The following is a translation of a brief Top Secret encrypted telegram dated 27 August 1941 from Shanghai regarding the concentration of two and a half million Japanese soldiers in Manchuria and Mongolia and regarding Japan’s plans to attack the USSR in the coming days. The identity of the original source of the information, SEMENOV, is currently unknown. The agent to whom SEMENOV confided the information has been redacted during the declassification process.
TOP SECRET
Removal of copies prohibited
CIPHER TELEGRAM No. 5430, 5431
From SHANGHAI
Received 27 August 1941 at 07:50 Deciphered 30 August 1941 at 01:00
TO VIKTOR
A worker in the American transport office, SEMENOV, reported to “ ” that he has learned from American circles that Japan has concentrated two and a half million soldiers in Manchuria and Mongolia. There is a torrent of soldiers, tanks, airplanes, and provisions moving along all of the rail lines. The Japanese are thinking of attacking the USSR in five days, at most. The strike will be carried out in two axes – in the area of Iman and through Mongolia to Lake Baikal. Mobilization has been underway in Japan for three weeks already. During this time, the Japanese fleet is headed south.
Translation © 2025 by Michael Estes and TranslatingHistory.org
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