Soviet Declaration of War
Japan had counted on Soviet neutrality since their 1941 pact. That hope shattered on August 8, 1945, when Stalin declared war. This betrayal particularly stung because Japanese diplomats had been begging the Soviets to mediate peace talks with the Allies. Instead, the USSR joined Japan’s enemies. Promises made at the Yalta and Potsdam conferences had sealed this fate months earlier. Now, Japan faced the nightmare scenario: enemies on all sides with no friendly power to intercede.
