[Smersh]

I think the japanese thought more about how they were defeated in 39 then about the politics of the USSR. and Also before the invasion Japan still played around with the idea of surrendering to the USSR, hoping for better treatment (consessions) then the USA would have offered. The biggist shock was not that their being invaded by an enemy who "doesn't care about lives" but that their plan A was down the drain.

again, lets not argue about this anymore it has nothing to do with soviet campigns. I do want to say, that those examples u mention are durign very depseprate times, of course if there was enough trained men available things would not have happened that way, and the purges are actions of a criminal with very limited justification.

again lets drop this whole subject, and move on to other possible campigns. other people can discuss the manchuria campign if they want.