The neutrality pact between the empire of Japan and the USSR signed in Moscow on April 13, 1941 and the involvement of the Soviet Union in the war against Japan

The study analyzes several aspects of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact negotiated in Moscow on April 13, 1941. The emphasis is placed on the involvement of the USSR in the war against the Empire of Japan revolving around the above-mentioned Pact. For both Japanese and Western societies, the Soviet Union violated the Pact when it went to war against Japan. However, the crux of the treaty is determined by its regulations rather than the title of this instrument. Thus, the analysis of Article 2 of the Pact gives ground to form an opinion on the legality of the Soviet hostilities towards Japan. According to Article 2, should one of the Contracting Parties (Japan or the former Soviet Union) become the object of hostilities on the part of one or several third powers, the other Contracting Party will observe neutrality throughout the duration of the conflict. The Soviet Union was the target for invasion by the Third Reich on June 22, 1941. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 07, 1941 and became a subject of the Pacific War (December 07, 1941 - September 02, 1945). Therefore, firstly, Japan had to remain neutral in the German-Soviet War of 1941-1945 because the USSR was an object of conflict in Europe. Secondly, the Soviet Union was not obliged to safeguard its neutrality because Japan was a subject of conflict in the Pacific Ocean, East and Southeast Asia. Consequently, the provisions of the Neutrality Pact as of April 13, 1941 made it legal for USSR to go to war with Japan.