Declaration of War
Russia & Japan clash on the border between Manchuria & Outer Mongolia
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1939 in Japan
Explore 32 historical events and records for Japan in 1939.
Historical records for Japan in 1939
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 32 of 32 unique records.
32Unique records
1 of 1Page
26Named events on this page
12Named people on this page
8Places on this page
January
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan
May
Invasion of Russia
Japanese attack on disputed border areas is renewed between Japanese and Soviets
Battle of Nomonhan
Japan suffers a major defeat by the Russians on the Manchurian frontier
Capture of Hainan
Japan captures the Chinese controlled island of Hainan
July
Capture of Japan
Japan publishes pictures of captured Russian soldiers
August
Hears of Ribbentrops trip to Russia for a pact, express displeasure to
Hears of Ribbentrops trip to Russia for a pact, express displeasure to Weizsacker
Anti-Comintern Pact
Japan renounces the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany
Comintern
Japan renounces the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany
Battle of Nomonhan
Observes the 1st major tank Battle in history between Russia & Japan. Japan & Russia fight an undeclared war on the plains of Outer Mongolia. Fails to restrain the Japanese from persuing the Russians into Mongol territory
Battle of Nomonhan
Defeat convinces the Japanese they cannot fight against the Russians
Battle of Nomonhan
The Russians destroy the IJA forces, 45,000 Japanese soldiers are killed
Germany signs a non-aggression pact with Russia
Germany signs a non-aggression pact with Russia
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan
September
Battle of Nomonhan
Japan suffers a major defeat by the Russians on the Manchurian frontier. A ceasefire forces Ueda to call off his counter-attack against the Russians
Ceasefire
A ceasefire forces Ueda to call off his counter-attack against the Russians
Battle of Nomonhan
Driven back to Nomonhan by Zhukov. Border dispute with Russia located between Manchuria & Outer Mongolia
Ceasefire Agreement
Germany invades Poland & Japan & Russia agree a cease-fire
Peace
Germany invades Poland & Japan & Russia agree a cease-fire
Other events (month unknown)
After the Battle of Nomonhan the Foreign Minister signs a neutrality pact
After the Battle of Nomonhan the Foreign Minister signs a neutrality pact with Russia
Armament
Japan launches a 6 yr naval construction program to have the largest Pacific fleet
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief, Combined Fleet
Completes the popular historical novel
Completes the popular historical novel
Education
Sent to the Peers School, headed by Admiral Yamanashi
Invasion of Hainan
Observes the Japanese invasion of Hainan Island
Invasion of Spratley Island
Observes the Japanese invasion of Spratley Islands off Vietnam
Minister of War
Appointed Minister of War
Neutrality
After the Battle of Nomonhan the Foreign Minister signs a neutrality pact with Russia. After the Battle of Nomonhan a neutrality pact is signed with Russia
Osaka PO
Constructs a Post Office at Osaka. Completes the Osaka Post Office
Pact between Japan and Soviet Union
After the Battle of Nomonhan the Foreign Minister signs a neutrality pact with Russia
Retirement
Retires from Government because of ist militareistic direction
Treaty of Neutrality
After the Battle of Nomonhan a neutrality pact is signed with Russia
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.