In May – September 1939, Soviet and Japanese forces clashed in a small undeclared war that left 30,000-50,000 killed and wounded. The fighting reached its climax August 20 – 30 and coincided precisely with the conclusion of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact. Stuart Goldman’s book explores the link between these events and argues that this little-known conflict played a role in Stalin’s decision to sign the nonaggression pact with Germany, and also influenced critical decisions in Tokyo and Moscow in 1941 that shaped the conduct and outcome of World War II.

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