In this companion piece to "Leavenworth Paper" no. 7, "August Storm: the Soviet Strategic Offensive in Manchuria, 1945," David M. Glantz focuses on the operational and tactical levels of the Manchurian campaign, highlighting the techniques that brought victory to Soviet combined arms during the last days of World War II. In eight case studies, the author examines various kinds of military operations, from tank armies crossing mountains and desert to joint ground and riverine actions conducted over diverse terrain, from heavily wooded mountains to swampy lowlands. The operational and tactical techniques that the Russians employed in Manchuria evolved during four years of war in Europe, were adapted to the situation in the Far East, and reflected an imaginative and flexible approach to combat. No one technique stood in isolation from the others. For example, Soviet emphasis on maneuver during the campaign was successful because units of every level were task organized, tailored to objectives, terrain, and enemy strength, and time-phased into combat in such a way as to bring unrelenting pressure on enemy defenses. Surprise was a decisive factor on all fronts as Soviet units prepared in secrecy, attacked at night during inclement weather, and moved across territory considered to be impassable by the Japanese defenders. Having relinquished the initiative to the soviets, the Japanese were never to regain it. That Manchuria represented the culmination of the Soviet military experience in World War II and the last theater level operation undertaken by Soviet combined arms is in itself reason for U.S. Army officers to study this campaign. Beyond that, the Soviet war in Manchuria is instructive on a more general level. On the one hand, it demonstrates the value in warfare of careful planning, methodical preparation, and imaginative and unpredictable execution. On the other, it warns of the consequences of complacency and of underestimating one's opponent. .

"June 1983"--T.p.

Introduction / Army penetration operations. The route -- Missions and tasks -- Japanese defenses -- Operational planning -- 5th Army attack -- Conclusions / Division advance in heavily wooded mountains. Terrain -- Missions and tasks -- Japanese defenses -- Operational planning --- Combat and combat service support -- 1st Red Banner Army attack -- Conclusions / Army operations in swampy lowlands. Terrain -- Missions and tasks -- Japanese defenses -- Operational planning -- 35th Army attack -- Conclusions / Set piece battle. The setting -- 1st Red Banner Army advance -- 5th Army advance -- Battle of Mutanchiang -- Conclusions / Reduction of a fortified region. Hutou: strategic significance -- Japanese forces -- Soviet forces -- Soviet 35th Army attack -- Conclusions / Army operations in arid mountains. Situation in western Manchuria -- Missions and tasks -- Japanese defenses -- Soviet operational planning -- 39th Army attack -- Conclusions / Forward detachment deep operations. Situation in northwestern Manchuria -- Japanese defenses -- Missions and tasks -- Operational planning -- 36th Army attack -- Conclusions / Joint ground and riverine operations. Situation in northeastern Manchuria -- Japanese defenses -- Missions and tasks -- 15th Army attack -- Conclusions / Conclusions. Use of terrain -- Surprise -- maneuver -- Task organization of units.