№324 Directive from the Supreme Command Headquarters to the Commander in Chief of the Soviet Forces in the Far East on the Start of Combat Operations № 11122 August 7 1945 16 30 The Supreme Command Headquarters o r d e r s 1 On August 9th the Transbaikal the 1st and 2nd Far East fronts are to begin combat operations to carry out the tasks outlined in Headquarters directives № 11112 for the 2nd Far East front № 11113 for the 1st Far East front and № 11114 for the Transbaikal front Air operations for all fronts should start on the morning of August 9th with the primary aim of bombing Harbin and Changchun Ground troops should cross the Manchuria border Transbaikal and 1st Far East front – the morning of August 9th the 2nd Far East front – on the orders from Marshal Vasilevsky 2 Upon receipt of this order the Pacific Fleet is to a Go into operational readiness number one b Begin to position minefields according to the approved plan with the exception of the entryways to the Amur River and Taui Bay c Cease individual navigation direct transports to rallying points Hereafter organize maritime traffic in convoys under the protection of warships d Deploy submarines Begin the fleet’s combat operations on the morning of August 9th 3 Use the Transbaikal time zone 4 Report upon the receipt and execution of this order Supreme Command Headquarters J Stalin Antonov