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August 20, 1945

Order by Aleksei Antonov to Aleksandr Vasilevsky

PERSONALLY TO MARSHAL VASILEVSKII

 

The Supreme Commander ORDERED:

 

1. The task of the first order is the capture of the island of Simusyu [Shumshu]. To this end, increase the grouping of our forces landed on this island.

 

2. Operation to capture the island of Paramushir is to begin after the capture of the island of Simusyu [Shumshu].

 

3. Prepare the operation against the is. of Hokkaido and the Southern Kurile islands but begin this operation only after special instruction by Stalin.

 

4. KSENOFONOV’S 87th rifle corps is to be concentrated in the southern part of the is. of Sakhalin and prepare it for operations against either the is. of Hokkaido or against the Southern Kurile Islands.

 

5. Prepare and carry out more quickly an air landing operation to capture PORT ARTHUR [Lüshun] and DAIREN [Dalian].

 

6. Report on the directives issued.

 

ANTONOV

 

No. 14863

20.8.45 16.30

 

Orders include preparation for the invasion of the island of Hokkaido and the southern Kurile Islands, but are to "begin... only after special instruction by Stalin."


Document Information

Source

Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Dmitriĭ Antonovich Volkogonov papers, 1887-1995, mm97083838, Reel 5, containers 7 through 9. Translated by Sergey Radchenko.

Original Archive

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Original Uploaded Date

2015-07-28

Type

Military Order

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Record ID

122337