russia fought japan until the german invasion of russia. you don't have
to look in obscure sources to find out about it.

Well, not really. While there was a major border war at Nomonhan in
1939, that was entirely defensive on Russia's part. Once the Japanese
withdrew, there was no further military action. Nearly two years
passed between Nomonhan and Germany's invasion of Russia.

readers of rec.aviation.military are undoubtably familiar with the
accounts of the flying tigers in china. these books describe the
russian conflict with china in this period, both as mercenaries for
china and direct conflict on the soviet border.

Russia did provide planes and indeed entire squadrons (planes, pilots,
and I assume ground crews) to fight on behalf of the Chinese
Nationalist government in 1938. By the end of 1940, these had all been
withdrawn. Indeed, it was the loss of the Russian squadrons that
prompted Chiang Kai-shek to send Claire Chennault to Washington in the
winter of 1940-41 to help organize a volunteer American air force to
fight in China--the genesis of the AVG Flying Tigers.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

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