the Kwantung Army by capturing Harbin and Mukden. By August 21, the Red Army had captured almost all of Manchuria, and the final surrender of the Kwantung Army took place. On August 11 to 12, 1945, the 87th Rifle Corps was brought out from the reserve of the 1st Far Eastern Front, and received new orders to prepare for landing operations on the island of Hokkaido (Japan); however, the planned operation never took place, although elements of the 87th Corps participated in other operations against Japanese forces in the theatre. On September 30, 1945, the Primorskiy (Maritime Provinces) Military District was formed on the territory of Primorsky Krai (territory of the former Ussuri Oblast), from HQ 1st Far East Front. Commanders Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasily K. Blukher (1 July – 4 September, 1938) Komkor Grigori M. Shtern (August 1938; July 1940 – January 1941) Colonel General Iosif R. Apanasenko [promoted to Army General in February 1941] (January 1941 – April 1943) Colonel General Maxim A. Purkaev [promoted to Army General in October 1944] (April 1943 – August 1945) Notes External links David Glantz, Stumbling Colossus'', University Press of Kansas, 1998 (for 1941 order of battle) Far East Front Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 History of the Russian Far East de:1. Fernostfront