A fascinating illustrated study of an often overlooked conflict in which Soviet forces proved themselves adept at modern air and land warfare.

In the 1930s, the Soviet Union found itself caught in the middle between Germany and Japan. While Stalin's focus was on the rising Nazi tide, the Japanese and their presence in Manchuria, which posed a threat on his eastern flank, continued to be a concern. In May 1939, tension erupted into the 129-day border war – known as Khalkhin Gol to the Soviets and Nomonhan to the Japanese – as minor cross-border raids escalated into full-scale clashes between the Soviet, Mongolian and Japanese armies. When Hitler invaded Poland, an opportunity arose for both sides to disengage, and on 15 September 1939, the war came to a close. This led to an uneasy peace between the two nations until the final days of World War II.

This superbly illustrated work analyses this critical engagement on the eve of World War II. It documents the first major air offensive undertaken by Soviet forces, which, in combination with ground units, was to prove devastatingly effective. It also examines how the Japanese defeat led to a re-evaluation of their strategic plans and a shift in focus to the Pacific. Photographs, maps and battlescene artworks bring to life the infantry, armour and aircraft of the opposing sides, as well as the terrain along the Mongolia–Manchukuo border where this conflict was fought.