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    Nomonhan (Nomonhan Obo) Hulunbuir Province Manchuria (Manchukuo) | China
Location
Nomonhan is located located along the Holsten River on the border between Manchuria (Manchukuo) in northern China and Mongolia. Also spelled "Nomon-han-burd-obo" or "Nomonhan Obo". To the west is the Khalkhin Gol (Halhyn Gol, Khalkhin River, Halha River). To the northeast is Lake Abutara (Abutara-ko). In early 1939, a small village or settlement consisting of yurts erected by nomadic people grazing goats was located in this area. An obo (marker) was situated on the top of a barkhan (small hill) with an elevation of roughly 147.6' / 45m near the Khalastin Gol (Holsten River). In the vicinity were small swamp areas and ravines.

Wartime History
During the late 1930s, the border between Mongolia and Manchukuo (Manchuria) was disputed. Mongolia and the Soviet Union claimed the border was east of the village of Nomonhan, while the Japanese claimed it was along the Khalkhin Gol (Khalkhin River).

During early May 1939, seven Manchukuoan policemen were stationed at Nomonhan and an observation post was established at this location with Manchukuoan guards to watch the border area.

In early May 1939 at the start of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol / Nomonhan Incident, Mongolian cavalry crossed the Khalkhin Gol into the disputed border area. Manchukuon and Japanese forces responded by occupying the disputed area to the Khalkhin Gol.

During the Battle of Khalkhin Gol / Nomonhan Incident, Nomonhan was a staging base and rear area for most of the battle. By August 1939, the Japanese Army established a field hospital at this location. Aso, Type 90 75mm Field Guns commanded by Miyao were emplaced at Nomonhan south of the Holsten River and fired on the enemy positions to the west and covered the withdrawal of Japanese forces in late August 1939.

Today
In present day satellite imagery, there appears to be nothing at the approximate location of the 1939 site of Nomonhan. Today, the precise location of Nomonhan is unclear and likely inside the restricted zone near the international border between Mongolia and China, or just over the border inside China.

Today, there are two settlements that might be near the original location of Nomonhan. A large settlement the northern side of Abutara-ko listed as "Nuomen Hanbu Ride Sumu" or Nuomenhan Buride 诺门罕布日德. Anothter settlement is named "Bayin Buride Gacha" Bayin Buride 巴音布日德 roughly 3km due south of Abutara-ko.

References
Nomonhan (1990) page 809
Japanese Studies on Manchuria: Volume XI Part 3 Book B pages 184, 206-207

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019

 

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