China and Russia will begin a search for the remains of Soviet servicemen who died in battles in northeast China in 1945, the local foreign affairs authority announced Monday. The search will focus on Huoshao Mountain in the Heliongjiang city of Mudanjiang, where 413 soldiers from the Soviet Union died fighting Japanese troops in August 1945, according to the municipal foreign affairs office.
Some 1.58 million Soviet soldiers fought in northeast China from Aug. 9, 1945 after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan in the final days of World War II. The campaign concluded with the formal surrender of the Japanese empire on Sept. 2.
Local farmer Liu Guanglin found four bodies in August 2012 that were later confirmed to be Soviet soldiers.
Photographs of the search for the remains of fallen World War II Soviet-Union soldiers:
A Russian team member (C) introduces digging techniques to Chinses partners on the Huoshao Mountain in Muling City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, May 12, 2015. A one-month-long China-Russia search began Tuesday to locate the remains of Soviet Union soldiers who died in China fighting Japanese invaders in 1945. A 17-member Russian team, along with a group of Chinese archaeologists, are involved in the dig. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
Russian team members carry a box containing the remains of four Soviet Union soldiers down the Huoshao Mountain in Muling City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, May 12, 2015. A one-month-long China-Russia search began Tuesday to locate the remains of Soviet Union soldiers who died in China fighting Japanese invaders in 1945. A 17-member Russian team, along with a group of Chinese archaeologists, are involved in the dig. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
Russian team members demonstrate belongings of WWII Soviet Union soldiers on the Huoshao Mountain in Muling City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, May 12, 2015. A one-month-long China-Russia search began Tuesday to locate the remains of Soviet Union soldiers who died in China fighting Japanese invaders in 1945. A 17-member Russian team, along with a group of Chinese archaeologists, are involved in the dig. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
Russian team members dig out a box containing the remains of four Soviet Union soldiers on the Huoshao Mountain in Muling City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, May 12, 2015. A one-month-long China-Russia search began Tuesday to locate the remains of Soviet Union soldiers who died in China fighting Japanese invaders in 1945. A 17-member Russian team, along with a group of Chinese archaeologists, are involved in the dig. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
Remains of four Soviet Union soldiers are found by local villagers on the Huoshao Mountain in Muling City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, May 12, 2015. A one-month-long China-Russia search began Tuesday to locate the remains of Soviet Union soldiers who died in China fighting Japanese invaders in 1945. A 17-member Russian team, along with a group of Chinese archaeologists, are involved in the dig. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
China Huoshao Mountains Russia Soviet Union World War 2
