10 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew About World War II

7. Japan And Russia Are Still At War

Perhaps you have already heard how towards the end of WWII Russia finally declared war on Japan; since a peace treaty was never signed technically both countries are still at war. However, what you may not know is the conflict between Japan and Russia goes back much farther than the final days of the World War. In 1904, both countries fought over land disputes concerning their rights to own Manchuria, Korea, and the Sakhalin and Kurile Islands. The Russo-Japanese War was won a year later by the empire of Japan, but both countries were left extremely bitter towards each other. A young man during the time of the conflict the war became Joseph Stalin's primary reason for declaring war on an already defeated Japan after the surrender of Germany on May 8th, 1945. In just the few short months Russia fought against Japan, Stalin was able to seize parts of Mongolia, North Korea, and the Sakhalin and Kurile Islands. Hmm... Interestingly coincidental? Stalin's would admit his true motives before his death. Russia's refusal to return the Kurile Islands is mainly what stopped Japan from ever signing a peace treaty with the larger country even to this day. The issue still surfaces in the U.N. with Russia pretending there is no problem at all and the demilitarized Japan politely bowing and returning home to begrudgingly sharpen their katanas behind closed doors.