The Soviet-Japanese War of 1945 (; , literally 'Soviet Union entry into War against Japan') within the Second World War began on August 9, 1945, with the Soviet invasion of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. The Soviets and Mongolians terminated Japanese control of Manchukuo, Mengjiang (Inner Mongolia), northern Korea, Karafuto, and the Chishima Islands. The rapid defeat of Japan's Kwantung Army helped in the Japanese surrender and the termination of World War II.