Editing Second Sino-Japanese War (section)

===Soviet===
After Germany and Japan signed the anti-communist [[Anti-Comintern Pact]], the Soviet Union hoped to keep China fighting, in order to deter a [[Kantokuen|Japanese invasion]] of Siberia and save itself from a [[two-front war]]. In September 1937, they signed the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and approved Operation Zet, the formation of a secret [[Soviet Volunteer Group|Soviet volunteer air force]], in which Soviet technicians upgraded and ran some of China's transportation systems. [[Bomber]]s, [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]], supplies and advisors arrived, headed by [[Aleksandr Cherepanov]]. Prior to the Western Allies, the Soviets provided the most foreign aid to China: some $250&nbsp;million in credits for munitions and other supplies. The Soviet Union defeated Japan in the [[Battles of Khalkhin Gol]] in May&nbsp;– September 1939, leaving the Japanese reluctant to fight the Soviets again.<ref>Douglas Varner, ''To the Banks of the Halha: The Nomohan Incident and the Northern Limits of the Japanese Empire'' (2008)</ref> In April 1941, Soviet aid to China ended with the [[Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact]] and the beginning of the [[Great Patriotic War]]. This pact enabled the Soviet Union to avoid fighting against Germany and Japan at the same time. In August 1945, the Soviet Union annulled the neutrality pact with Japan and invaded Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, the Kuril Islands, and northern Korea. The Soviets also continued to support the Chinese Communist Party. In total, 3,665 Soviet advisors and pilots served in China,{{sfn|Taylor|page=156}} and 227 of them died fighting there.<ref>[http://www.soldat.ru/doc/casualties/book/chapter4_4.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313141742/http://www.soldat.ru/doc/casualties/book/chapter4_4.html|date=13 March 2010}}</ref>

The Soviet Union provided financial aid to both the Communists and the Nationalists.<ref name=":022" />{{Rp|page=34}}