State of Manchuria

State of Manchuria
Conventional long name	State of Manchuria
Common name	Manchuria
Status	Puppet state
Era	Interwar period • World War II
Year start	1932
Year end	1945
P1	Republic of China (1912–1949)
S1	Soviet occupation of Manchuria
Flag s1	Flag of the Soviet Union (1923–1955).svg
S2	Republic of China (1912–1949)
Capital	Hsinking (Changchun)
Common languages	Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Manchu
Government type	Constitutional monarchy (de jure), One-party military dictatorship (de facto)
Title leader	Emperor
Leader1	Puyi
Year leader1	1934–1945
Title deputy	Prime Minister
Deputy1	Zheng Xiaoxu
Year deputy1	1932–1935
Deputy2	Zhang Jinghui
Year deputy2	1935–1945
Stat year1	1934
Stat area1	1130000
Stat pop1	30,880,000
Currency	Manchukuo yuan

State of Manchuria. The region of Manchuria, located in Northeast Asia, became the site of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo from 1932 until the end of the Second World War. Established following the Mukden Incident and the subsequent Japanese invasion of Manchuria, its nominal sovereignty under Emperor Puyi belied complete control by the Imperial Japanese Army and the Kwantung Army. The entity's existence was a critical factor leading to the Second Sino-Japanese War and was ultimately dissolved after the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945.

Geography of Manchuria

The vast territory encompassed the modern Chinese provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, along with parts of Inner Mongolia. Its landscape was defined by major river systems like the Liao River and the Songhua River, and mountain ranges such as the Greater Khingan and the Changbai Mountains. The region's strategic position bordered the Soviet Union along the Amur River and Korean Peninsula, while its southern coast provided access to the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. Key cities included the capital Hsinking (modern Changchun), the industrial center of Mukden (Shenyang), and the port of Dalian.

History of Manchuria

Historically, Manchuria was the homeland of the Jurchen people and later the Manchu people, who established the Qing dynasty that ruled China from 1644 to 1912. Following the dynasty's collapse, the region became a contested sphere of influence, particularly between the Republic of China, Russia, and Japan. The Treaty of Portsmouth ended the Russo-Japanese War and granted Japan substantial rights in South Manchuria. Subsequent decades saw intense political maneuvering by local warlords like Zhang Zuolin and his son Zhang Xueliang, culminating in the Japanese military takeover in 1931.

Establishment of Manchukuo

The state was proclaimed on March 1, 1932, after the Kwantung Army engineered the Mukden Incident and rapidly occupied the region. The last Qing dynasty emperor, Puyi, was installed first as Chief Executive and then, in 1934, as Emperor of the Empire of Manchukuo. The establishment was immediately condemned by the League of Nations, whose Lytton Commission investigated and refused recognition, leading to Japan's withdrawal from the international body. Key founding figures included the Japanese officer Kenji Doihara and the Chinese collaborator Zheng Xiaoxu, who served as the first Prime Minister of Manchukuo.

Politics and Government

Though nominally a constitutional monarchy, real power resided with the Japanese, particularly the Kwantung Army and a network of Japanese advisors within the General Affairs State Council. The Concordia Association served as the sole political organization, enforcing ideological conformity. The administration was heavily militarized, with institutions like the Manchukuo Imperial Army and the Kempeitai police ensuring control. Key political leaders included Prime Ministers Zhang Jinghui and Zheng Xiaoxu, while ultimate authority was held by Japanese officials such as General Jiro Minami and General Yoshijirō Umezu.

Economy of Manchuria

The economy was developed into a critical industrial base for the Japanese Empire, managed by entities like the South Manchuria Railway Company and the Manchurian Industrial Development Corporation. Heavy industries focused on Anshan for steel production and Fushun for coal mining, while the agricultural plains were exploited for soybean and grain yields to support Japan. Major infrastructure projects included the expansion of the Chinese Eastern Railway and the construction of the Fengman Dam on the Songhua River. The currency, the Manchukuo yuan, was pegged to the Japanese yen.

Demographics and Culture

The population was multi-ethnic, comprising Han Chinese, Manchu people, Mongols, Koreans, Japanese people, and smaller groups like the Evenks. Japanese immigration was actively promoted through state-sponsored programs like the Million to Manchuria campaign. The state promoted a syncretic "Kingly Way" philosophy, blending Confucianism, Buddhism, and State Shinto, while suppressing Chinese nationalist sentiments. Cultural institutions included the Manchukuo Film Association and the state-sponsored Xinjing Symphony Orchestra, all serving propaganda purposes under the oversight of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Category:Former countries in East Asia Category:Client states of the Empire of Japan Category:States and territories established in 1932 Category:States and territories disestablished in 1945