20, the forces of the Soviet landing on Shumshu Island went over to the offensive and by the end of the day advanced 5 km west of height 171.2. During this day, the Soviet 128th Air Division attacked the Japanese bases of Kataoka (on Shumshu) and Kashiwabara (on Paramushir).

At 24.00 on August 20, 1945, Major General Gnechko received from the commander of the Japanese 91st Infantry Division an answer to the demand for unconditional surrender:

"Japanese troops in the northern part of the Kuril Islands cease all hostilities, lay down their arms and surrender to Soviet troops."

Soviet losses in equipment and weapons during the capture of Shumshu amounted to:

Landing craft - 5

Boat MO - 1

Aircraft - 3

Guns 45 mm - 3

Mortars - 116

Anti-tank rifles - 106

Machine guns - 294

Automata - 762

Rifle - 911

Pistols - 74

(TsAMO RF, fund 66, inventory 3191, file 23, sheet 154)

On August 23, Soviet troops occupied the Kataoka base (on Shumshu) and landed at the Kashiwabara base on Paramushir island.

On August 30, 1945, Soviet troops occupied the islands of Simushir and Urup (each - one rifle battalion of the 302th rifle division), completing the occupation of the North Kuril Islands by units of the 101st rifle division of the Kamchatka defensive region.

Hokkaida operation

On August 18, 1945 (at 22.20), the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East, Marshal Vasilevsky, set the task for the commander of the 1st Far Eastern Front to occupy the northern part of the Japanese island of Hokkaido:

“… In the period from 19.8.45 to 1.9.45 to occupy half of the Fr. Hokkaido to the north of the line running from the city of Kushiro to the city of Rumoi, and the southern part of the Kuril Islands to about. Simushir inclusive.

For this purpose, with the help of Pacific Fleet ships and partly the merchant marine fleet, in the period from 19.8.45 to 1.9.45, transfer two rifle divisions of 87 sk.

Within the same timeframe, relocate one 9 VA fighter and one bomber aviation division to Hokkaido and the Kuril Islands. "(TsAMO RF, fund 66, inventory 178499, file 1, sheet 266)

Then, on August 19 (at 13.00), there was an order from the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Yumashev, to conduct an amphibious operation on the northern part of Fr. Hokkaido and the southern islands of the Kuril ridge:

“Troops 1 of the Far Eastern Front have a task: to occupy the northern part of Fr. Hokkaido and one SD - the southern part of the Kuril Islands, to about. Simushir inclusive. The task was set for the fleet: in the period from 20.08 to 1.09.45, to land three divisions of 87 sc on the island. Hokkaido and the southern part of the Kuril Islands.

Decided: The landing of three SDs to make three echelons. To transport the first echelon as part of one SD on transports with the first launch on warships and high-speed amphibious ships.

Subsequent echelons - on transports.

I order:

A. Commander of the landing - Rear Admiral Svyatov.

To land at the port of Rumoi DES in the composition of three divisions of the 87th brigade and the 354th separate battalion of the marines:

a) first echelon - one SD on transports with the first throw as part of one joint venture and 354 obmp on warships and high-speed landing craft.

Disembarkation - at dawn on 08.24.45.

354 the OBP has the task of capturing the port and city of Rumoi, preparing it for the basing of the fleet;

b) the second and third echelons on transports to guard warships on my special order.

B. The commander of the DES - the commander of the 87th sc.

To disembark at the port of Rumoi and then follow in accordance with the order of the commander of the 1st Far Eastern Fleet.

V. Air Force Commander - Aviation Lieutenant General Lemeshko.

a) Establish the presence of enemy warships in the southern part of the island. Sakhalin, about. Hokkaido, Sangar Strait and the defense of the port of Rumoi;

b) cover the DES at the sea crossing and in the landing area;

c) by 8.00 on 25.08.45 to have strike aviation in the DES landing area as part of one bomber regiment, at the same time having two bomber aviation regiments in immediate readiness to take off at airfields.

Strikes should be made only at the signal of the landing commander, Rear Admiral Svyatov. "(TsAMO RF, fund 234, inventory 3213, file 194, sheets 13-14)

In the following order (August 19, 14.00), the Pacific Fleet commander determined the ship composition of the landing:

The escort and support ships - the leader "Tbilisi", the destroyers "Rezvy", "Striking", "Zealous", four patrol ships "EK" ( frigates of American construction, transferred to the USSR under Lend-Lease), four minesweepers "AM", four boats "BO", six torpedo boats of the "A-1" type.

Landing craft - six DS ( American-built, transferred to the USSR under Lend-Lease) and six vessels of the civilian fleet ("Nevastroy", "Dalstroy", "Mendeleev", "Sevzaples", "Plekhanov", "Ural"). (TsAMO RF, fund 234, inventory 3213, file 194, sheets 15-16)

On the same day (August 19), the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Yumashev, reported to the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East, Marshal Vasilevsky, that the ships with the first echelon of the landing force were ready to leave the Golden Horn Bay at 20.00 on August 21, the planned landing in the port of Rumoi in Hokkaido at 5.00 24 August. (TsAMO RF, fund 66, inventory 178499, file 1, sheet 443)

However, at 01.15 am on August 21, 1945, the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East, Marshal Vasilevsky, issued an operational directive:

“The date for the commencement of the landing operation of our troops in the northern part of Fr. Hokkaido and the southern part of the Kuril Islands will be additionally indicated by the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command.

The landing of our troops on the indicated islands is to be carried out from the southern part of the island. Sakhalin.

Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Comrade Yumashev, after the capture by our ground forces of the southern part of Fr. Sakhalin and the port of Otomari to relocate here the necessary number of warships and vehicles in order to immediately begin an amphibious operation from the southern part of Fr. Sakhalin on about. Hokkaido.

... The deadline for this operation is the outcome of 23.8.45. "(TsAMO RF, fund 66, inventory 178499, file 9, sheets 34-37)

However, South Sakhalin (and the port of Otomari) was occupied by Soviet troops only on 25 August. And by that time, the United States had clearly explained to the USSR that it would not provide it with a zone of occupation in Hokkaido. Therefore, this landing operation was never carried out.

South Kuril operation

The seizure of the South Kuril Islands was entrusted to the Northern Pacific Separate Flotilla and the 113th Rifle Brigade. The Japanese 89th Infantry Division was stationed on these islands in August 1945.

The fulfillment of this task was entrusted to Captain 1st Rank Leonov, whose detachment of ships had been in the port of Otomari (now Korsakov) in the south of Sakhalin since August 25. Kaperang Leonov allocated two minesweepers and two companies of the Marine Corps for the occupation of the South Kuril Islands.

August 28 on the island of Iturup, an assault force was landed as part of one company of the Marine Corps. On the shore, the commander of this company learned from a Japanese officer that the Japanese garrison on the island of Iturup consisted of 10 thousand people and requested support. At this request, the second company of the marines was landed, that is, the entire composition of the landing. The Japanese garrison capitulated.

On September 1, one company of marines from Iturup Island was transported by minesweeper to Kunashir Island to disarm the Japanese garrison (3.6 thousand people) on that island. On the same day, units of the 113th Infantry Brigade landed on the islands of Iturup and Kunashir.

September 3-4, 1945 two companies of the 113th brigade occupied the islands of the Lesser Kuril ridge - Shibetsu, Suisio, Yuri, Taraku, Harakura. The Japanese garrisons (totaling 850 people) were taken prisoner. On this the capture of the Kuril Islands was completed.

Grand total

In total, in South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, Soviet captives were taken 63.840 Japanese (TsAMO RF, fund 234, inventory 68579, file 3, sheet 101).

During the hostilities in South Sakhalin and on the Shumshu island, up to a thousand Japanese soldiers and officers were killed, and about two thousand Soviet servicemen were killed or missing.