Japanese invasion of Manchuria

The Japanese invasion of Manchuria began on 18 September 1931, when the Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan invaded the Manchuria region of China immediately after the Mukden incident, a false flag event staged by Japanese military personnel as a pretext. The fighting ended in February 1932 with the Japanese setting up the puppet state of Manchukuo, which they held until the Soviet attack of August 1945. The invasion drew international attention, and the League of Nations sent the Lytton Commission, led by Victor Bulwer-Lytton, which reported in October 1932 that Manchukuo should not be recognized and that Manchuria should return to Chinese sovereignty. Japan responded by withdrawing from the League of Nations entirely.