On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender.

On the same day, Puyi, the puppet emperor of Manchukuo, read out the "Edict of Abdication", ending his 13-year puppet career in Manchukuo.

Afterwards, Puyi was taken to the Soviet Union and spent five years as a prisoner of war before returning to China in 1950.

So, what was Puyi's life like as a prisoner of war in the Soviet Union for five years?

1. Being accidentally captured while escaping.

On August 16, 1945, under the mobilization of Yoshioka Yasuo, the Japanese representative in Manchukuo, Puyi took his brother Pujie, nephew Yugan, doctors and attendants to Shenyang Airport, preparing to flee to Japan.

While Puyi and his party were waiting for the Japanese plane in the airport hall, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of heavily armed Soviet Red Army troops.

All Japanese troops at the airport were disarmed.

At this time, a Soviet Red Army officer noticed Puyi, who was wearing military uniform and with a dignified figure.

After questioning, I learned that he was the puppet emperor of Manchuria.

So the officer politely invited Puyi to the Soviet plane parked on the runway and confiscated the pistol he carried.

Yoshioka tried to stop him, but the Soviet soldiers scolded him and forcibly separated Puyi from him.

When the Soviet soldiers heard that Puyi had been captured, they came to watch out of curiosity. Puyi even shook hands with the soldiers and took pictures.

In this way, Puyi met the Soviet army by chance in Shenyang, and accidentally became a prisoner of the Soviet army.

Subsequently, the Soviet army escorted Puyi directly to Chita Airport and imprisoned him in the Chita Garrison Headquarters.

2. Continue to stage a show while in detention.

In October 1945, Puyi was transferred to Khabarovsk Detention Center No. 45. In addition to Puyi and his party, some high-level Japanese war criminals were also detained here.

Puyi's treatment in the detention center was very good and he received preferential treatment from the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union specially arranged a waiter for him to be responsible for the daily living and management of Puyi and others.

Hearty Russian meals are served at every meal, as well as bread, fruits, cream products and other foods.

In addition, the Soviet Union also equipped Puyi with doctors and nurses to check his health regularly.

In addition to these thoughtful arrangements, the Soviets also gave Puyi a monthly pocket money of 30 rubles.

However, the money was of little use to Puyi, so he had to give it to his subordinates.

Pu Yi still acted like an "emperor" in the detention center. He accepted greetings from Pu Jie and his nephew at regular intervals every day, and enjoyed the service of his subordinates.

Puyi never participated in labor and spent a lot of time every day praising Buddha and chanting sutras.

At the same time, he also likes to play with the divination gadgets in his hands to predict his future destiny.

The Soviets did not interfere with Puyi's actions and allowed him to show off in the detention center.

3. Urgent desire to stay in the Soviet Union permanently.

Since Puyi served as the puppet emperor of the puppet Manchukuo for more than ten years, he was very worried about being extradited by China to face trial.

In his opinion, people like him will definitely be sentenced to death.

Therefore, Puyi tried every means to stay in the Soviet Union for a long time, and then waited for opportunities to go to Britain and the United States.

As early as December 1945, Puyi wrote a letter to Stalin expressing his wish to stay in the Soviet Union for a long time.

He said in the letter: "Without any presumption, I boldly asked your government to allow me to stay in Soviet socialist territory forever." But he was rejected.

Later, Puyi asked to join the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, hoping to become the first emperor to join the Communist Party.

But got no reply.

To show his determination, Puyi himself established a "Marxism-Leninism Study Group" in prison, studying for two hours every day.

In December 1947, Puyi wrote a letter to the Soviet government from Khabarovsk Prison, once again strongly expressing his desire to stay in the Soviet Union: "Yu Zi has repeatedly requested with the greatest sincerity and fervent wishes to be able to live in the Soviet Union for a long time.

Within the Soviet Federation." But the letter still disappeared without any news.

Puyi saw that his repeated requests had no effect, so he came up with the idea of ????bringing two boxes full of jewelry and donating them to the Soviet government in the name of "helping the Soviet Union restore post-war economic funds."

The Soviet side estimated that these valuables were worth nearly 500,000 rubles (actually much more).

But his goodwill gestures also received no response.

Later, the Soviet Union handed over some items to the Chinese government.

4. Actively testify in court.

In August 1946, the Soviet Union sent Puyi to the "Far East Military Tribunal" to testify. In eight trials, Puyi exposed the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese invaders against the Chinese people in the Northeast and the plan to support the puppet regime to enslave Manchuria.

Barbaric act.

At the same time, according to the Soviet Union's ideas, it was revealed that the purpose of the Japanese building railways in Northeast China was to build Northeast China into a forward military base for the invasion of the Soviet Union.

Puyi wrote in his later memoirs: "I vigorously accused the Japanese war criminals and provided materials to the court with great enthusiasm." Puyi's testimony won the Soviet Union more status and rights as a victorious nation.

5. Reluctantly being deported back to the country.

In July 1950, after many negotiations between the Chinese and Soviet governments, it was decided to extradite Puyi back to China.

The time is set for August 1, and the location is determined to be Suifenhe, Heilongjiang.

After hearing the news, Puyi was very frightened. He was afraid of the trial of the Chinese government and even more afraid of the Chinese people's crusade against him.

In the early morning of August 1, the special train prepared by the Soviet side for Puyi's return to China slowly stopped at Suifenhe City Station.

More than 50 puppet Manchukuo officials, including Puyi, were extradited back to China and detained at the Fushun Prisoner of War Management Center.