Beginning of the Battles of Khalkhin Gol

A series of clashes began on the border between Mongolia and Manchukuo involving Japanese and Soviet-Mongolian forces.

Border disputes developed into a campaign involving tanks, artillery and aircraft. Formally it remained a local conflict, but the participants committed substantial regular forces.

Fighting intensified through the summer, and in August troops under Georgy Zhukov launched an offensive that encircled the Japanese force.

Japan's defeat influenced debate in Tokyo over the future direction of expansion. The war in Europe began before the fighting at Khalkhin Gol had fully ended.

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