They were defending a very defensible terrain, which they had much time to fortify. In normal battlefield conditions they performance would be different.
After all the underdeveloped Chinese army had its share of victories over Japanese.
Dont you think that by the time japan is forced back to korea they would have build forts so there troops were fortified
What, a maginot line of sorts? Takes a bit longer to build than a month or two...
This is the same railway that the Russians used to smash the Japanese in 45, isn't it?
Right but think who were the troops that were sent to the East in 1945 They were troops who were lead by men that had fought 4 years of the dirtiest war in histoery . They could of walk all over the Soviet troops of 1939 -40 with no truble . Rember the officers of the 1945 army were lt's and captins in 1939-40 and they gained there rank the hard way by learning on the Job though 4 years of war . Also The japanies army in Aisia in 1945 had been mostly striped of it aircraft and best troops . How long do you think it would take that japanies Military to build tanks to fight the Russians of 1939 -40 if it became a war with tanks . We are not talking about a japan on the ropes here we are talking about a japan that full of fight And the Soviets do not have a large navy and Japan dose in the pacific . The Japaniese fighting a war agaist the Soviets would not be cut off from US Steel or oil And I can see Japan buying French and other Europien tanks and weapons .
As I said I can see the Japanies pushed back to Korea but not much futher
I think you will see a war in aisia that would make the eastern frount in Europe look like a day on the beach . It would be a no barred slog match to the death and think of how the Japanise military fought in the Pacific Islands . Also look at how bad the USSR troops did in the Winter War in 1940 the sovied army was not ready to fight a major war They were still tring to get it together after the pruges of the 1930's . To see how bad the Soviets were in 1939 read about how they moved into poland They were a mess moving in to Poland .
Your conclusion breaks with every established knowledge of the comparison between the Red Army and the IJA. In 1939 the Soviets DID fight the Japanese.
And crushed them.
That's a fact, pure and simple, no matter what comparison you make with the Winter War, the invasion of Eastern Poland or the Pacific War. Fact is that the Japanese and the Soviets went toe to toe in '39 and the Soviets won a major victory.
right the USMC were 2nd class troops .
But what about logistics? The Soviet takeovers of eastern Poland and Bessarabia, as well ar the war in Finland show the lack of Soviet logistic abilities in areas where roads and railroads are scarce (in the invasion of the Baltic states, roads and railroads are much better). How far could the soviets advance before supply is a pronlem. Remember, the IJA is falling back onto reinforcements and supplies. And a Soviet attack would mean even more supplies and men from Japan would be sent into this area.
The question would then be, would Stalin commit more troops to the Far East while Hitler is gaining strength on his western borders?
Only the USSR launched attacks in winter in that part of the world. All other states atleast cared somewhat for the well being of their soldiers and wouldn't waste them on something which could be accomplished easilly by just waiting three months.