One of the largest confrontations is the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The reasons for it will be discussed in the article. As a result of the conflict, armadillo guns, long-range artillery, and destroyers were used.
The essence of this war was which of the two warring empires would dominate the Far East. Emperor of Russia Nicholas II considered it his primary task to strengthen the influence of his state in East Asia. At the same time, Emperor Meiji of Japan sought to gain complete control over Korea. War became inevitable.
Background of the conflict
It is clear that the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 (the reasons are connected with the Far East) did not start instantly. She had her prerequisites.
Russia has advanced Central Asia to the border with Afghanistan and Persia, which affected the interests of Great Britain. Unable to expand in this direction, the empire switched to the East. There was China, which, due to complete exhaustion in the opium wars, was forced to transfer part of the territory to Russia. So she received control of Primorye (the territory of modern Vladivostok), the Kuril Islands, and partly Sakhalin Island. To connect distant frontiers, the Trans-Siberian Railway was created, which, along the railway line, provided communication between Chelyabinsk and Vladivostok. In addition to the railroad, Russia planned to trade on the ice-free Yellow Sea through Port Arthur.
In Japan, at the same time, their transformations were taking place. Having come to power, Emperor Meiji ended the policy of self-isolation and began to modernize the state. All his reforms were so successful that a quarter of a century after they began, the empire was able to seriously think about military expansion to other states. Its first targets were China and Korea. The victory of Japan over China allowed her to get in 1895 the rights to Korea, the island of Taiwan and other lands.
A conflict was brewing between two strong empires for dominance in East Asia. The result was the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The causes of the conflict should be considered in more detail.
The main causes of the war
It was extremely important for both powers to show their military achievements, so the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 unfolded. The reasons for this confrontation lie not only in the claims to the territory of China, but also in the internal political situations that had developed in both empires by that time. A successful campaign in a war not only gives the victor an economic advantage, but also raises her status on the world stage and silences opponents of her existing power. What did both states count on in this conflict? What were the main causes of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905? The table below reveals the answers to these questions.
Precisely because both powers were striving for an armed solution to the conflict, all diplomatic negotiations did not bring results.
The balance of power on land
The causes of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 were both economic and political. The 23rd Artillery Brigade was sent to the Eastern Front from Russia. As for the numerical advantage of the armies, the leadership belonged to Russia. However, in the East, the army was limited to 150 thousand people. However, they were scattered over a wide area.
- Vladivostok - 45,000 people
- Manchuria - 28,000 people
- Port Arthur - 22,000 people
- Security of the Chinese Eastern Railway - 35,000 people.
- Artillery, engineering troops - up to 8000 people.
The biggest problem of the Russian army was the remoteness from the European part. Communication was carried out by telegraph, and delivery was carried out by the CER line. However, a limited amount of cargo could be delivered by rail. In addition, the leadership did not have accurate maps of the area, which negatively affected the course of the war.
Japan before the war had an army of 375 thousand people. They studied the area well, had fairly accurate maps. The army has been modernized by English specialists, and the soldiers are devoted to their emperor to death.
The balance of power on the water
In addition to land, battles also took place on the water. Admiral Heihachiro Togo led the Japanese fleet. His task was to block the enemy squadron near Port Arthur. In another sea (Japanese), the squadron of the Land of the Rising Sun counteracted the Vladivostok group of cruisers.
Understanding the causes of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the Meiji state thoroughly prepared for battles on the water. The most important ships of her United Fleet were produced in England, France, Germany and were significantly superior to Russian ships.
Major events of the war
When in February 1904 the Japanese forces began to cross into Korea, the Russian command did not attach any importance to this, although they understood the reasons for the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905.
Briefly about the main events.
- 09.02.1904. The historical battle of the cruiser "Varyag" against the Japanese squadron near Chemulpo.
- 27.02.1904. The Japanese fleet attacked the Russian Port Arthur without declaring war. The Japanese used torpedoes for the first time and disabled 90% of the Pacific Fleet.
- April 1904. The clash of armies on land, which showed Russia's unpreparedness for war (inconsistency in form, lack of military maps, inability to fence). Due to the fact that Russian officers had white tunics, Japanese soldiers easily figured out and killed them.
- May 1904. Capture of the port of Dalniy by the Japanese.
- August 1904. Successful Russian defense of Port Arthur.
- January 1905. Surrender of Port Arthur by Stessel.
- May 1905. The naval battle near Tsushima destroyed the Russian squadron (one ship returned to Vladivostok), while not a single Japanese ship was injured.
- July 1905. Japanese invasion of Sakhalin.
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the reasons for which were of an economic nature, led to the exhaustion of both powers. Japan began to look for ways to resolve the conflict. She resorted to the help of Great Britain and the United States.
Battle of Chemulpo
The famous battle took place on February 9, 1904 off the coast of Korea (the city of Chemulpo). Captain Vsevolod Rudnev commanded two Russian ships. These were the cruiser "Varyag" and the boat "Korean". The squadron of Japan under the command of Sotokichi Uriu consisted of 2 battleships, 4 cruisers, 8 destroyers. They blocked the Russian ships and forced them to join the battle.
In the morning, in clear weather, the Varyag and the Koreyets weighed anchor and tried to get out of the bay. In honor of the exit from the port, music began to play for them, but after only five minutes the alarm sounded on the deck. The battle flag went up.
The Japanese did not expect such actions and expected to destroy the Russian ships in the port. The enemy squadron in a hurry raised anchors, battle flags and began to prepare for battle. The battle began with a shot from the Asama. Then there was a battle with the use of armor-piercing and high-explosive shells from both sides.
In unequal forces, the Varyag was badly damaged, and Rudnev decided to turn back to the anchorage. There, the Japanese could not continue shelling because of the danger of damaging the ships of other states.
Having lowered the anchor, the Varyag team began to study the condition of the ship. Rudnev, meanwhile, went for permission to destroy the cruiser and transfer his team to neutral ships. Not all officers supported Rudnev's decision, but two hours later the team was evacuated. They decided to sink the Varyag by opening its floodgates. The bodies of the dead sailors were left on the cruiser.
It was decided to blow up the Korean boat, having evacuated the team before that. All things were left on the ship, and secret documents were burned.
The sailors were received by French, English and Italian ships. After carrying out all the necessary procedures, they were delivered to Odessa and Sevastopol, from where they were disbanded by the fleet. By agreement, they could not continue to participate in the Russo-Japanese conflict, therefore, on Pacific Fleet they were not allowed.
The results of the war
Japan agreed to sign the peace treaty with the complete surrender of Russia, in which the revolution had already begun. According to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty (08/23/1905), Russia was obliged to fulfill the following points:
- Relinquish claims to Manchuria.
- Renounce in favor of Japan from the Kuril Islands and half of Sakhalin Island.
- Recognize Japan's right to Korea.
- Transfer to Japan the right to lease Port Arthur.
- Pay Japan an indemnity for the "maintenance of prisoners."
In addition, the defeat in the war had negative consequences for Russia in economic terms. Stagnation began in some industries, as their lending from foreign banks decreased. Living in the country has risen in price significantly. The industrialists insisted on the speedy conclusion of peace.
Even those countries that initially supported Japan (Great Britain and the United States) realized how difficult the situation in Russia was. The war had to be stopped in order to direct all forces to the fight against the revolution, which was equally feared by world states.
Mass movements began among workers and military personnel. A striking example is the uprising on the battleship Potemkin.
The causes and results of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 are clear. It remains to find out what were the losses in human terms. Russia lost 270 thousand, of which 50 thousand were killed. Japan lost the same number of soldiers, but more than 80,000 were killed.
Value judgments
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the reasons for which were of an economic and political nature, showed serious problems within the Russian Empire. He also wrote about this. War revealed problems in the army, its weapons, command, as well as blunders in diplomacy.
Japan was not fully satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations. The state lost too much in the fight against the European enemy. She hoped to get more territory, but the United States did not support her in this. Discontent began to brew inside the country, and Japan continued the path of militarization.
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the reasons for which were considered, brought many military tricks:
- use of spotlights;
- the use of wire fences under high voltage current;
- field kitchen;
- radiotelegraphy for the first time made it possible to control ships from a distance;
- switching to fuel oil, which produces no smoke and makes ships less visible;
- the appearance of ships - minelayers, which began to be produced with the spread of mine weapons;
- flamethrowers.
One of the heroic battles of the war with Japan is the battle of the Varyag cruiser at Chemulpo (1904). Together with the ship "Korean" they opposed the whole squadron of the enemy. The battle was obviously lost, but the sailors still made an attempt to break through. It turned out to be unsuccessful, and in order not to surrender, the crew led by Rudnev sank their ship. For courage and heroism, they were awarded the praise of Nicholas II. The Japanese were so impressed by the character and stamina of Rudnev and his sailors that in 1907 they awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun. The captain of the sunken cruiser accepted the award, but never wore it.
There is a version according to which Stessel surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese for a fee. How true this version is, it is already impossible to verify. Be that as it may, because of his act, the campaign was doomed to failure. For this, the general was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in the fortress, but he was pardoned a year after imprisonment. He was deprived of all titles and awards, while leaving a pension.
At the dawn of the twentieth century, a fierce clash occurred between the Russian and Japanese empires. In what year our country was expected to go to war with Japan. It began in the winter of 1904 and lasted more than 12 months until 1905, became a real blow to the whole world. It stood out not only as a subject of dispute between the two powers, but also with the latest weapons that were used in battles.
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Prerequisites
Main events unfolded in the Far East, in one of the most disputed regions of the world. At the same time, the Russian and Japanese empires claimed it, each had its own political strategies regarding this area, ambitions and plans. Specifically, it was about establishing control over the Chinese region of Manchuria, as well as over Korea and the Yellow Sea.
Note! At the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia and Japan were not only the strongest countries in the world, but also actively developing. Oddly enough, this was the first prerequisite for the Russo-Japanese War.
The Russian Empire was actively pushing its borders, touching Persia and Afghanistan in the southeast.
The interests of Great Britain were affected, so the Russian map continued to grow in the direction of the Far East.
China was the first to stand in the way, which became impoverished from numerous wars, was forced give Russia part of their territories in order to obtain support and funds. So, new lands came into the possession of our empire: Primorye, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
The reasons also lay in the policy of Japan. The new emperor Meiji considered self-isolation a relic of the past and actively began to develop his country, promoting it in the international arena. After numerous successful reforms, the Japanese Empire reached a new, modernized level. The next step was the expansion of other states.
Even before the start of the war in 1904 Meiji Conquered China, which gave him the right to dispose of Korean lands. Later, the island of Taiwan and other nearby territories were conquered. Here the prerequisites for future confrontation were hidden, since the interests of the two empires met, which contradicted each other. So, on January 27 (February 9), 1904, the war between Russia and Japan was officially started.
Causes
The Russo-Japanese War has become one of the most striking examples of the "cockfight". No racist, religious or ideological disputes were observed between the two warring countries. The essence of the conflict did not lie in the increase of its own territory for significant reasons. It's just that each state had a goal: to prove to itself and others that it is powerful, strong and invincible.
First consider Causes of the Russo-Japanese War within the Russian Empire:
- The king wanted to assert himself through victory and show all his people that his army and military power were the strongest in the world.
- It was possible once and for all to suppress the outbreak of the revolution, in which the peasants, workers and even the urban intelligentsia were drawn.
How this war could be useful to Japan, we will briefly consider. The Japanese had only one goal: to demonstrate their new weapons, which were improved. Should have tried the newest military equipment, and where can this be done, if not in battle.
Note! The participants in the armed confrontation, in case of victory, would have adjusted their internal political differences. The economy of the victorious country would have improved significantly and new lands would have been received into its possession - Manchuria, Korea and the whole Yellow Sea.
Military action on land
At the beginning of 1904, the 23rd artillery brigade was sent to the eastern front from Russia.
The troops were distributed among strategically important objects - Vladivostok, Manchuria and Port Arthur. There was also a special corral of engineering troops, and a very impressive number of people guarded the CER (railway).
The fact is that all provisions and ammunition were delivered to the soldiers from the European part of the country by train, which is why they required additional protection.
By the way, this has become one of the reasons for the defeat of Russia. The distance from the industrial centers of our country to the Far East is unrealistically great. It took a lot of time to deliver everything necessary, and it was not possible to transport much.
As for the Japanese troops, they were outnumbered by the Russians. Moreover, having left their native and very small islands, they were literally scattered over a vast territory. But in the unfortunate 1904-1905 they were saved by military power. The latest weapons and armored vehicles, destroyers, improved artillery have done their job. It is worth noting the very tactics of warfare and combat, which the Japanese learned from the British. In a word, they took not quantity, but quality and cunning.
Naval battles
The Russo-Japanese War has become real fiasco for the Russian fleet.
Shipbuilding in the Far East region at that time was not too developed, and it was extremely difficult to deliver the “gifts” of the Black Sea to such a distance.
In the Land of the Rising Sun, the fleet was always powerful, Meiji was well prepared, knew the enemy's weaknesses very well, therefore he managed not only to restrain the enemy's onslaught, but also to completely defeat our fleet.
He won the battle thanks to all the same military tactics that he learned from the British.
Main events
The troops of the Russian Empire for a long time did not improve their potential, did not conduct tactical exercises. Their appearance on the Far Eastern front in 1904 made it clear that they simply were not ready to fight and fight. This is clearly seen in the chronology of the main events of the Russo-Japanese War. Let's consider them in order.
- February 9, 1904 - battle of Chemulpo. The Russian cruiser "Varyag" and the ship "Korean", under the command of Vsevolod Rudnev, were surrounded by the Japanese squadron. In an unequal battle, both ships perished, and the remaining crew members were evacuated to Sevastopol and Odessa. In the future, they were forbidden to enter the service in the Pacific Fleet;
- On February 27 of the same year, with the help of the latest torpedoes, the Japanese disabled more than 90% of the Russian fleet by attacking it in Port Arthur;
- spring 1904 - the defeat of the Russian Empire in numerous battles on land. In addition to the difficulties in transporting ammunition and provisions, our soldiers simply did not have a normal map. The Russo-Japanese War had clear schemes, certain strategic objects. But without proper navigation, it was impossible to cope with the task;
- 1904, August - the Russians were able to defend Port Arthur;
- 1905, January - Admiral Stessel surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese;
- May of the same year was another unequal sea battle. After the battle of Tsushima, one Russian ship returned to the port, but the entire Japanese squadron remained safe and sound;
- July 1905 - Japanese troops invaded the territory of Sakhalin.
Probably, the answer to the question of who won the war is obvious. But in fact, numerous battles on land and water have caused the exhaustion of both countries. Japan, although considered the winner, was forced to enlist the support of countries such as Great Britain. The results were disappointing: the economy was completely undermined and domestic politics both countries. Countries signed a peace treaty and the whole world began to help them.
Outcome of hostilities
At the time of the end of hostilities in the Russian Empire, preparations for the revolution were in full swing. The enemy knew this, so he set a condition: Japan agreed to the signing of a peace treaty only on condition of complete surrender. At the same time, they had to comply the following items:
- half of the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands were to pass into the possession of the land of the rising sun;
- renunciation of claims to Manchuria;
- Japan was to have the right to lease Port Arthur;
- the Japanese get all the rights to Korea;
- Russia had to pay her enemy an indemnity for the maintenance of prisoners.
And these were not the only negative consequences of the Russo-Japanese War for our people. The economy began to stagnate for a long time, as factories and factories became impoverished.
Unemployment began in the country, prices for food and other goods rose. Russia began to be denied loans many foreign banks, during which business activities also stopped.
But there were also positive moments. By signing the Portsmouth Peace Agreement, Russia received support from the European powers - England and France.
This was the seed of the birth of a new alliance called the Entente. It is worth noting that Europe was also frightened by the impending revolution, so it tried to provide all possible support to our country so that these events would not go beyond its borders, but only subside. But, as we know, it was not possible to restrain the people, and the revolution became a vivid protest of the population against the current government.
But in Japan, despite numerous losses, things got better. The Land of the Rising Sun proved to the whole world that it can defeat the Europeans. The victory brought this state to the international level.
Why did it all work out
Let us list the reasons for Russia's defeat in this armed confrontation.
- Significant distance from industrial centers. The railroad could not cope with the transportation of everything needed to the front.
- The lack of proper training and skill in the Russian army and navy. The Japanese had more advanced technology possession of weapons and combat.
- Our adversary developed a fundamentally new military equipment, which was difficult to cope with.
- Betrayal by the tsarist generals. For example, the surrender of Port Arthur, which was previously taken.
- The war was not popular among the common people, and many of the soldiers who were sent to the front were not interested in winning. But the Japanese warriors were ready to die for the sake of the emperor.
Analysis of the Russo-Japanese War by historians
One of the largest military conflicts of the early 20th century is the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Its result was the first recent history, the victory of an Asian state over a European one, in a full-scale armed conflict. The Russian Empire entered the war, counting on an easy victory, but the enemy was underestimated.
In the middle of the 19th century, Emperor Mutsuhio carried out a series of reforms, after which Japan turned into a powerful state with a modern army and navy. The country has come out of self-isolation; its claim to dominance in East Asia was intensifying. But another colonial power also sought to gain a foothold in this region -.
Causes of the war and the balance of power
The cause of the war was the clash in the Far East of the geopolitical interests of two empires - modernized Japan and Tsarist Russia.
Japan, having established itself in Korea and Manchuria, was forced to make concessions under pressure from the European powers. Russia was given the Liaodong Peninsula, captured by the island empire during the war with China. But both sides understood that a military conflict could not be avoided and were preparing for hostilities.
By the time the hostilities began, the opponents had concentrated significant forces in the conflict zone. Japan could put up 375-420 thousand people. and 16 heavy warships. Russia had 150 thousand people stationed in Eastern Siberia and 18 heavy ships (battleships, armored cruisers, etc.).
The course of hostilities
The beginning of the war. The defeat of Russian naval forces in the Pacific
The Japanese attacked before the declaration of war, on January 27, 1904. The strikes were delivered in various directions, which allowed the fleet to neutralize the threat of opposition from Russian ships on sea lanes, and parts of the Japanese imperial army land in Korea. Already by February 21, they occupied the capital Pyongyang, and by the beginning of May they blocked the Port Arthur squadron. This allowed the Japanese 2nd Army to land in Manchuria. Thus, the first stage of hostilities was, ended with the victory of Japan. The defeat of the Russian fleet allowed the Asian empire to invade the mainland by land units and ensure their supply.
Campaign of 1904. Defense of Port Arthur
The Russian command expected to take revenge on land. However, the very first battles showed the superiority of the Japanese in the land theater of operations. The 2nd Army defeated the Russians opposing it and was divided into two parts. One of them began to advance on the Kwantung Peninsula, the other on Manchuria. Near Liaoyang (Manchuria), the first major battle took place between the ground units of the warring parties. The Japanese were constantly attacking, and the Russian command, which had previously been confident in victory over the Asians, lost control of the battle. The battle was lost.
Having put his army in order, General Kuropatkin went on the offensive and tried to release the Kwantung fortified area cut off from his own. A major battle unfolded in the Shahe River Valley: there were more Russians, but the Japanese Marshal Oyama managed to hold back the onslaught. Port Arthur was doomed.
Campaign of 1905
This naval fortress had a strong garrison and was fortified from the land. Under the conditions of a complete blockade, the garrison of the fortress repelled four assaults, inflicting significant losses on the enemy; during the defense, various technical innovations were tested. The Japanese kept under the walls of the fortified area from 150 to 200 thousand bayonets. However, after almost a year of siege, the fortress fell. Almost a third of the captured Russian soldiers and officers were wounded.
For Russia, the fall of Port Arthur was a severe blow to the prestige of the empire.
The last chance to turn the tide of the war for the Russian army was the battle of Mukden in February 1905. However, the Japanese were no longer confronted by the formidable force of a great power, but by units that were suppressed by continuous defeats and were far from their native land. After 18 days, the left flank of the Russian army faltered, and the command gave the order to retreat. The forces of both sides were exhausted: a positional war began, the outcome of which could only be changed by the victory of the squadron of Admiral Rozhdestvensky. After many months on the road, she approached the island of Tsushima.
Tsushima. Ultimate Japanese victory
By the time of the Battle of Tsushima, the Japanese fleet had an advantage in ships, the experience of defeating Russian admirals and high morale. Having lost only 3 ships, the Japanese utterly defeated the enemy fleet, scattering its remnants. Russia's maritime borders were unprotected; a few weeks later the first amphibious assaults landed on Sakhalin and Kamchatka.
Peace treaty. The results of the war
In the summer of 1905, both sides were extremely exhausted. Japan had an undeniable military superiority, but she was running out of supplies. Russia, on the contrary, could use its advantage in resources, but for this, it was necessary to restructure the economy and political life for military needs. The outbreak of the 1905 revolution ruled out this possibility. Under these conditions, both sides agreed to sign a peace treaty.
According to the Portsmouth Peace, Russia lost southern part Sakhalin, Liaodong Peninsula, the railway to Port Arthur. The empire was forced to leave Manchuria and Korea, which became the de facto protectorates of Japan. The defeat hastened the collapse of the autocracy and the subsequent disintegration of the Russian Empire. Its opponent Japan, on the contrary, significantly strengthened its position, becoming one of the leading world powers.
The Land of the Rising Sun consistently increased its expansion, becoming one of the largest geopolitical players, and remained so until 1945.
Table: chronology of events
| the date | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| January 1904 | Beginning of the Russo-Japanese War | Japanese destroyers attacked the Russian squadron, stationed on the outer roadstead of Arthur. |
| January - April 1904 | Collisions between the Japanese fleet and the Russian squadron in the Yellow Sea | The Russian fleet is defeated. Land units of Japan land in Korea (January) and Manchuria (May), moving deep into China and towards Port Arthur. |
| August 1904 | Liaoyang battle | The Japanese army established itself in Manchuria |
| October 1904 | Battle on the Shahe River | The Russian army failed to unblock Port Arthur. Positional warfare was established. |
| May - December 1904 | Defense of Port Arthur | Despite repelling four assaults, the fortress capitulated. The Russian fleet lost the ability to operate on sea lanes. The fall of the fortress had a demoralizing effect on the army and society. |
| February 1905 | Battle of Mukden | The retreat of the Russian army from Mukden. |
| August 1905 | Signing of the Peace of Portsmouth | According to the Peace of Portsmouth concluded between Russia and Japan in 1905, Russia ceded a small island territory to Japan, but did not pay indemnities. South Sakhalin, Port Arthur and the port of Dalniy came under the perpetual possession of Japan. Korea and South Manchuria entered the Japanese sphere of influence. Count S.Yu. Witte was nicknamed "Polu-Sakhalin", because during the peace negotiations with Japan in Portsmouth he signed the text of the treaty, according to which South Sakhalin was withdrawn to Japan. |
Strengths and weaknesses of opponents
| Japan | Russia |
|---|---|
Japan's strengths were its territorial proximity to the conflict zone, modernized military forces, and patriotic sentiment among the population. In addition to new weapons, the Japanese army and navy have mastered the European tactics of warfare. However, the officer corps did not have a well-developed skill in managing large military formations armed with progressive military theory and the latest weapons. | Russia had extensive experience of colonial expansion. The personnel of the army, and especially the navy, had high moral and strong-willed qualities if they were provided with the appropriate command. The weapons and equipment of the Russian army were at an average level and, with proper use, could be successfully used against any enemy. |
Military-political reasons for the defeat of Russia
The negative factors that determined the military defeat of the Russian army and navy were: remoteness from the theater of operations, serious shortcomings in the supply of troops and ineffective military leadership.
The political leadership of the Russian Empire, with a general understanding of the inevitability of a collision, purposefully, did not prepare for a war in the Far East.
The defeat hastened the collapse of the autocracy and the subsequent disintegration of the Russian Empire. Its opponent Japan, on the contrary, significantly strengthened its position, becoming one of the leading world powers. The Land of the Rising Sun consistently increased its expansion, becoming the largest geopolitical player and remained so until 1945.
Other factors
- Economic and military-technical backwardness of Russia.
- Imperfect management structures.
- Weak development of the Far East region.
- Treasury and bribery in the army.
- Underestimation of the armed forces of Japan.
Results of the Russo-Japanese War
In conclusion, it is worth noting the importance of defeat in the Russo-Japanese War for the continued existence of the autocratic system in Russia. The inept and ill-considered actions of the government, which caused the death of thousands of soldiers who faithfully defended it, actually led to the beginning of the first revolution in the history of our country. The captured and wounded returning from Manchuria could not hide their indignation. Their testimonies, combined with the visible economic, military and political backwardness, led to a sharp surge of indignation, primarily in the lower and middle strata of Russian society. In fact, the Russo-Japanese War exposed the long-hidden contradictions between the people and the authorities, and this exposure happened so quickly and imperceptibly that it baffled not only the government, but also the participants in the revolution themselves. In many historical publications there is an indication that Japan managed to win the war due to betrayal by the socialists and the nascent Bolshevik Party, but in fact such statements are far from the truth, since it was the failures of the Japanese war that provoked a surge of revolutionary ideas. Thus, the Russo-Japanese War became a turning point in history, a period that forever changed its further course.
“It was not the Russian people,” Lenin wrote, “but the Russian autocracy that started this colonial war, which turned into a war between the new and the old bourgeois world. Not the Russian people, but the autocracy came to a shameful defeat. The Russian people benefited from the defeat of the autocracy. The capitulation of Port Arthur is the prologue to the capitulation of tsarism.
Map: Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905
Russo-Japanese War. Minimum for the exam.
Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 had an important historical meaning, although many thought that it was absolutely meaningless.
But this war played a significant role in the formation of a new government.
Briefly about the causes of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
At the beginning of the last century, the interests of the Russian and Japanese powers clashed in securing China on the seas.
The main reason was the foreign political activity of states:
- Russia's desire to gain a foothold in the Far East region;
- the desire of Japan and Western states to prevent this;
- Japan's desire to take over Korea;
- the construction of military installations by the Russians on the leased Chinese territory.
Japan also tried to acquire superiority in the field of armed forces.
Map of military operations of the Russo-Japanese War
The map shows the main points and course of the war.
On the night of January 27, the Japanese attacked the Russian flotilla in Port Arthur without warning. Then followed the blocking of the port of Chemulpo in Korea by the rest of the Japanese ships. On the map, these actions are shown by blue arrows in the area of the Yellow Sea. On land, blue arrows show the movement of the Japanese army on land.
A year later, in February 1905, one of the main battles took place on land near Mukden (Shenyang). This is marked on the map.
In May 1905, the 2nd Russian flotilla lost the battle near Tsushima Island.
The red dotted lines indicate the breakthrough of the 2nd Russian squadron to Vladivostok.
The beginning of the Japanese war with Russia
The Russo-Japanese War was not a surprise. The conduct of policy on the territory of China assumed such a development of events. Near Port Arthur, Russian ships were on duty to prevent possible attacks.
At night, 8 Japanese destroyers smashed the Russian ships at Port Arthur. Already in the morning, another Japanese flotilla attacked Russian ships near the port of Chemulpo. After that, the landing of the Japanese on land began.
Chronological table of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
Events unfolded on land and sea. The main stages of the war:
| On the sea | On the land |
| Jan 26-27 (8-9 Feb.) 1904 - Japanese attack on Port Arthur. | Feb. – Apr. 1904 - landing of Japanese troops in China. |
| Jan 27 (Feb. 9) 1904 - attack by the Japanese squadron of 2 Russian ships and their destruction. | May 1904 - the Japanese cut off the fortress of Port Arthur from the Russian troops. |
| May 31 (April 13), 1904 - an attempt by Vice Admiral Makarov to leave the harbor of Port Arthur. The ship, on board of which the admiral was, fell on one of the mines placed by the Japanese. Makarov died with almost the entire crew. But the Vice Admiral remained a hero of the Russo-Japanese War. | Aug. 1904 - battle near the city of Liaoyang with General Kuropatkin at the head of the troops. It was unsuccessful for both sides. |
| May 14-15 (according to other sources May 27-28) 1905 - the largest battle near the island of Tsushima, in which the Japanese won. Almost all ships were destroyed. Only three broke through to Vladivostok. It was one of the decisive battles. | Sept. – Oct. 1904 - battles on the Shahe River. |
| Aug. – Dec. 1904 - the siege of Port Arthur. | |
| Dec 20 1904 (January 2, 1905) - surrender of the fortress. | |
| Jan. 1905 - the resumption of defense by Russian troops on the Shahe. | |
| Feb. 1905 - Japanese victory near the city of Mukden (Shenyang). |
The nature of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905.
The war had an aggressive character. The opposition of the 2 empires was carried out for dominance in the Far East.
Japan's goal was to capture Korea, but Russia began to develop infrastructure in the leased territories. This thwarted Japan's aspirations and she took drastic action.
Reasons for the defeat of Russia
Why did Russia lose - because of the wrong steps of the Russian army, or did the Japanese initially have all the conditions for victory?
Russian delegation in Portsmouth
Reasons for the defeat of Russia:
- the unstable situation in the state and the interest of the government in the rapid conclusion of peace;
- a large reserve of troops from Japan;
- it took about 3 days to transfer the Japanese army, and Russia could do it in about a month;
- Japan had better weapons and ships than Russia.
Western countries supported Japan and assisted her. In 1904, England provided Japan with machine guns, which the latter had not previously had.
Outcomes, consequences and results
In 1905, a revolution began in the country. Anti-government sentiment demanded an end to the war with Japan, even on unfavorable terms.
All forces had to be thrown at settling the situation in the state.
Although Russia had enough resources and capabilities to win. If the war had lasted a few more months, Russia could have won, as the Japanese forces began to weaken. But Japan asked the United States to influence Russia and persuade her to negotiate.
- Both countries were withdrawing their armies from the region of Manchuria.
- Russia gave Port Arthur and part of the railway.
- Korea remained in the sphere of interests of the Japanese state.
- Part of Sakhalin now belonged to the Japanese state.
- Japan also gained access to fishing along the coast of Russia.
In both countries, the war had a negative impact on the financial situation. There was an increase in prices and taxes. In addition, the debt of the Japanese state has grown significantly.
Russia drew conclusions from the loss. At the end of the decade, the army and navy were reorganized.
Significance of the Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War acted as an impetus for the revolution. She opened up many problems of the current government. Many did not understand why this war was needed at all. As a result, anti-government sentiment only intensified.
How more people is able to respond to the historical and universal, the wider his nature, the richer his life and the more capable such a person is for progress and development.
F. M. Dostoevsky
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, which we will briefly discuss today, is one of the most important pages in the history of the Russian Empire. In the war, Russia was defeated, demonstrating a military lag behind the leading world countries. Another important event of the war - following its results, the Entente was finally formed, and the world began to slowly, but steadily, roll towards the First World War.
Background of the war
In 1894-1895, Japan defeated China, as a result of which Japan had to cross the Liaodong (Kwantung) Peninsula along with Port Arthur and Farmosa Island (the current name is Taiwan). Germany, France and Russia intervened in the course of the negotiations, insisting that the Liaodong Peninsula remain in the use of China.
In 1896, the government of Nicholas II signed a treaty of friendship with China. As a result, China allows Russia to build a railroad to Vladivostok through Northern Manchuria (China Eastern Railway).
In 1898, Russia, within the framework of a friendship agreement with China, leases the Liaodong Peninsula from the latter for 25 years. This move drew sharp criticism from Japan, which also laid claim to these lands. But this did not lead to serious consequences at that time. In 1902 royal army included in Manchuria. Formally, Japan was ready to recognize this territory for Russia if the latter recognized Japan's dominance in Korea. But the Russian government made a mistake. They did not take Japan seriously, and did not even think of entering into negotiations with it.
Causes and nature of the war
The reasons for the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 are as follows:
- Lease of the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur by Russia.
- Economic expansion of Russia in Manchuria.
- Distribution of spheres of influence in China and Korea.
The nature of hostilities can be defined as follows
- Russia planned to conduct defense and pull up reserves. The transfer of troops was planned to be completed in August 1904, after which it was planned to go on the offensive, up to the landing in Japan.
- Japan planned to wage an offensive war. The first strike was planned at sea with the destruction of the Russian fleet, so that nothing would interfere with the transfer of the landing force. The plans included the capture of Manchuria, the Ussuri and Primorsky Territories.
The balance of power at the beginning of the war
Japan in the war could put up about 175 thousand people (another 100 thousand in reserve) and 1140 field guns. The Russian army consisted of 1 million people and 3.5 million in reserve (reserve). But in the Far East, Russia had 100,000 men and 148 field guns. Also at the disposal of the Russian army were the border guards, who were 24 thousand people with 26 guns. The problem was that these forces, inferior in number to the Japanese, were widely scattered geographically: from Chita to Vladivostok and from Blagoveshchensk to Port Arthur. During 1904-1905, Russia carried out 9 mobilizations, calling for military service about 1 million people.
The Russian fleet consisted of 69 warships. 55 of these ships were in Port Arthur, which was very poorly fortified. To demonstrate that Port Arthur was not completed and ready for war, it is enough to cite the following figures. The fortress was supposed to have 542 guns, but in fact there were only 375, but even of these only 108 guns were usable. That is, the gun supply of Port Arthur at the time of the outbreak of the war was 20%!
It is obvious that the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 began with a clear superiority of Japan on land and at sea.
The course of hostilities
Map of military operations
rice. one - Map of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905
Events of 1904
In January 1904, Japan breaks off diplomatic relations with Russia and on January 27, 1904 attacks warships near Port Arthur. This was the beginning of the war.
Russia began to transfer the army to Far East but it happened very slowly. The distance of 8 thousand kilometers and the unfinished section of the Siberian railway - all this prevented the transfer of the army. The capacity of the road was 3 echelons per day, which is extremely small.
On January 27, 1904, Japan attacked Russian ships in Port Arthur. At the same time, in the Korean port of Chemulpo, an attack was made on the Varyag cruiser and the Korean escort boat. After an unequal battle, the "Korean" was blown up, and the "Varyag" was flooded by the Russian sailors themselves, so that the enemy would not get it. After that, the strategic initiative at sea passed to Japan. The situation at sea worsened after the battleship Petropavlovsk was blown up on a Japanese mine on March 31, on board of which was the commander of the fleet, S. Makarov. In addition to the commander, his entire staff, 29 officers and 652 sailors perished.
In February 1904, Japan landed an army of 60,000 in Korea, which moved towards the Yalu River (the river separated Korea and Manchuria). There were no significant battles at that time, and in mid-April the Japanese army crossed the border of Manchuria.
Fall of Port Arthur
In May, the second Japanese army (50 thousand people) landed on the Liaodong Peninsula and headed for Port Arthur, creating a bridgehead for the offensive. By this time, the Russian army had partially managed to complete the transfer of troops and its strength was 160 thousand people. One of major events war - the battle of Liaoyang in August 1904. This battle still raises many questions among historians. The fact is that in this battle (and it was practically a general one), the Japanese army was defeated. And so much so that the command of the Japanese army declared the impossibility of continuing the conduct of hostilities. The Russo-Japanese War could have ended there if the Russian army went on the offensive. But the commander, Kuropatkin, gives an absolutely absurd order - to retreat. In the course of further events of the war in the Russian army there will be several opportunities to inflict a decisive defeat on the enemy, but each time Kuropatkin either gave absurd orders or hesitated to act, giving the enemy the right time.
After the battle at Liaoyang, the Russian army retreated to the Shahe River, where a new battle took place in September, which did not reveal a winner. After that, there was a lull, and the war moved into a positional phase. In December, General R.I. Kondratenko, who commanded the land defense of the Port Arthur fortress. The new commander of the troops A.M. Stessel, despite the categorical refusal of the soldiers and sailors, decided to surrender the fortress. On December 20, 1904, Stessel surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese. On this, the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 passed into a passive phase, continuing active operations already in 1905.
Later, under public pressure, General Stessel was put on trial and sentenced to death. The sentence was not carried out. Nicholas 2 pardoned the general.
History reference
Defense map of Port Arthur
rice. 2- Defense map of Port Arthur
Events of 1905
The Russian command demanded active actions from Kuropatkin. It was decided to start the offensive in February. But the Japanese preempted him by going on the offensive on Mukden (Shenyang) on February 5, 1905. From February 6 to 25, the largest battle of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 continued. From the Russian side, 280 thousand people took part in it, from the Japanese side - 270 thousand people. There are many interpretations of the Mukden battle in terms of who won the victory in it. In fact, it was a draw. The Russian army lost 90 thousand soldiers, the Japanese - 70 thousand. Smaller losses on the part of Japan are a frequent argument in favor of her victory, but this battle did not give the Japanese army any advantage or gain. Moreover, the losses were so severe that Japan made no further attempts to organize major land battles until the end of the war.
Much more important is the fact that the population of Japan is much smaller than the population of Russia, and after Mukden, the island country has exhausted its human resources. Russia could and should have gone on the offensive in order to win, but 2 factors played against this:
- Kuropatkin factor
- Factor in the Revolution of 1905
On May 14-15, 1905, the Tsushima naval battle took place, in which the Russian squadrons were defeated. The losses of the Russian army amounted to 19 ships and 10 thousand killed and captured.
Kuropatkin factor
Kuropatkin, commanding ground forces, for the entire Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, he did not use a single chance for a favorable offensive in order to inflict great damage on the enemy. There were several such chances, and we talked about them above. Why did the Russian general and commander refuse active actions and did not seek to end the war? After all, if he had given the order to attack after Liaoyang, and with a high degree of probability, the Japanese army would have ceased to exist.
Of course, it is impossible to answer this question directly, but a number of historians put forward the following opinion (I cite it for the reason that it is well-reasoned and extremely similar to the truth). Kuropatkin was closely associated with Witte, who, let me remind you, by the time of the war was removed from the post of prime minister by Nicholas II. Kuropatkin's plan was to create conditions under which the tsar would return Witte. The latter was considered an excellent negotiator, so it was necessary to reduce the war with Japan to a stage where the parties would sit down at the negotiating table. For this, the war could not be ended with the help of the army (the defeat of Japan is a direct surrender without any negotiations). Therefore, the commander did everything to bring the war to a draw. He successfully coped with this task, and indeed Nicholas 2 called on Witte by the end of the war.
Revolution Factor
There are many sources pointing to Japanese financing of the 1905 Revolution. The real facts of the transfer of money, of course. No. But there are 2 facts that I find extremely curious:
- The peak of the revolution and movement fell on the Battle of Tsushima. Nicholas 2 needed an army to fight the revolution and he decided to start peace negotiations with Japan.
- Immediately after the signing of the Peace of Portsmouth, the revolution in Russia began to wane.
Reasons for the defeat of Russia
Why was Russia defeated in the war with Japan? The reasons for Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War are as follows:
- The weakness of the grouping of Russian troops in the Far East.
- The unfinished Trans-Siberian Railway, which did not allow the transfer of troops in full.
- Mistakes of the army command. I already wrote above about the Kuropatkin factor.
- Japan's superiority in military equipment.
The last point is extremely important. He is often forgotten, but undeservedly. In terms of technical equipment, primarily in the navy, Japan was far ahead of Russia. 
Portsmouth Peace
To conclude peace between countries, Japan demanded that Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the United States, act as an intermediary. Negotiations began and the Russian delegation was headed by Witte. Nicholas 2 returned him to his post and entrusted him with negotiating, knowing the talents of this man. And Witte really took a very tough position, not allowing Japan to get significant gains from the war.
The terms of the Peace of Portsmouth were as follows:
- Russia recognized Japan's right to dominate Korea.
- Russia ceded part of the territory of Sakhalin Island (the Japanese wanted to get the entire island, but Witte was against it).
- Russia transferred the Kwantung Peninsula to Japan along with Port Arthur.
- No one paid indemnities to anyone, but Russia had to pay a reward to the enemy for the maintenance of Russian prisoners of war.
Consequences of the war
During the war, Russia and Japan lost about 300 thousand people each, but in view of the population for Japan, these were almost catastrophic losses. The losses were due to the fact that this was the first major war in which automatic weapons were used. At sea, there was a big bias towards the use of mines.
An important fact that many bypass, it was after the Russo-Japanese War that the Entente (Russia, France and England) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary) were finally formed. The fact of the formation of the Entente draws upon itself. Before the war, Europe had an alliance between Russia and France. The latter did not want its expansion. But the events of the Russian war against Japan showed that the Russian army had many problems (it really was), so France signed agreements with England.
Positions of world powers during the war
During the Russo-Japanese War, the world powers occupied the following positions:
- England and USA. Traditionally, the interests of these countries were extremely similar. They supported Japan, but mostly financially. Approximately 40% of Japan's costs of the war were covered by Anglo-Saxon money.
- France declared neutrality. Although, in fact, she had an allied agreement with Russia, she did not fulfill her allied obligations.
- Germany from the first days of the war declared its neutrality.
The Russian-Japanese war was practically not analyzed by tsarist historians, since they simply did not have enough time. After the end of the war Russian empire existed for almost 12 years, which included the revolution, economic problems and world war. Therefore, the main study took place already in Soviet times. But it is important to understand that for Soviet historians it was a war against the backdrop of a revolution. That is, "the tsarist regime strove for aggression, and the people prevented this with all their might." That is why it is written in Soviet textbooks that, for example, the Liaoyang operation ended in the defeat of Russia. Although technically it was a draw.
The end of the war is also seen as the complete defeat of the Russian army on land and in the navy. If at sea the situation was indeed close to defeat, then on land Japan was on the brink of an abyss, since they no longer had the manpower to continue the war. I propose to look at this question even a little wider. How did the wars of that era end after the unconditional defeat (and this is what Soviet historians often talked about) of one of the parties? Large indemnities, large territorial concessions, partial economic and political dependence of the loser on the winner. But there is nothing like it in the Portsmouth world. Russia did not pay anything, lost only the southern part of Sakhalin (an insignificant territory) and refused the land leased from China. The argument is often made that Japan won the fight for dominance in Korea. But Russia has never seriously fought for this territory. She was only interested in Manchuria. And if we go back to the origins of the war, we will see that the Japanese government would never have started a war if Nicholas 2 had recognized Japan's dominance in Korea, just as the Japanese government would have recognized Russia's positions in Manchuria. Therefore, at the end of the war, Russia did what it should have done back in 1903, without bringing matters to a war. But this is a question for the personality of Nicholas 2, who today is extremely fashionable to call a martyr and hero of Russia, but it was his actions that provoked the war.