The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Mongolia (original) (raw)
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The modern state of Mongolia was proclaimed in 1911, but Chinaand Russiacompeted for control of the new state until November 1924, when the Mongolian People's Republic was established by native Bolshevik elements. In 1932, lamas (native priests) led thousands of refugees over the border to Inner Mongolia (a part of China) to escape Communist purges. In 1936 Russia signed a mutual aid pact with Mongolia, and in the winter of 1938-1939, Stalinsupported a revolution by Khorloogiin Choibalsan, who cemented Mongolia's status as a Russian satellite. Choibalsan put down mutinies in the armed forces near the border with Manchuriaand moved troops loyal to himself into the area.
Mongolian troops generally fought alongside Russians, as in the last days of the Pacific War, when Russia seized Manchuria from the Japanese. However, ethnic Mongolians in Inner Mongolia generally sided with the Japanese because of strong anti-Russian, anti-Chinese sentiments. As a result, the Japanese had several Mongolian cavalry corpsunder their nominal command at the outbreak of the Pacific War.
The Kuomintangclaimed that, in March 1944, Mongolian troops raided Sinkiang province under Russian air cover. The reasons for this incursion remain obscure.
Reference
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2006, 2008-2009, 2012 by Kent G. Budge. Index
