La politique soviétique envers le Japon pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale

Abstract

AbstractThis paper argues that Soviet policy during World War II in Europe was from the very beginning integrally connected with its policy toward the Far East. At the Yalta Conference, Stalin agreed to join the war three months after Germany surrendered in return for the war trophies promised by Franklin D. Roosevelt. In April, the Soviet government notified the Japanese government that it had no intention to renew the Neutrality Pact, but assured the Japanese that the pact would be in force until it expired in April 1946. Hiding behind the cloak of neutrality, the Soviet Union transported troops and equipment to the Far East in preparation for the war against Japan. In July, the Japanese government sought Moscow’s mediation to terminate the war. Stalin took advantage of the Japanese request to prolong the war. Despite his expectations, however, Stalin was excluded from the Potsdam Declaration at the Potsdam Conference. The race began between Harry S. Truman, who wanted to force Japan to surrender with the atomic bomb, and Stalin, who intended to enter the war before Japan’s surrender.