MANCHZHOU-GO is a puppet state formed by the Japanese Kwantung Army after it conquered Manchuria in 1931. For 13 years - from the date of its formation in 1932 until the surrender of Japan in World War II in August 1945 - Manchukuo was in complete dependence on Tokyo.

Geographically, Manchukuo included all of Manchuria and part of Inner Mongolia.

At the time of formation, the state consisted of three northern provinces of China - Liaoning, Jilin (Kirin) and Heilongjiang. Rehe Province was annexed in 1933.

The population consisted of Manchus, Chinese and Mongols. There were also many Koreans, white Russian emigres, a small number of Japanese, Tibetans and people from Central Asia living here. In the early 40s. the total population was 43.2 million.

Pu Yi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), was installed as regent of Manchukuo in March 1932. Changchun was chosen as the new capital and renamed Xinjing.

The protocol between Japan and Manchukuo was concluded on September 15, 1932. The parties agreed that the Japanese government assumes full responsibility for the internal security and external defense of Manchukuo. In fact, the Kwantung Army remained the real master of the situation in solving all the problems of the state. In March 1934, Pu Yi was proclaimed Emperor of Manchukuo.

Between 1932 and 1935, five contingents of settlers from among the reservists of the Japanese army settled on the lands of Manchukuo. The Kwantung Army also contributed in every possible way to the influx of immigrants from Japan. However, by 1940, the number of Japanese families who came to live in the puppet state did not exceed 20,000. Immigration from Korea was much more active. The number of Koreans by 1945 exceeded 2 million.

"South Manchurian Railway Company", which was at the forefront of penetration and expansion of Japanese interests in Manchuria, by the 30s. reached the status of a state within a state. After 1937, however, more than 80 of its subsidiaries were merged with the Nissan syndicate to form the Manchurian Heavy Industry Company, backed by the Kwantung Army.

After the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, border skirmishes with the armed forces of the Mongolian People's Republic and the Soviet Union became more and more frequent. It came to armed clashes near Lake Khasan in 1938 and on the Khalkhin-Gol River in 1939.

American bomber raids on Manchuria began in the summer of 1944. On August 9, 1945, the Soviet Union sent its troops into Manchukuo.

On August 18, 1945, Pu Yi abdicated and the state of Manchukuo ceased to exist.

The Great Empire of Manchukuo was proclaimed on March 1, 1934 and was a puppet state of Japan on the territory of China occupied by Japan. With his first edict, the newly proclaimed emperor Pu Yi announced the establishment of an award system for the empire. Three orders were established: the Order of the Blooming Orchid, which became the highest order of the empire, the Order of the Illustrious Dragon and the Order of Beneficent Clouds. All orders of Manchukuo had their full counterparts in the Japanese system of awards. So, the Order of the Blooming Orchid corresponded to the Japanese Order of the Chrysanthemum, the Order of the Illustrious Dragon - to the Order of the Rising Sun with paulownia flowers, and the Order of Beneficent Clouds, which had 8 degrees - to the Order of the Rising Sun.

On April 19, 1934, the law on orders and insignia was adopted, which regulates the issues of the award system. Orders for the production of awards were placed at the mint in Osaka. The control over the awards was carried out by the command of the Kwantung Army, since the vast majority of the awards were made to Japanese military personnel and officials. In total, during the existence of the empire, according to various sources, from 166 to 196 thousand orders of all degrees were made.

On July 14, 1938, five medals were established to reward various civilian merit. A number of award signs were also established, worn without ribbons, and having a lower status than medals on ribbons.

On October 1, 1938, the distinctions of the Manchukuo Red Cross Society were established: the Order of Merit, medals for special and ordinary members of the society. As in the case of orders, these awards repeated similar awards of the Japanese Red Cross.

With the fall of imperial power in August 1945, all awards ceased to exist. great empire Manchukuo.

Order of the Blooming Orchid

The Order of the Blooming Orchid (大勲位蘭花章), the highest state award of the Great Manchukuo Empire, was established by Imperial Edict No. 1 on the day the State of Manchukuo was proclaimed an empire, March 1, 1934. The order was actually the equivalent of the Japanese Order of the Chrysanthemum. The award was divided into two classes: the order with a chain (大勲位蘭花章頸飾) and the order with a large ribbon (大勲位蘭花大綬章). The order on a chain was intended for monarchs and heads of state, on a large ribbon - for high dignitaries. From 1934 to 1941, two holders of the order with a chain are known - Emperors Pu Yi and Hirohito. Until 1945, several more orders with a chain were awarded, including the King of Romania, Mihai I. From 1934 to 1940, three orders with a large ribbon are known to be awarded, the total number of awards has not been established.

The chain of the order is gold, consists of one central large link and 20 small links, interconnected by figured intermediate links in the form of a Buddhist "endless knot". The small links of the chain are openwork slotted pentagons with rounded corners, symbolizing clouds. Eight of them contain the “eight auspicious signs of Buddha” covered with green enamel: to the left of the central link - a lotus flower, a precious vessel, two fish and an endless knot; to the right of the central link - a shell, a wheel of teaching, a precious umbrella and a banner of victory. Round medallions with trigrams "qian" and "kun" are inscribed in two links. The ten others are inscribed with stylized "spiral clouds". The central link is an openwork slotted hexagon, symbolizing a cloud, into which a round medallion of blue enamel is inscribed. The medallion depicts a dragon “in the clouds” wriggling around the flaming Sun. The badge of the order is suspended from the central link.

The badge of the order for the chain is gold, with a diameter of 71 mm, it is a stylized image of the main imperial symbol - an orchid flower. On the front side, the sign looks like a round jagged medallion of green enamel, on which is superimposed a star of five narrow “petals” of yellow enamel. A large pearl is fixed in the center of the star, between the “petals” there are golden stems with fixed small pearls, five in each corner. On the reverse side of the badge are four hieroglyphs - "大勲位章" (highest merit award). Through a rectangular bracket on the upper “petal”, the badge is attached to the intermediate link, which is a reduced copy of the badge itself, without enamels and pearls. At the upper end of the intermediate link there is a transverse eyelet for attaching to the chain of the order.

The badge of the order for the large ribbon is the same as for the chain, but somewhat smaller, made of gilded silver. The "petals" on the intermediate link are covered with yellow enamel. A ring is passed through the eyelet at the upper end of the intermediate link for attaching to the ribbon of the order.

The star of the order is silver (gilded), ten-pointed, multi-beam, 90 mm in diameter. Five groups of five rays are covered with white enamel, five groups of seven rays are without enamel, with a "diamond" cut. The badge of the order is superimposed on the center of the star, somewhat smaller than the badge for the large ribbon. On the reverse of the star are the same hieroglyphs as on the reverse of the badge. Worn on the left side of the chest.

Ribbon of the order silk moire yellow color with dark yellow stripes along the edges. The width of the tape is 108 mm, the width of the strips along the edges is 18 mm. Worn over the right shoulder. Knights of the order with a large ribbon were awarded a badge for the ribbon, a star and a ribbon of the order. Cavaliers of the order with a chain were awarded a chain and a badge for the chain, and in the absence of earlier badges of a large ribbon - a complete set of badges of the order.

Order of the Illustrious Dragon

The Order of the Illustrious Dragon or the Order of the Glorious Dragon (龍光章) was established by Imperial Edict No. 1 on the day the State of Manchukuo was declared an empire, March 1, 1934. The award, in fact, was the equivalent of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun with paulownia flowers. The order was presented with a large ribbon (龍光大綬章), and was the empire's highest merit award. They could be awarded to officials and military officers of the highest ranks, already marked with the Orders of Beneficent Clouds and Pillars of the State. From 1934 to 1940, 33 Orders of the Illustrious Dragon are known to have been awarded, the total number of awards has not been established.

The badge of the order is silver gilded, with a diameter of 70 mm, it is an eight-pointed multi-beam star. All rays are smooth, eight of the shortest rays are covered with light green enamel. A round medallion of blue enamel is superimposed on the center of the star, on which a dragon is depicted wriggling around the flaming Sun, surrounded by six clouds emerging from the edges of the medallion. Around the medallion are 28 small disks of ruby ​​enamel, symbolizing the 28 positions of the Moon during the month. On the reverse side of the badge are four characters - "勲功位章" (award for merit). The sign is attached through a rectangular bracket on the upper beam to an intermediate link of light green enamel, which is an openwork slotted pentagon, into which a similar smaller pentagon and a spiral are inscribed, symbolizing clouds. At the upper end of the intermediate link there is a transverse eye with a ring for attaching to the ribbon of the order.

The star of the order is silver gilded, 90 mm in diameter, repeating the badge of the order in its appearance. On the back, the same hieroglyphs are applied as on the back of the badge. Worn on the left side of the chest. The ribbon of the order is silk moire blue with white stripes along the edges. The width of the tape is 106 mm, the width of the strips along the edges is 18 mm. Worn over the right shoulder.

Order of Auspicious Clouds

The Order of Auspicious Clouds (景雲章) was established by Imperial Edict No. 1 on the day the State of Manchukuo was declared an empire, March 1, 1934. It was actually the equivalent of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun. The order existed in eight classes. Prior to the establishment in September 1936 of the Order of the Pillars of the State, it was a junior order in the Manchurian hierarchy of orders. From 1934 to 1940, it is known that 54,557 badges of the Order of Auspicious Clouds were awarded, including: 1st class - 110, 2nd class - 187, 3rd class - 701, 4th class - 1820, 5th class - 3447, 6th class - 6257, 7th class - 8329, 8th class - 33 706. Most of the awarded were employees of the Japanese army and the Japanese administration of Manchukuo. Total number awards during the existence of the order have not been established, however, according to the Japanese mint, about 129,500 signs of all classes were made.

The badge of the order of the 1st-5th classes is a silver gilded cross, each shoulder of which is made up of three shtrals, the central ones of which are covered with white enamel, and the side ones are yellow. In the center is a round yellow enamel medallion with a wide red enamel rim. In the corners of the cross are stylized images of clouds in light blue enamel; the space between the clouds and the central medallion is filled with black enamel. On the reverse side of the badge, smooth without enamels, four hieroglyphs are depicted - "勲功位章" ("merit award"). The badge through a rectangular bracket at the upper end is attached to the intermediate link in the form of the main imperial symbol - an orchid flower, five petals, which are covered with yellow enamel. At the upper end of the intermediate link there is a transverse eye with a ring for attaching to the ribbon of the order. Dimensions of signs with an intermediate link: 1st class - 71 × 108 mm; 2nd and 3rd grades - 62 × 97 mm, 4-6th grades - 48 × 80 mm.

The badge of the order of the 6th class is similar to the badges of the senior degrees, but the intermediate link with the ring is not gilded.

The badge of the order of the 7th-8th class is similar to the badges of the senior degrees, but without enamels, without a wide rim on the central medallion and without an intermediate link.

Sign of the 8th class - without gilding. Size - 46 × 46 mm.

The star of the order is silver, eight-pointed multi-beam with a “diamond” cut, 91 mm in diameter. The badge of the order (without an intermediate link) is superimposed on the center of the star. On the back of the star, the same hieroglyphs are applied as on the back of the badge.

Ribbon of the order - silk moire white color with a pale bluish tint, with red stripes along the edges. The width of the tape of the 1st class is 107 mm, the width of the strips along the edges is 14 mm at a distance of 11 mm from the edges. The width of the tape of other classes is 37 mm, the width of the strips along the edges is 4.5 mm at a distance of 3.5 mm from the edges. A round rosette of the same ribbon with a diameter of 22 mm is attached to the ribbon of the 4th class order.

Knights of the Order of Auspicious Clouds 1st Class wear the badge of the order on a wide ribbon with a rosette over the right shoulder and the star of the order on the left side of the chest. Knights of the 2nd class wear the badge of the order on a narrow ribbon around the neck and the star of the order on the left side of the chest. Knights of the 3rd class wear the badge of the order on a narrow ribbon around the neck. Knights of the 4th-8th classes wear the badge of the order on a narrow ribbon on the left side of the chest.

Order of the Pillars of the State

The Order of the Pillars of the State or the Order of the Support (桂國章) is a state award of the Great Empire of Manchukuo, established in eight classes by Imperial Edict No. 142 of September 14, 1936. The name of the order symbolizes the traditional Chinese pillars (pillars) used in the construction of temples and palaces. The award was actually the equivalent of the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure. From 1936 to 1940, it is known about the award of 39,604 signs of the order, including: 1st class - 47, 2nd class - 97, 3rd class - 260, 4th class - 657, 5th class - 1 777, 6th class - 2 778, 7th class - 9 524, 8th class - 24 464. Most of the awarded were employees of the Japanese army and the Japanese administration of Manchukuo. The total number of awards during the existence of the order is unknown, however, according to the Japanese Mint, about 136,500 signs of all classes were made.

The badge of the order of the 1st and 3rd classes is silver gilded, which is a cross of four pillars diverging from the center, each of which is made up of several rectangular and rounded blocks. The lower blocks are covered with red enamel, the upper blocks are without enamel. In the center of the sign is an octagonal yellow enamel medallion with five narrow rims - (from the center) black, white, blue and red enamel and an outer silver one, without enamel, with gilded dots. In the corners of the cross there are wands, at the end of each one is fixed one pearl and at the base - two smaller pearls. On the obverse of the badge, smooth without enamels, four hieroglyphs are depicted - "勲功位章" (merit award). To the upper end of the badge is attached a curly brace of two stalks of Manchurian sorghum, through which the ribbon of the order is passed.

The badge of the order of the 4th-5th class is similar to the badges of the senior classes, but instead of pearls there are white enamel discs.

The badge of the order of the 6th-8th class is similar to the badges of the 4th-5th classes, but without gilding on the badge and without red enamel on the pillars.

Dimensions of signs (without brackets): 1st and 3rd classes - 63 × 63 mm; 4th-8th grades - 40 × 40 mm.

The star of the order is silver, eight-pointed multi-beam, with a diameter of 81 mm. Diagonal groups of rays, 5 rays each, are gilded. The badge of the order (without a bracket) is superimposed on the center of the star. On the back of the star, the same hieroglyphs are applied as on the back of the badge.

The ribbon of the order is red silk moire with yellow stripes along the edges. The width of the tape of the 1st class is 106 mm, the width of the strips along the edges is 18 mm. The width of the tape of other classes is 38 mm, the width of the strips along the edges is 6.5 mm. Ribbon strap - rectangular silver with a rim and a wavy ornament. For the 4th and 5th grades - planks gilded with white enamel, for 6-8th grades - without gilding and enamel. The strap size is 37×6 mm.

Cavaliers of the Order of the Pillars of the State 1st Class wear the badge of the order on a wide ribbon with a rosette over the right shoulder and the star of the order on the left side of the chest. Knights of the 2nd class wear only the star of the order on the left side of the chest. Knights of the 3rd class wear the badge of the order on a narrow ribbon around the neck. Knights of the 4th-8th classes wear the badge of the order on a narrow ribbon on the left side of the chest. To distinguish degrees, strips are attached to the tape: for the 4th grade - two gilded ones; for the 5th grade - one gilded; for the 6th grade - three silver; for the 7th grade - two silver; for the 8th grade - one silver.

Medal "Military Border Incident"

The Military Border Incident Medal (國境事変従軍記章) was instituted by Imperial Edict No. 310 of November 5, 1940 to commemorate the battles with Soviet troops at Khalkin Gol from May to September 1939. The medal could be awarded to:

- participants in hostilities (this category included military and civilians, both direct participants in hostilities and administrative workers in the rear, as well as military and civilians who were involved in special work / services related to the incident);
— all persons mobilized before the official end of the incident;

— persons involved in the incident in the transport, engineering, communication and information services;

- military police;

— medical personnel;

- persons who died during the hostilities (the medal is awarded to the head of the family of the deceased).

Despite the fact that the medal was from the mother country, most of the awards were received by Japanese soldiers.

On the obverse of the medal is the coat of arms of Manchukuo (orchid), below - part the globe, in the center - a dove with outstretched wings, surrounded by a stylized image of clouds against the background of diverging rays of light. On the reverse of the medal, four hieroglyphs run from right to left, meaning "border incident". Above and below the inscription are images of clouds. The 37 mm wide ribbon is made of golden yellow moire silk with two dark blue stripes on the edges 9.5 mm wide each. The medal has a diameter of 30 mm and is made of brass with an articulated suspension and a bar on which four kanji symbols are applied, which translates as “military medal”. According to estimates, from 75 to 100 thousand people were awarded the medal.

Manchukuo Red Cross Awards

K: Appeared in 1932 K: Disappeared in 1945

Manchu-go, Manchuria(Chinese 滿洲國, State of Manchuria(Chinese 大滿洲帝國), "Damanzhou-digo" (Great Manchurian Empire)) is a puppet state (empire) formed by the Japanese military administration on the territory of Manchuria occupied by Japan; existed from March 1, 1932 to August 19, 1945. It bordered the Empire of Japan, the MPR, the USSR, Mengjiang, and the Republic of China.

In fact, Manchukuo was controlled by Japan and followed entirely in line with its policy. In the city armed forces Manchukuo participated in the battles on the Khalkhin Gol River (in Japanese historiography - "The Incident at Nomonhan"). During the Soviet-Japanese war, Manchukuo ceased to exist. On August 19, 1945, Emperor Pu Yi was captured at Fengtian Airport by Red Army paratroopers. The territory of Manchukuo became part of the People's Republic of China.

Story

The clash of Russian and Japanese interests led to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, as a result of which Russian influence in Manchuria was replaced by Japanese. In the period between 1925 and 1925, Japan significantly increases its influence in Inner Manchuria, relying on economic leverage.

During the Russian civil war In 1918-1921, Japan took advantage of the weakening of Russia and occupied Outer Manchuria. Manchuria became the arena of struggle between Russia, Japan and China.

A buffer Far Eastern Republic was formed between Soviet Russia and Japan, but the further strengthening of the Bolshevik regime and disagreements between the Western powers and Japan led to the withdrawal of the occupying forces in 1925 and the restoration of Russian jurisdiction.

The commander of the Kwantung Army was also the Japanese ambassador to Manchukuo and had the right to veto the emperor's decisions. From 1932 to 1945, 6 people replaced each other in this post:

1. Nobuyoshi Muto (August 8, 1932 – July 25, 1933)
2. Takashi Hisikari (July 29, 1933 – December 10, 1934)
3. Jiro Minami (December 10, 1934 – March 6, 1936)
4. Kenkichi Ueda (March 6, 1936 – September 7, 1939)
5. Yoshijiro Umezu (September 7, 1939 – July 18, 1944)
6. Otozo Yamada (July 18, 1944 – August 11, 1945).

There was a Legislative Assembly in the state, whose role was actually reduced to the formal approval of the decisions of the State Council. The only political party allowed was the government-funded Concord Society; in addition to him, several emigrant groups, in particular, Russian emigrants, were allowed to organize their own political movements (see, for example, the Russian Fascist Party, Bureau of Russian Emigrants in the Manchurian Empire).

Administrative division

Concord Society

The Accord Society played a key role in Manchukuo. Its name is explained by the pan-Asian concept of the "consent of peoples" put forward by the Japanese, which assumed the self-determination of various Asian peoples along the lines of the Soviet model of the "union of peoples". At the same time, the coexistence of various nationalities was assumed strictly within the framework of a single centralized state, which could help to avoid possible weakening. The Concord Society assumed self-organization within separate communities for different nationalities; it included Mongols, Manchus, Koreans, Japanese, Muslims, Russian emigrants and a Chinese majority. At the same time, the organization was characterized by reliance on traditional religious leaders for each community.

The society was conceived as the main political force of Manchukuo, designed to replace the Kwantung Army in this capacity. However, in reality, the Concord Society has become an ideological tool in the hands of the Japanese military. In the mid-1930s, the leadership of the Kwantung Army ordered the society to purge its leaders, who were accused of left-wing sympathies. After the purge, the organization became, in fact, no different from its progenitors - the fascist parties of Europe of that time, standing on the positions of anti-communism and corporatism, and was transformed for mobilization purposes.

All civil servants, up to teachers, and all important figures of society were included in the society. Young people aged 16 to 19, starting in 1937, were automatically enrolled in the organization. By 1943, up to 10% of the population of Manchuria was in society.

Although formally a one-party system was not established in Manchukuo, in fact the only political party allowed was the Concord Society. An exception to this rule were various political movements of immigrants living in Manchuria.

Armed forces

The Kwantung Army, the Japanese army group in the Far East, played a key role in the creation and further life of Manchukuo. The decision to seize Manchuria in 1932 was made by the command of the Kwantung Army arbitrarily, without the consent of the Japanese Parliament.

The Kwantung Army formed and trained the Manchurian Imperial Army. Its core was the North-Eastern Army of General Zhang Xueliang, numbering up to 160 thousand people. The main problem of these troops was the low quality of the personnel; many were poorly trained, and there were large numbers of opium addicts in the army. The Manchu troops were prone to desertion. So, in August 1932, 2000 soldiers deserted from the Wukumiho garrison, and the 7th Cavalry Brigade mutinied. All of these forces joined the Chinese guerrillas fighting the Japanese.

Manchukuo had his own navy.

Demography

coal industry

In 1933, the Japan-Manchuria Coal Company was established, and coal production increased 3.6 times (25.6 million tons) in 1932-1944.

Metallurgy

Two large metallurgical enterprises operated in Manchukuo: the Anshan plant, where iron production increased from 276 tons to 1.3 million tons in 1931-1943, and the plant in Benxi, which increased iron smelting from 65 thousand tons in 1931-1944. .tons up to 370 thousand tons.

mechanical engineering

The engineering industry of Manchukuo was represented by the Manchurian Bearing Factory, the Dalian Railway Factory, the Manchurian Vehicle Factory.

Chemical industry

The lack of oil forced Tokyo to start up the Fushun coal liquefaction plant in Manchukuo in 1939, as well as a similar enterprise in Siping.

Currency unit

Monetary unit - yuan (1 yuan = 10 jiao = 100 fen = 1000 li)

see also

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Notes

3. see Japan-Manchurian Protocol
4. Nish, Ian Hill (2002) Japanese foreign policy in the interwar period, Westport, CT: Praeger, p. 95, ISBN 0275947912.
5. Lu, David John (2002) Agony of choice: Matsuoka Yōsuke and the rise and fall of the Japanese Empire, 1880-1946, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, p. 83, ISBN 0739104586.
10. Alexandrova M. V. Japanese capital and its importance in the industry of Northeast China ( late XIX V. - 1945) // China in world and regional politics. History and modernity. - 2014. - T. 19. - No. 19. - S. 343-344
11. Alexandrova M.V. Japanese capital and its significance in the industry of Northeast China (end of the 19th century - 1945) // China in world and regional politics. History and modernity. - 2014. - T. 19. - No. 19. - S. 345-346
12. Alexandrova M.V. Japanese capital and its significance in the industry of Northeast China (end of the 19th century - 1945) // China in world and regional politics. History and modernity. - 2014. - T. 19. - No. 19. - S. 346-347
13. Alexandrova M.V. Japanese capital and its significance in the industry of Northeast China (end of the 19th century - 1945) // China in world and regional politics. History and modernity. - 2014. - T. 19. - No. 19. - S. 348-349
14. Alexandrova M.V. Japanese capital and its significance in the industry of Northeast China (end of the 19th century - 1945) // China in world and regional politics. History and modernity. - 2014. - T. 19. - No. 19. - S. 350

Literature

• Aurilene E. E. Russian Diaspora in China: Manchuria. Northern China. Shanghai (1920 - 50s). Khabarovsk, 2003;
• Aurilene E. E., Potapova I.V. Russians in Manchukuo-Di-Go: Emigrant Government. Khabarovsk, 2004.
• Bisson T. A. Military economy of Japan / transl. from English. - M.: Publishing house of foreign literature, 1949.
• Joett F. Japanese army. 1931-1942 / transl. from English. - M.: ACT: Astrel, 2003.
• Zakharova G. F. Japanese policy in Manchuria, 1932-1945. - M.: Nauka, 1990.
• Kara-Murza G.S. Manchukuo is a Japanese colony in Manchuria. Chita, 1944.
• Usov V.N.. - M .: Olma-press, 2003. - 415 p. - ISBN 5-224-04249-6.

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An excerpt characterizing Manchukuo

Pierre could no longer take it upon himself to turn away and close his eyes. The curiosity and excitement of him and the whole crowd at this fifth murder reached the highest degree. Like the others, this fifth one seemed calm: he wrapped his robe and scratched one bare foot against the other.
When they began to blindfold him, he straightened the very knot on the back of his head, which cut him; then, when they leaned him against a bloodied post, he fell back, and, as he was uncomfortable in this position, he recovered and, putting his legs straight, leaned calmly. Pierre did not take his eyes off him, not missing the slightest movement.
A command must have been heard; after the command, shots of eight guns must have been heard. But Pierre, no matter how much he tried to remember later, did not hear the slightest sound from the shots. He only saw how, for some reason, the factory worker suddenly sank down on the ropes, how blood appeared in two places, and how the very ropes, due to the weight of the hanging body, unraveled and the factory worker, unnaturally lowering his head and twisting his leg, sat down. Pierre ran up to the post. Nobody held him back. Frightened, pale people were doing something around the factory. An old, mustachioed Frenchman's jaw shook as he untied the ropes. The body went down. The soldiers awkwardly and hurriedly dragged him behind a post and began to push him into the pit.
Everyone, apparently, undoubtedly knew that they were criminals who needed to cover up the traces of their crime as soon as possible.
Pierre looked into the pit and saw that the factory worker was lying there with his knees up, close to his head, one shoulder higher than the other. And this shoulder convulsively, evenly fell and rose. But already shovels of earth were falling all over the body. One of the soldiers angrily, viciously and painfully shouted at Pierre to return. But Pierre did not understand him and stood at the post, and no one drove him away.
When the pit was already filled up, a command was heard. Pierre was taken to his place, and the French troops, standing in fronts on both sides of the pillar, made a half-turn and began to walk past the pillar with measured steps. Twenty-four men of riflemen with unloaded rifles, standing in the middle of the circle, ran up to their places, while the companies passed by them.
Pierre was now looking with meaningless eyes at these shooters, who ran out of the circle in pairs. All but one joined the companies. A young soldier with a deadly pale face, in a shako that fell back, having lowered his gun, was still standing opposite the pit in the place from which he fired. He staggered like a drunk, taking a few steps forward and then back to support his falling body. An old soldier, a non-commissioned officer, ran out of the ranks and, grabbing a young soldier by the shoulder, dragged him into the company. The crowd of Russians and French began to disperse. Everyone walked in silence, with their heads bowed.
- Ca leur apprendra a incendier, [This will teach them to set fire.] - said one of the French. Pierre looked back at the speaker and saw that he was a soldier who wanted to console himself with something in what had been done, but could not. Without finishing what he started, he waved his hand and walked away.

After the execution, Pierre was separated from the other defendants and left alone in a small, ruined and filthy church.
Before evening, the guard non-commissioned officer with two soldiers entered the church and announced to Pierre that he was forgiven and was now entering the barracks of prisoners of war. Not understanding what they told him, Pierre got up and went with the soldiers. He was led to the booths built at the top of the field from burnt boards, logs and hews and entered into one of them. twenty people in the dark various people surrounded Pierre. Pierre looked at them, not understanding who these people were, why they were and what they wanted from him. He heard the words that were spoken to him, but did not draw any conclusion or application from them: he did not understand their meaning. He himself answered what was asked of him, but did not understand who was listening to him and how his answers would be understood. He looked at faces and figures, and they all seemed equally meaningless to him.
From the moment Pierre saw this terrible murder committed by people who did not want to do this, it was as if in his soul that spring was suddenly pulled out, on which everything was supported and seemed to be alive, and everything fell into a heap of senseless rubbish. In him, although he did not realize himself, faith was destroyed in the improvement of the world, and in the human, and in his soul, and in God. This state was experienced by Pierre before, but never with such force as now. Before, when such doubts were found on Pierre, these doubts had their source of guilt. And in the very depths of his soul, Pierre then felt that from that despair and those doubts there was salvation in himself. But now he felt that it was not his fault that the world had collapsed in his eyes and only meaningless ruins remained. He felt that it was not in his power to return to faith in life.
Around him in the darkness stood people: it is true that something interested them very much in him. They told him something, asked about something, then they took him somewhere, and he finally found himself in the corner of the booth next to some people who were talking from different sides, laughing.
“And now, my brothers ... the same prince who (with a special emphasis on the word which) ...” said a voice in the opposite corner of the booth.
Silently and motionlessly sitting against the wall on the straw, Pierre first opened and then closed his eyes. But as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw before him the same terrible, especially terrible in its simplicity, the face of a factory worker and the faces of unwitting murderers, even more terrible in their anxiety. And he opened his eyes again and stared senselessly in the darkness around him.
Sitting next to him, bent over, was a small man, whose presence Pierre noticed at first by the strong smell of sweat that separated from him with his every movement. This man was doing something in the dark with his legs, and, despite the fact that Pierre did not see his face, he felt that this man was constantly looking at him. Looking closely in the darkness, Pierre realized that this man was taking off his shoes. And the way he did it interested Pierre.
Unwinding the twine with which one leg was tied, he carefully folded the twine and immediately set to work on the other leg, looking at Pierre. While one hand was hanging the string, the other was already beginning to unwind the other leg. Thus, in neat, round, argumentative movements that followed one another without slowing down, the man took off his shoes and hung his shoes on pegs driven in above his heads, took out a knife, cut something, folded the knife, put it under the head of the head and, having sat down better, hugged his raised knees with both hands and stared directly at Pierre. Pierre felt something pleasant, soothing and round in these disputed movements, in this well-organized household in the corner, in the smell of even this man, and he, without taking his eyes off, looked at him.
- And you saw a lot of need, master? A? said the little man suddenly. And such an expression of affection and simplicity was in the melodious voice of a man that Pierre wanted to answer, but his jaw trembled, and he felt tears. The little man at the same moment, without giving Pierre time to show his embarrassment, spoke in the same pleasant voice.
“Hey, falcon, don’t grieve,” he said with that softly melodious caress with which old Russian women speak. - Do not grieve, my friend: endure an hour, but live a century! That's it, my dear. And we live here, thank God, there is no offense. There are good and bad people, too,” he said, and, still speaking, with a flexible movement he leaned over on his knees, stood up and, clearing his throat, went somewhere.
- Look, rogue, come! - Pierre heard the same gentle voice at the end of the booth. - The rogue has come, remember! Well, well, you will. - And the soldier, pushing away the little dog that jumped towards him, returned to his place and sat down. In his hands was something wrapped in a rag.
“Here, eat, master,” he said, again returning to his former respectful tone and unwrapping and serving Pierre several baked potatoes. - There was stew at dinner. And the potatoes are important!
Pierre had not eaten all day, and the smell of potatoes seemed to him unusually pleasant. He thanked the soldier and began to eat.
- Well, so then? - the soldier said smiling and took one of the potatoes. - And here's how you are. - He again took out a folding knife, cut the potatoes into equal two halves in his palm, sprinkled salt from a rag and brought it to Pierre.
“Potatoes are important,” he repeated. - You eat like this.
It seemed to Pierre that he had never eaten food tastier than this.
“No, it’s all right for me,” said Pierre, “but why did they shoot these unfortunates! .. The last one was about twenty years old.
“Tsk, tsk…” said the little man. “That’s a sin, that’s a sin ...” he quickly added, and, as if his words were always ready in his mouth and inadvertently flew out of him, he continued: “What is it, sir, did you stay in Moscow like that?
I didn't think they would come so soon. I accidentally stayed, - said Pierre.
- But how did they take you, falcon, from your house?
- No, I went to the fire, and then they grabbed me, they tried me for an arsonist.
“Where there is judgment, there is untruth,” put in the little man.
– How long have you been here? asked Pierre, chewing the last potato.
– I that? That Sunday I was taken from the hospital in Moscow.
Who are you, soldier?
- Soldiers of the Apsheron regiment. He died of a fever. They didn't tell us anything. There were twenty of our people. And they didn’t think, they didn’t guess.
- Well, are you bored here? Pierre asked.
- How boring, falcon. Call me Plato; Karataev’s nickname, ”he added, apparently in order to make it easier for Pierre to address him. - Nicknamed Falcon in the service. How not to be bored, falcon! Moscow, she is the mother of cities. How not to get bored looking at it. Yes, the worm is worse than cabbage, but before that you yourself disappear: that’s what the old people used to say, ”he added quickly.
- How, how did you say that? Pierre asked.
– I that? asked Karataev. “I say: not by our mind, but by God’s judgment,” he said, thinking that he was repeating what he had said. And immediately he continued: - How do you, master, have patrimonies? And do you have a house? That is, full bowl! And is there a hostess? Are the old parents still alive? he asked, and although Pierre did not see in the dark, he felt that the soldier's lips were wrinkled with a restrained smile of affection while he was asking this. He, apparently, was upset that Pierre did not have parents, especially a mother.
- A wife for advice, a mother-in-law for greetings, but there is no sweeter mother! - he said. - Well, do you have kids? he continued to ask. Pierre's negative answer again, apparently, upset him, and he hastened to add: - Well, young people, God willing, they will. If only to live in the council ...
“But now it doesn’t matter,” Pierre involuntarily said.
“Oh, you are a dear person,” Plato objected. - Never refuse the bag and the prison. He settled himself better, cleared his throat, apparently preparing himself for a long story. “So, my dear friend, I was still living at home,” he began. “Our patrimony is rich, there is a lot of land, the peasants live well, and our house, thank God. The father himself went out to mow. We lived well. Christians were real. It happened ... - And Platon Karataev told a long story about how he went to a strange grove beyond the forest and got caught by the watchman, how he was flogged, tried and handed over to the soldiers. “Well, falcon,” he said in a voice that changed from a smile, “they thought grief, but joy!” Brother would go, if not my sin. And the younger brother himself has five guys, - and I, look, have one soldier left. There was a girl, and even before the soldiery, God tidied up. I came to visit, I'll tell you. I look - they live better than before. The yard is full of stomachs, women are at home, two brothers are working. One Mikhailo, the smaller one, is at home. The father says: “To me, he says, all the children are equal: no matter what finger you bite, everything hurts. And if Plato had not been shaved then, Mikhail would have gone. He called us all - you believe - he put us in front of the image. Mikhailo, he says, come here, bow at his feet, and you, woman, bow, and bow to your grandchildren. Got it? speaks. So, my dear friend. Rock heads looking. And we judge everything: it’s not good, it’s not okay. Our happiness, my friend, is like water in a nonsense: you pull - it puffed up, and you pull it out - there is nothing. So that. And Plato sat down on his straw.
After a few moments of silence, Plato stood up.
- Well, I'm tea, do you want to sleep? - he said and quickly began to cross himself, saying:
- Lord, Jesus Christ, Saint Nicholas, Frola and Lavra, Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Nicholas! Frola and Lavra, Lord Jesus Christ - have mercy and save us! - he concluded, bowed to the ground, got up and, sighing, sat down on his straw. - That's it. Put, God, a pebble, raise a ball, - he said and lay down, pulling on his overcoat.
What prayer did you read? Pierre asked.
- Ash? - Plato said (he was already asleep). - Read what? He prayed to God. And don't you pray?
“No, and I pray,” said Pierre. - But what did you say: Frola and Lavra?
- But what about, - Plato answered quickly, - a horse festival. And you need to feel sorry for the cattle, - said Karataev. - Look, the rogue, curled up. You've warmed up, you son of a bitch," he said, feeling the dog at his feet, and, turning again, immediately fell asleep.
Outside, weeping and screams were heard somewhere in the distance, and fire could be seen through the cracks of the booth; but it was quiet and dark in the booth. Pierre did not sleep for a long time and with open eyes lay in the darkness in his place, listening to the measured snoring of Plato, who lay beside him, and felt that the previously destroyed world was now being erected in his soul with new beauty, on some new and unshakable foundations.

In the booth, which Pierre entered and in which he stayed for four weeks, there were twenty-three captured soldiers, three officers and two officials.
All of them then appeared to Pierre as if in a fog, but Platon Karataev remained forever in Pierre's soul the strongest and dearest memory and personification of everything Russian, kind and round. When the next day, at dawn, Pierre saw his neighbor, the first impression of something round was completely confirmed: the whole figure of Plato in his French overcoat belted with a rope, in a cap and bast shoes, was round, his head was completely round, back, chest, shoulders, even the arms that he wore, as if always about to embrace something, were round; a pleasant smile and large brown gentle eyes were round.
Platon Karataev must have been over fifty years old, judging by his stories about the campaigns in which he participated as a longtime soldier. He himself did not know and could not in any way determine how old he was; but his teeth, bright white and strong, which all rolled out in their two semicircles when he laughed (as he often did), were all good and whole; not a single gray hair was in his beard and hair, and his whole body had the appearance of flexibility and especially hardness and endurance.
His face, despite the small round wrinkles, had an expression of innocence and youth; his voice was pleasant and melodious. But the main feature of his speech was immediacy and argumentativeness. He apparently never thought about what he said and what he would say; and from this there was a special irresistible persuasiveness in the speed and fidelity of his intonations.
His physical strength and agility were such during the first time of captivity that he did not seem to understand what fatigue and illness were. Every day in the morning and in the evening, lying down, he said: “Lord, put it down with a pebble, raise it up with a ball”; in the morning, getting up, always shrugging his shoulders in the same way, he would say: "Lie down - curled up, get up - shake yourself." And indeed, as soon as he lay down to immediately fall asleep like a stone, and as soon as he shook himself, in order to immediately, without a second of delay, take up some business, the children, having risen, take up toys. He knew how to do everything, not very well, but not badly either. He baked, steamed, sewed, planed, made boots. He was always busy and only at night allowed himself to talk, which he loved, and songs. He sang songs, not like songwriters sing, knowing that they are being listened to, but he sang like birds sing, obviously because it was just as necessary for him to make these sounds, as it is necessary to stretch or disperse; and these sounds were always subtle, tender, almost feminine, mournful, and his face was very serious at the same time.
Having been captured and overgrown with a beard, he, apparently, threw away everything that was put on him, alien, soldierly, and involuntarily returned to the former, peasant, people's warehouse.
“A soldier on leave is a shirt made of trousers,” he used to say. He reluctantly spoke about his time as a soldier, although he did not complain, and often repeated that he had never been beaten during his entire service. When he told, he mainly told from his old and, apparently, dear memories of "Christian", as he said, peasant life. The proverbs that filled his speech were not those, for the most part, indecent and glib sayings that the soldiers say, but these were those folk sayings that seem so insignificant, taken separately, and which suddenly take on the meaning of deep wisdom when they are said by the way.
Often he said the exact opposite of what he had said before, but both were true. He loved to talk and spoke well, embellishing his speech with endearing and proverbs, which, it seemed to Pierre, he himself invented; but the main charm of his stories was that in his speech the simplest events, sometimes the very ones that, without noticing them, Pierre saw, took on the character of solemn decorum. He liked to listen to fairy tales that one soldier told in the evenings (all the same), but most of all he liked to listen to stories about real life. He smiled joyfully as he listened to such stories, inserting words and asking questions that tended to make clear to himself the beauty of what was being told to him. Attachments, friendship, love, as Pierre understood them, Karataev did not have any; but he loved and lived lovingly with everything that life brought him, and especially with a person - not with some famous person, but with those people who were before his eyes. He loved his mutt, loved his comrades, the French, loved Pierre, who was his neighbor; but Pierre felt that Karataev, in spite of all his affectionate tenderness for him (with which he involuntarily paid tribute to Pierre's spiritual life), would not have been upset for a minute by parting from him. And Pierre began to experience the same feeling for Karataev.
Platon Karataev was for all the other prisoners the most ordinary soldier; his name was falcon or Platosha, they good-naturedly mocked him, sent him for parcels. But for Pierre, as he presented himself on the first night, an incomprehensible, round and eternal personification of the spirit of simplicity and truth, he remained so forever.
Platon Karataev knew nothing by heart, except for his prayer. When he spoke his speeches, he, starting them, seemed not to know how he would end them.
When Pierre, sometimes struck by the meaning of his speech, asked to repeat what was said, Plato could not remember what he had said a minute ago, just as he could not in any way tell Pierre his favorite song with words. There it was: “dear, birch and I feel sick,” but the words did not make any sense. He did not understand and could not understand the meaning of words taken separately from the speech. Every word of his and every action was a manifestation of an activity unknown to him, which was his life. But his life, as he himself looked at it, had no meaning as a separate life. It only made sense as a part of the whole, which he constantly felt. His words and actions poured out of him as evenly, as necessary and immediately, as a scent separates from a flower. He could not understand either the price or the meaning of a single action or word.

Having received news from Nikolai that her brother was with the Rostovs in Yaroslavl, Princess Marya, despite her aunt's dissuades, immediately prepared to go, and not only alone, but with her nephew. Whether it was difficult, easy, possible or impossible, she did not ask and did not want to know: her duty was not only to be near, perhaps, her dying brother, but also to do everything possible to bring him a son, and she got up. drive. If Prince Andrei himself did not notify her, then Princess Mary explained this either by the fact that he was too weak to write, or by the fact that he considered this long journey too difficult and dangerous for her and his son.
In a few days, Princess Mary got ready for the journey. Her crews consisted of a huge princely carriage, in which she arrived in Voronezh, chaises and wagons. M lle Bourienne, Nikolushka with her tutor, an old nanny, three girls, Tikhon, a young footman and a haiduk, whom her aunt had let go with her, rode with her.

Manchukuo or the Manchurian state, created by the Japanese in the territory of Northeast China. It did not last long - from March 1932 to August 1945. Manchuria was used by the invaders as a military springboard for aggression against the Soviet Union, China and the Mongolian People's Republic (MPR). The territory of Manchuria was over a million square kilometers, about 30 million people lived on it. The capital of the new state was the city of Chachuan, renamed Xinjing by the invaders.

In 1931, on the night of September 18-19, Japan accused the Chinese of destroying its railway track. The provocation allowed Japan to send troops into Northeast China. The troops of the Celestial Empire, following the orders of the Kuomintang, did not put up any resistance.

As a result, Japan in a short time easily captured the territories of three northeastern provinces of China (later, in 1934, it annexed the fourth province of Rehe). Militaristic Japan created a puppet administration in the seized territories and proclaimed the independence of Manchukuo.

The last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Pu Yi (his dynasty formally abdicated in February 1912), became the ruler-regent or supreme ruler of Manchuria. He had good connections with Japanese intelligence.

On March 1, 1934, Pu Yi became Emperor of Manchukuo, but in reality, Japanese advisers and officials led him. They occupied almost all places in the administrative apparatus.

In Manchuria, the Sehekhoy ("Consent Society") society was established to intensify the propaganda indoctrination of rivals. The society promoted the idea of ​​"Japan's great mission in Asia". In the newly minted state, the Japanese established a military-police regime. The number of divisions of the Kwantung Army during the occupation of Northeast China grew from 12 thousand to 780 thousand people, the Manchurian army itself was brought to 170 thousand. Human. The Japanese and the inhabitants of Manchuria were engaged in strengthening the borders with the Soviet Union, developing infrastructure. On the borders with the USSR, a system of fortified areas was created with a network of highways and railways, airfields and various other military installations.

The territory of Manchuria was repeatedly used by Japan for provocations against the MPR and the USSR. Including a major provocation near Lake Khasan in 1939. From the territory of the puppet state, militaristic Japan plundered the regions of Northeast China. She created many enterprises for processing the extracted raw materials: cast iron, steel, synthetic fuel. Manchukuo introduced a system of cheap food supplies Agriculture. To reduce the cost of labor in the state there was labor service. The best lands went to the colonists. Such exploitation and unfair division of the land irritated the population and forced them to resist. Since 1932, a huge number of partisan detachments have been operating in Manchukuo. Later, in 1935, they united in an anti-Japanese army led by the Chinese Communists. Unfortunately, most of the detachments were defeated by regular Japanese troops by 1941. In August 1945, the Soviet army managed to liberate Northeast China from the Japanese invaders.

Manchu-go, Manchuria (Chinese 滿洲國 - State of Manchuria, Chinese 大滿洲帝國 - "Damanzhou-digo" (Great Manchurian Empire)), a puppet state (empire) formed by the Japanese military administration on the territory of Manchuria occupied by Japan; existed from March 9, 1932 to August 19, 1945.
The capital is Xinjing (now Changchun); the last Chinese emperor (from the Manchu Qing dynasty) Pu Yi (Supreme ruler in 1932-1934, emperor from 1934 to 1945) was placed at the head of the state.
The League of Nations refused to recognize Manchukuo, which led Japan to withdraw from the organization in 1934. At the same time, Manchukuo was recognized by 23 of the 80 states of the world that existed at that time.
In fact, Manchukuo was controlled by Japan and followed entirely in line with its policy. In 1939, the armed forces of Manchukuo took part in the battles on the Khalkhin Gol River (in Japanese historiography - the "Incident at Nomonhan"). During the Soviet-Japanese war, Manchukuo ceased to exist. On August 19, 1945, Emperor Pu Yi was captured in the Mukden airport building by Red Army paratroopers. In 1949, the territory of Manchukuo became part of the PRC.
WIKI
I can not resist reposting this material (a lot of photos):
Pu Yi: Life of an Emperor
The emergence of Manchukuo - Territory and administrative structure- International recognition - Oath of Pu Yi - Emperor of the Great Manchurian Empire - Peaceful fate of Zaifeng - Japanese tutelage - Visits to Japan
New Visit to Japan - Establishment of the Amaterasu Cult in Manchukuo - Economic Growth and Public Holidays -
"Parent Country" - Second World War- The Kwantung Army and the Beginning of the End

Japan took over Manchuria in 1931. Pu Yi was 25 at the time. On the initiative of the Fourth Division of the Kwantung Army, on February 23, 1932, the All-Manchurian Assembly was held, declaring the independence of Northeast China. A new state appeared - Manchukuo (滿洲國).

It was a fairly large power with an area of ​​1,165,000 square meters. km. By modern standards it would be the twenty-sixth largest in the world, between South Africa and Colombia. The population of Manchukuo was 30 million people. Administratively, the country was divided into anto - an ancient Manchu administrative-territorial unit, similar to a province. In 1932, Manchukuo consisted of five anto, as it was during the Qing Dynasty. In 1941, a reform was carried out and the number of antos increased to nineteen. Anto was divided into prefectures.

Also in the structure of Manchukuo there was a special region of Peiman and two special cities - Xingjin (Changchun, the capital of the country) and Harbin. Peiman enjoyed the status of a special region from July 1, 1933 to January 1, 1936. Harbin eventually became part of the province of Binjiang.

Henry Pu Yi is the ruler of Manchukuo. 1932

The League of Nations, based on the Report of a commission led by Victor Bulwer-Lytton, determined that Manchuria was still an integral part of China and refused to recognize the new state, which led to the withdrawal of the Great Japanese Empire or League. Meanwhile, individual states recognized Manchukuo and established diplomatic relations with the Empire. Among these powers, different years included El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, the USSR (since March 1933, the Consulate of Manchukuo-Di-Go worked in Chita), Italy, Spain, Germany, Hungary. After the outbreak of World War II, Manchukuo was recognized by Slovakia, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Denmark, Croatia, the Chinese regime of Wang Jingwei, Thailand and the Philippines. It is widely believed that the Vatican also established diplomatic ties with Manchukuo, but this is a misconception. Bishop Auguste Gaspé was indeed appointed ad tempus representative of the Holy See and the Catholic Mission to the Government of Manchukuo, but the appointment took place through the Congregation De Propaganda Fide (Propagation of the Faith), and not the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, and Bishop Gaspé did not have diplomatic powers, answering only for missionary work.

Henry Pu Yi, ruler of Manchukuo

Pu Yi the ruler of Manchukuo with members of the government. To the right of Pu Yi is Zheng Xiaoxu, the first prime minister of Manchukuo.

Shortly before the creation of Manchukuo, Pu Yi, during an ancestral worship ceremony, swore an oath during a sacrifice:

“It is hard to look at the disasters experienced by the people for twenty years and be powerless to help them. Now that the people of the three northeastern provinces are giving me support and a friendly power is helping me, the situation in the country is forcing me to take responsibility and come to the defense of the state. When you start something, you cannot know in advance whether it will be successful.
But I remember examples of sovereigns who had to restore their throne in the past. For example, the Jin prince Wen Gong defeated the Qin prince Mugong, the Han emperor Guang Wudi overthrew the emperor Gengshi, the founder of the Shu state defeated Liu Biao and Yuan-nao, the founder of the Ming dynasty defeated Han Lin'er. All of them, in order to fulfill their great mission, had to resort to external help. Now, in disgrace, I wish to take on a great responsibility and continue a great cause, no matter how difficult it may be. I want to devote all my strength to the sure salvation of the people, and I will act very carefully.
In front of the graves of my ancestors, I sincerely speak about my desires and ask them for protection and help.
(Based on the book "The Last Emperor", Moscow, Vagrius 2006)

Pu Yi (center), Pu Jie, brother of the former emperor (left), and Rong Qi, friend of Pu Yi, in Changchun
When Pu Yi learned that the Japanese saw him as the head of a new state, he agreed to their proposal. His goal was to restore the lost heritage of the ancestors. However, on March 9, 1932, he received from the Emperor of Japan only the title of Supreme Ruler of Manchuria (in fact, the Japanese governor) with the motto of the reign of Datong (大同), which was for him, not only the rightful heir to the Dragon Throne, but also a descendant of Nurhatsi and Abahai, the creators of Manchukuo, the unifiers of the Jurchen tribes, with the deepest disappointment.

The ruler of Manchukuo Pu Yi during a visit to Japan.

Pu Yi the day before the coronation

. Fifth from left - Commander of the Kwantung Army, General Hisikari Takashi. 1934

Pu Yi at the celebrations on the occasion of accession to the throne

Pu Yi at the celebrations on the occasion of accession to the throne

Later, in 1934, the Japanese finally agreed to the adoption of Pu Yi the title of Emperor of Manchukuo, or rather Da-Manzhou-Di-Guo (大滿洲帝國) - the Great Manchurian Empire. In the early morning of March 1, 1934, in Sinuatsun, a suburb of the Manchuo-Guo capital Changchun (later renamed Xinjing - "New Capital"), the ancient ceremony of the emperor's accession to the throne took place. Then, dressed in the uniform of a generalissimo, Pu Yi went to Changchun, where another coronation took place. Pu Yi adopted the throne name and reign motto of Kangde (康德). With all the splendor of the title of Emperor of the Great Manchurian Empire, everyone understood the puppetry of the newly-made emperor, who had no real political power. The Japanese planned to use Pu Yi, including as an agent of influence against China. For fourteen years, from 1932 to 1945, Pu Yi was the puppet ruler of Manchukuo, completely subject to Japan. Pu Yi did not really have his own power. His ministers only reported the state of affairs to their Japanese deputies, who carried out the real management of the ministries. They never came to Pu Yi with reports. Yoshioka Yasunori, a lieutenant general of the Japanese army, who spoke Chinese, became an attaché at the imperial court and an adviser to the Kwantung Army. He was inseparably with the emperor, controlling his every step.

Ceremonial vestments of Emperor Manchukuo Pu Yi Kangde

Manifesto of Emperor Kangde on the accession to the throne of Manchukuo dated March 1, 1934

I must say that the father of Pu Yi II Grand Duke Chun Zaifeng was initially opposed to the Japanese proposal and did not support the idea of ​​creating Manchukuo. After the Xinhai Revolution, Zaifeng lived in Beijing, in his Northern Palace. The new leaders of China appreciated his prudence and peaceful relinquishment of power, and Zaifeng lived peacefully in peace surrounded by respect. In 1928, Zaifeng moved to Tianjing, where he lived in the British and Japanese concessions, but after a devastating flood, the former Prince Chun returned to Beijing.

During the reign of Pu Yi in the Manchu Empire, Zaifeng paid his son three visits, but remained in new country refused. After 1949, when the Communists came to power in China, nothing much changed for Zaifeng again. Unless, in order to overcome financial difficulties, the Northern Palace had to be sold to the government. Then, in gratitude for the good attitude, Zaifeng donated his library and art collection to Peking University. Zaifeng did a lot of charity work and participated in public life to the best of his ability. Died on February 3, 1951 in Beijing.

Pu Yi Kangde - Emperor of Manchukuo in the form of Generalissimo

Autographed photograph of Emperor Pu Yi Kangde

Empress Wan Rong after an audience with the Japanese Prince Chichibu, brother of Emperor Hirohito, where the Empress was presented with the award of the Emperor of Japan.

As for Manchukuo-Di-Go, the actual power here was in the hands of the commander of the Kwantung Army, who at the same time acted as the ambassador of the Japanese Emperor at the court of the Emperor Kangde. It was the Japanese commander who took all the most important government decisions, the army of Manchukuo-Di-Go obeyed him. At the same time, the only guarantor of the country's independence was the Japanese Kwantung Army. From 1932 to 1945, six people replaced each other in the posts of commander of the Kwantung Army and Japanese ambassador to the Kangde Emperor.
From August 8, 1932 to July 27, 1933 Field Marshal Baron Muto Nobuyoshi commanded the Kwantung Army.
From July 29, 1933 to December 10, 1934 - General Hisikari Takashi.
From December 10, 1934 to March 6, 1936 - General Hiro Minami.
From March 6, 1936 to September 7, 1939 - General Kenkichi Ueda.
From September 7, 1939 to July 18, 1944 - Umezu Yoshijira.
And from July 18, 1944 to August 11, 1945 - General Yamata Otozo.

Henry Pu Yi Kangde - Emperor of Manchukuo



Emperor Aisingioro Pu Yi Kande

Emperor Aisingioro Pu Yi Kande

In April 1935, Pu Yi visited Japan in the status of Emperor of Manchukuo. The fact is that the emperor of Japan sent his brother with congratulations on the occasion of the accession of Pu Yi to the throne. And the command of the Kwantung Army recommended that Pu Yi pay a return visit to Tokyo as a token of gratitude. Pu Yi met with Emperor Hirohito, participated in various ceremonial events, watched the exercises of the Japanese naval forces. Prior to this, Pu Yi had made a trip to Japan in 1934 when he was introduced to the Empress Dowager. The emperor of Manchukuo maintained constant contact with her throughout his reign, warm, trusting relations were established between them, they constantly exchanged letters.

Emperor Pu Yi Kande with Japanese Emperor Hirohito during a visit to Japan. April 1935.

Emperor Pu Yi Kande with Japanese Emperor Hirohito during a visit to Japan. April 9, 1935.

Henry Pu Yi Kangde - Emperor of Manchukuo, on the cover of Time weekly

The second visit of Pu Yi to Japan in the status of Emperor of Manchukuo took place in May 1940. This trip lasted only eight days. During this visit, Pu Yi received the official consent of the Emperor of Japan to introduce the cult of the Japanese progenitor goddess Amaterasu Omikami into Manchukuo. Upon his return to Changchun, Pu Yi ordered the construction of the Temple of Strengthening the Foundations of the Nation near his palace, in which the cult of Amaterasu Omikami was sent. The Chamber of Worship specially established for this purpose was headed by the former chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, Hashimoto Toranosuke. Sacrifices were made every month, on the first and fifteenth, with the participation of the emperor, senior officials and the command of the Kwantung Army. On July 15, 1940, the cult of the Shinto deity was officially approved in Manchukuo by the manifesto of Emperor Kande "On strengthening the foundations of the nation."

Emperor Pu Yi Kande at the Tokyo Station with Emperor Hirohito. May 1940.

Emperor Pu Yi Kande. Solemn temple ceremony.<

Emperor Pu Yi Kande greets Prince Takamatsu, brother of Japan's Emperor Hirohito, during celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

Emperor Pu Yi Kande. Rain.

Emperor Pu Yi Kangde with Lieutenant General Chu Kudo, Chamberlain of the Court and Imperial Adjutant. 1940s.

The indigenous population of Manchukuo reacted with hostility to the new foreign cult. The emperor himself admitted in his memoirs that before each sacrifice he performed a ritual of ancestor worship and mentally told himself that he would bow not to Amaterasu, but to the Beijing Kunningun Palace.

Standard of the Emperor of Manchukuo

State flag of Manchukuo

State Emblem of Manchukuo

State seals of Emperor Pu Yi

National anthem of Manchukuo.

Meanwhile, cooperation with Japan has also brought positive results. Thanks to Japanese investment in Manchukuo, agriculture and heavy industry developed rapidly, and the extraction of iron ore and coal increased. The indicators of steel and iron smelting went up.

Public holidays in Manchukuo were declared: March 1 - Foundation Day of Manchukuo Di-Go; February 7 - Emperor's birthday; April 20 - Day of Prayer for the Harvest; January 1 - New Year; July 15 - Day of the progenitor goddess Amaterasu Omikami.

Imperial Guard of Manchukuo

View of the main street of Changchun during the Manchukuo era

The building of the State Council of Manchukuo. 1939

The building of the Central Bank of Manchukuo. 1939

Manchukuo Telegraph and Telephone Company

Manchukuo Coal Industrial Company

Xinjing First Hospital (Changchun)

Naturally, Manchukuo was forced to make an alliance with Japan. Moreover, the Japanese insisted that in Manchu documents and official publications, Japan should not be called an ally, but the "parent country" of Manchukuo. Pu Yi was forced to support Japan in the war against China that had been going on since 1937 and in the war against the United States and Britain that had begun in 1941. Manchukuo regularly declared war on the countries with which Japan was at war. In 1939, Manchukuo acceded to the Anti-Commintern Pact signed by Japan, Italy and Germany in 1936.

Postage stamp of Manchukuo

Map of Manchukuo (3.35 MB, Chinese)

Government of Manchukuo (photo taken before 1942):
First row, left to right: Yu Zhishan (于芷山), Minister of War; Xie Jishi (谢介石), Ambassador to the Great Japanese Empire; Xi Qia (熙洽), head of the Imperial Household Office;
Zhang Jinghui (张景惠), Prime Minister; Zang Shii (臧式毅), Chairman of the Senate; Lü Ronghuan (吕荣寰), Minister of Civil Affairs.
Second row, left to right: Ding Jianxiu (丁鉴修), Minister of Industry; Li Shaogeng (李绍庚), Minister of Transportation; Yuan Jinkai (袁金铠), Minister of the Court; Ruan Zhendo (阮振铎), Minister of Education; Zhang Yanqing (张燕卿), Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During the reign of Pu Yi in Manchuria, the Japanese forced Pu Jie's brother, who was studying at a Japanese military school, to marry a Japanese woman, Ms. Saga Hiro. Pu Yi was also offered to marry a Japanese woman, but he suspected that they wanted to put a spy on him under the guise of a wife, and in 1937 he took a second wife, a Manchu girl named Tan Yu-Ling (谭玉龄, 1920 - 1942), which means "Jade Years". However, Tan Yu-Ling died five years after her marriage, and Pu Yi blamed the Japanese for poisoning her. As happened before in the Forbidden City, the Japanese gave the emperor photographs of several girls, and in 1943 Pu Yi remarried a Manchu girl who had been brought up in a Japanese school. Her name was Li Yuqin (李玉琴, 1928 - 2001), meaning "Jade Lute". The emperor had not lived with her since the day he abdicated the throne of Manchukuo, but they officially divorced only in 1958.

Tan Yu-Ling, Emperor's Consort

Li Yuqin, Emperor's Consort

Emperor's brother Pu Jie and his Japanese consort Saga Hiro

In the last years of his reign, despite the fact that the traditional religion of the emperors of the Qing Dynasty was Confucianism, Pu Yi began to lean towards Buddhism. During this period, he became a committed vegetarian; in the spirit of the teachings of the Buddha, forbade killing any living creatures in the palace, up to mice and flies. Pu Yi, removed from state affairs by the Japanese, fell into mysticism, became interested in divination and meditation, during which it was forbidden to make noise in the palace. Exhausted by his own position as a hostage, deprived of power, feeling the impending disaster, Pu Yi gradually turned into a domestic tyrant. Physical punishment of servants became the norm for the imperial palace in Changchun. When one of the servant boys, who was trying to escape from the palace, was caught and died from beatings, Pu Yi was only afraid that the soul of the slain might not find rest and begin to take revenge on him. Several days were devoted to prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased servant. So lived Pu Yi, the Emperor of Manchukuo, deprived of power, protected from the outside world by the Japanese authorities. Over time, the command of the Kwantung Army was not up to the Manchu emperor. The military position of the Kwantung Army in the war with the USSR became more and more difficult every day.

Media materials:

1. Video about the palace of the emperor of Manchukuo in Changchun.
   
2. Manchukuo. Documentary film from 1938.