End of the Russo-Japanese War 1904 1905. Russo-Japanese War

Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 - one of the main events of the reign of Nicholas II. This war, unfortunately, ended in the defeat of Russia. This article briefly outlines the causes, main events of the Russo-Japanese War and its outcome.

In 1904-1905. Russia waged an unnecessary war with Japan, which ended in defeat due to command errors and underestimation of the enemy. The main battle is the defense of Port Arthur. The war ended with the Peace of Portsmouth, according to which Russia lost the southern half of about. Sakhalin. The war aggravated the revolutionary situation in the country.

Causes of the war

Nicholas II understood that Russia's further advancement in Europe or Central Asia was impossible. The Crimean War limited further expansion in Europe, and after the conquest of the Central Asian khanates (Khiva, Bukhara, Kokand), Russia reached the borders of Persia and Afghanistan, which were in the sphere of influence of the British Empire. Therefore, the king decided to focus on the Far Eastern direction of foreign policy. Relations between Russia and China were developing successfully: with the permission of China, the CER (Chinese Eastern Railway) was built, connecting the lands from Transbaikalia to Vladivostok.

In 1898, Russia and China signed an agreement under which the fortress of Port Arthur and the Liaodong Peninsula were transferred to Russia for 25 years on the basis of a gratuitous lease. In the Far East, Russia met with a new enemy - Japan. This country carried out a rapid modernization (Meiji reforms) and was now in the mood for an aggressive foreign policy.

The main causes of the Russo-Japanese War are:

1. The struggle of Russia and Japan for dominance in the Far East.
2. The Japanese were outraged by the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway, as well as the growing economic influence of Russia in Manchuria.
3. Both powers sought to bring China and Korea into their sphere of influence.
4. Japanese foreign policy had a pronounced imperialist tone, the Japanese dreamed of establishing their dominance in the entire Pacific region (the so-called "Great Japan").
5. Russia was preparing for war not only because of foreign policy goals. There were internal problems in the country, from which the government wanted to distract the people by organizing a "small victorious war." This name was coined by the Minister of the Interior Plehve. It means that, having defeated a weak opponent, the people's trust in the king will increase and the contradictions in society will weaken.

Unfortunately, these expectations were not justified at all. Russia was not ready for war. Only Count S.Yu. Witte opposed the coming war, offering peaceful economic development of the Far Eastern part of the Russian Empire.

Chronology of the war. Course of events and their description

The war began with an unexpected Japanese attack on the Russian fleet on the night of January 26-27, 1904. On the same day, an unequal and heroic battle took place in the Korean Chemulpo Bay between the Varyag cruiser, commanded by V.F. Rudnev, and the gunboat "Korean" against the Japanese. The ships were blown up so as not to get to the enemy. However, the Japanese managed to gain naval superiority, which allowed them to further transfer troops to the continent.

From the very beginning of the war, the main problem for Russia was revealed - the inability to quickly transfer new forces to the front. The population of the Russian Empire was 3.5 times that of Japan, but it was concentrated in the European part of the country. The Trans-Siberian Railway, built shortly before the war, could not ensure the timely dispatch of fresh forces to the Far East. It was much easier for the Japanese to replenish the army, so they had superior numbers.

Already in February-April 1904. the Japanese landed on the continent and began to push the Russian troops.

31.03.1904 there was a terrible, fatal tragedy for Russia and the further course of the war - Admiral Makarov, a talented, outstanding naval commander who commanded the Pacific squadron, died. On the flagship "Petropavlovsk" he was blown up by a mine. Together with Makarov and Petropavlovsk, V.V. died. Vereshchagin is the most famous Russian battle painter, the author of the famous painting “The Apotheosis of War”.

IN May 1904. General A.N. Kuropatkin takes command of the army. This general made many fatal mistakes, and all his military actions were distinguished by indecision and constant hesitation. The outcome of the war would have been completely different if this mediocre commander had not been at the head of the army. Kuropatkin's mistakes led to the fact that the most important fortress in the region, Port Arthur, was cut off from the rest of the army.

IN May 1904. begins the central episode of the Russo-Japanese war - the siege of Port Arthur. Russian troops heroically defended this fortress from the superior forces of the Japanese troops for 157 days.

Initially, the talented General R.I. led the defense. Kondratenko. He took competent actions, and inspired the soldiers with personal courage and valor. Unfortunately, he died at the beginning December 1904., and his place was taken by General A.M. Stessel, who shamefully surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese. Stessel more than once during the war was noted for such "exploits": before the surrender of Port Arthur, which could still fight the enemy, he surrendered the port of Dalniy without putting up any resistance. From Dalny, the Japanese supplied the rest of the army. Surprisingly, Stessel was not even convicted.

IN August 1904. A battle took place near Liaoyang, in which the Russian troops led by Kuropatkin were defeated, and then retreated to Mukden. In October of the same year, an unsuccessful battle took place on the river. Shahe.

IN February 1905. Russian troops were defeated near Mukden. It was a large, hard and very bloody battle: both troops suffered huge losses, our troops managed to retreat in good order, and the Japanese finally exhausted their offensive potential.

IN May 1905 The last battle of the Russo-Japanese War took place: the Battle of Tsushima. The second Pacific squadron, led by Admiral Rozhdestvensky, was defeated at Tsushima. The squadron has come a long way: it left the Baltic Sea, went around the whole of Europe and Africa.

Each defeat painfully affected the state of Russian society. If at the beginning of the war there was a general patriotic upsurge, then with each new defeat, confidence in the tsar was falling. Moreover, 09.01.1905 The First Russian Revolution began, and Nicholas II needed an immediate peace and an end to hostilities in order to suppress rebellions inside Russia.

08/23/1905. A peace treaty was signed in the city of Portsmouth (USA).

Portsmouth Peace

After the Tsushima disaster, it became obvious that peace had to be made. Count S.Yu. became the Russian ambassador. Witte. Nicholas II insistently demanded that Witte adamantly defend the interests of Russia during the negotiations. The tsar wanted Russia not to make any territorial or material concessions under the peace treaty. But Count Witte realized that he would still have to give in. Moreover, not long before the end of the war, the Japanese occupied Sakhalin Island.

The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed on the following terms:

1. Russia recognized Korea in the Japanese sphere of influence.
2. The fortress of Port Arthur and the Liaodong Peninsula were ceded to the Japanese.
3. Japan occupied South Sakhalin. The Kuril Islands remained with Japan.
4. The Japanese were granted the right to conduct fisheries along the shores of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the Sea of ​​Japan and the Bering Sea.

It is worth saying that Witte managed to conclude a peace agreement on fairly mild terms. The Japanese did not receive a penny of indemnity, and the cession of half of Sakhalin was of little importance to Russia: at that time this island was not actively developed. A noteworthy fact: for this territorial concession, S.Yu. Witte was nicknamed "Count Polusakhalinsky".

Reasons for the defeat of Russia

The main reasons for the defeat were:

1. Underestimation of the enemy. The government was set on a "small victorious war" that would end in a quick and triumphant victory. However, this did not happen.
2. US and British support for Japan. These countries supported Japan financially and also supplied her with weapons.
3. Russia was not ready for war: there were not enough troops concentrated in the Far East, and the transfer of soldiers from the European part of the country was long and difficult.
4. The Japanese side had a certain superiority in military-technical equipment.
5. Command errors. Suffice it to recall Kuropatkin's indecision and hesitation, as well as Stessel, who betrayed Russia by surrendering Port Arthur to the Japanese, which could still defend itself.

These points determined the loss of the war.

The results of the war and its significance

The Russo-Japanese War has the following results:

1. The defeat of Russia in the war, first of all, "added fuel" to the fire of the revolution. The people saw in this defeat the inability of the autocracy to govern the country. It was not possible to arrange a “small victorious war”. Trust in Nicholas II has fallen significantly.
2. Russia's influence in the Far East region has weakened. This led to the fact that Nicholas II decided to shift the vector of Russian foreign policy to the European direction. After this defeat, tsarist Russia no longer accepted any operations to strengthen its political influence in the Far East. In Europe, Russia participated in the First World War.
3. The unsuccessful Russo-Japanese War led to instability within Russia itself. The influence of the most radical and revolutionary parties increased, giving a critical description of the autocratic power, accusing it of being unable to lead the country.

Synopsis on the history of Russia

The nature of war: imperialistic, unjust on both sides. The forces of the parties: Russia - 1 million 135 thousand people (total), actually 100 thousand people, Japan - 143 thousand people + navy + reserve (about 200 thousand). Japan's quantitative and qualitative superiority at sea (80:63).

Side Plans:
Japan- an offensive strategy, the purpose of which is dominance at sea, the capture of Korea, the possession of Port Arthur, the defeat of the Russian group.
Russia- there was no general war plan that would ensure the interaction of the army and navy. defensive strategy.

Dates. Events. Notes

January 27, 1904 - A surprise attack by a Japanese squadron of Russian ships off Port Arthur. Heroic battle between Varangian and Korean. Attack repulsed. Russian losses: Varyag is flooded. Korean is blown up. Japan ensured superiority at sea.
January 28 - Re-bombardment of the city and Port Arthur. Attack repulsed.
February 24 - Arrival in Port Arthur of the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov. Makarov's active actions in preparation for the general battle with Japan at sea (offensive tactics).
March 31 - The death of Makarov. The inaction of the fleet, the rejection of offensive tactics.
April 1904 - Landing of the Japanese armies in Korea, forcing the river. Yaly and entry into Manchuria. The initiative in actions on land belongs to the Japanese.
May 1904 - The Japanese began to lay siege to Port Arthur. Port Arthur was cut off from the Russian army. An attempt to release it in June 1904 was unsuccessful.
August 13-21 - Battle of Liaoyang. The forces are approximately equal (160 thousand each). Japanese attacks were repulsed. Kuropatkin's indecisiveness prevented him from building on his success. On August 24, Russian troops retreated to the Shahe River.
October 5 - The battle on the Shahe River began. Fog and mountainous terrain interfered, as well as Kuropatkin's lack of initiative (he acted only with part of the forces he had).
December 2 - The death of General Kondratenko. R.I. Kondratenko led the defense of the fortress.
July 28 - December 20, 1904 - The besieged Port Arthur heroically defended itself. December 20 Stesil gives the order to surrender the fortress. The defenders withstood 6 assaults on the fortress. The fall of Port Arthur was a turning point in the Russo-Japanese War.
February 1905 - Battle of Mukden. 550 thousand people participated from both sides. Kuropatkin's passivity. Losses: Russians -90 thousand, Japanese - 70 thousand. The battle was lost by the Russians.
May 14-15, 1905 - Naval battle at about. Tsushima in the Sea of ​​Japan.
Tactical mistakes of Admiral Rozhdestvensky. Our losses - 19 ships sunk, 5,000 killed, 5,000 captured. The defeat of the Russian fleet
August 5, 1905 – Peace of Portsmouth
By the summer of 1905, Japan began to clearly feel the lack of material and human resources and turned to the United States, Germany, and France for help. The US stands for peace. Peace was signed in Portsmouth, our delegation was headed by S.Yu. Witte.

Peace conditions: Korea is Japan's sphere of interest, both sides withdraw their troops from Manchuria, Russia cedes to Japan Liaodong and Port Arthur, half of Sakhalin and railways. This treaty lost its force after the surrender of Japan in 1914.

Reasons for the defeat: the technical, economic and military superiority of Japan, the military-political and diplomatic isolation of Russia, the operational-tactical and strategic unpreparedness of the Russian army to conduct combat operations in difficult conditions, the mediocrity and betrayal of the tsarist generals, the unpopularity of the war among all segments of the population.

Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 was the result of a clash of interests between Russia and Japan in the Far East. Both countries, which experienced in the last decades of the XIX century. the processes of internal modernization, at about the same time, intensified foreign policy in this region. Russia was aimed at the development of economic expansion in Manchuria and Korea, which were nominally the possessions of China. However, here she ran into Japan, which was rapidly gaining strength, which was also eager to quickly join in the division of a weakened China.

Power rivalry in the Far East

The first major clash between St. Petersburg and Tokyo occurred when the Japanese, having defeated the Chinese in the war of 1894-1895, intended to impose extremely difficult peace conditions on them. The intervention of Russia, supported by France and Germany, forced them to moderate their appetites. But Petersburg, acting as the protector of China, strengthened its influence in this country. In 1896, an agreement was signed on the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER) through Manchuria, which shortened the route to Vladivostok by 800 km and made it possible to expand the Russian presence in the region. In 1898, Port Arthur was leased on the Liaodong Peninsula, which became Russia's main naval base in the Pacific Ocean. It had an advantageous strategic position and, unlike Vladivostok, did not freeze.

In 1900, during the suppression of the so-called Boxer uprising, Russian troops occupied Manchuria. It was Tokyo's turn to express its extreme displeasure. Proposals on the division of spheres of interest (Manchuria - Russia, Korea - Japan) were rejected by St. Petersburg. Emperor Nicholas II was increasingly influenced by adventurers from his entourage, who underestimated the strength of Japan. In addition, as Minister of the Interior V. K. Plehve said, “to keep the revolution ... a small victorious war is needed.” This opinion was supported by many at the top.

"Maxims" were adopted by the Russian army on May 28, 1895. In the Russo-Japanese war, they were used in two forms: with large wheels and a shield, or, as shown in the figure, on a tripod

Meanwhile, Japan was actively preparing for war, building up its military power. The Japanese army deployed for mobilization numbered over 375 thousand people, 1140 guns, 147 machine guns. The Japanese fleet consisted of 80 warships, including 6 squadron battleships, 8 armored ships and 12 light cruisers.

Russia initially kept about 100 thousand people in the Far East (about 10% of the entire army), 148 guns and 8 machine guns. There were 63 Russian warships in the Pacific Ocean, including 7 squadron battleships, 4 armored and 7 light cruisers. The remoteness of this region from the center and the difficulties of transportation along the Trans-Siberian Railway affected. In general, Russia was noticeably inferior to Japan in terms of readiness for war.

The move of the warriors

On January 24 (February 6, New Style), 1904, Japan broke off negotiations and severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Even before the official declaration of war, which followed on January 28 (February 10), 1904, Japanese destroyers on the night of January 26-27 (February 8-9) attacked the Russian squadron in Port Arthur and damaged two battleships and a cruiser. For the Russian sailors, the attack was sudden, although it was clear from the behavior of the Japanese that they were about to start a war. Nevertheless, the Russian ships stood on the outer road without mine nets, and two of them illuminated the road with searchlights (they were hit in the first place). True, the Japanese were not distinguished by accuracy either, although they fired almost point-blank: out of 16 torpedoes, only three hit the target.

Japanese sailors. 1905

On January 27 (February 9), 1904, six Japanese cruisers and eight destroyers blocked the Russian cruiser "Varyag" (commander - captain of the 1st rank V. F. Rudnev) and the gunboat "Koreets" in the Korean port of Chemulpo (now Incheon) and offered them to surrender. The Russian sailors made a breakthrough, but after an hour-long battle they returned to the port. The heavily damaged "Varyag" was flooded, and the "Korean" was blown up by his teams, who went on board the ships of neutral states.

The feat of the cruiser "Varyag" received a wide response in Russia and abroad. The sailors were solemnly welcomed at home, they were received by Nicholas II. Until now, the song "Varangian" is popular both in the fleet and among the people:

Upstairs you, comrades, All in places! The last parade is coming... Our proud "Varangian" does not surrender to the enemy, No one wants mercy.

Trouble at sea plagued the Russians. At the end of January, the Yenisei mine transport was blown up and sank on its own minefields, and then the Boyarin cruiser sent to help it. However, the Japanese were undermined by Russian mines more often. So, on May 2 (15), two Japanese battleships exploded at once.

At the end of February, a new squadron commander, Vice Admiral S. O. Makarov, a brave and active naval commander, arrived in Port Arthur. But he was not destined to defeat the Japanese. On March 31 (April 13), the flagship battleship Petropavlovsk, moving to help the ships attacked by the Japanese, ran into a mine and sank in a matter of minutes. Makarov, his personal friend, battle painter V.V. Vereshchagin, and almost the entire crew were killed. The command of the squadron was taken over by the uninitiative Rear Admiral V.K. Vitgeft. The Russians tried to break through to Vladivostok, but on July 28 (August 10) they were stopped by the Japanese in the battle in the Yellow Sea. In this battle, Vitgeft died, and the remnants of the Russian squadron returned to Port Arthur.

On land, things also turned out badly for Russia. In February 1904, Japanese troops landed in Korea and in April reached the border with Manchuria, where a large Russian detachment was defeated on the Yalu River. In April - May, the Japanese landed on the Liaodong Peninsula and interrupted Port Arthur's connection with the main army. In June, the Russian troops sent to help the fortress were defeated near Vafangou and retreated to the north. In July, the siege of Port Arthur began. In August, the Liaoyang battle took place with the participation of the main forces of both sides. The Russians, having a numerical advantage, successfully repelled the attacks of the Japanese and could count on success, but the army commander A.N. Kuropatkin showed indecision and ordered a retreat. In September - October, the oncoming battle on the Shahe River ended inconclusively, and both sides, having suffered heavy losses, went on the defensive.

The epicenter of events has shifted to Port Arthur. For more than one month, this fortress withstood the siege, repelling several assaults. But in the end, the Japanese were able to capture the strategically important mountain Vysokaya. And after this, General R.I. Kondratenko, who was called the "soul of defense" of the fortress, died. On December 20, 1904 (January 21, 1905), Generals A. M. Stessel and A. V. Fock, contrary to the opinion of the military council, surrendered Port Arthur. Russia lost the main naval base, the remnants of the fleet and more than 30 thousand prisoners, and the Japanese released 100 thousand soldiers for operations in other directions.

In February 1905, the largest battle of Mukden in this war took place, in which more than half a million soldiers from both sides participated. Russian troops were defeated and retreated, after which active hostilities on land ceased.

Tsushima disaster

The final chord of the war was the Battle of Tsushima. As early as September 19 (October 2), 1904, a detachment of ships under the command of Vice Admiral 3. P. Rozhestvensky, called the 2nd Pacific Squadron, set off from the Baltic to the Far East (it was followed by the 3rd squadron under the command of Rear Admiral N I. Nebogatova). In their composition, in particular, there were 8 squadron battleships, 13 cruisers of various classes. Among them were both new ships, including those that had not yet been properly tested, as well as obsolete ones, unsuitable for ocean navigation and general battle. After the fall of Port Arthur, they had to go to Vladivostok. Having made an exhausting journey around Africa, the ships entered the Tsushima Strait (between Japan and Korea), where the main forces of the Japanese fleet (4 squadron battleships, 24 cruisers of various classes and other ships) were waiting for them. The Japanese attack was sudden. The battle began on May 14 (27), 1905 at 13:49. Within 40 minutes, the Russian squadron lost two battleships, and then new losses followed. Rozhdestvensky was wounded. After sunset, at 20:15, the remnants of the Russian squadron attacked dozens of Japanese destroyers. On May 15 (28), at 11 o'clock, the ships remaining afloat, surrounded by the Japanese fleet, lowered the St. Andrew's flags.

The defeat at Tsushima was the most difficult and shameful in the history of the Russian fleet. Only a few cruisers and destroyers managed to escape from the scene of the battle, but only the Almaz cruiser and two destroyers reached Vladivostok. More than 5 thousand sailors died, and over 6 thousand were captured. The Japanese lost only three destroyers and about 700 men killed and wounded.

There were many reasons for this disaster: miscalculations in the planning and organization of the expedition, unpreparedness for battle, weak command, obvious shortcomings of Russian guns and shells, the diversity of ships, unsuccessful maneuvering in battle, communication problems, etc. The Russian fleet was clearly inferior to the Japanese in material and moral preparation, in military skill and stamina.

Peace of Portsmouth and the outcome of the war

After Tsushima, the last hopes for a favorable outcome for Russia collapsed, in which the Russian army and navy did not win a single major victory. In addition, a revolution began in Russia. But both sides were exhausted. Human losses amounted to approximately 270 thousand people. Therefore, both Japan and Russia readily accepted the mediation of US President T. Roosevelt.

On August 23 (September 5), 1905, a peace treaty was signed in the American city of Portsmouth. Russia gave Japan South Sakhalin and its rights to lease Port Arthur with adjacent territories. She also recognized Korea as a Japanese sphere of influence.

The Russo-Japanese War had a great impact on military and naval affairs. For the first time, machine guns and rapid-fire cannons were so widely used, light machine guns, mortars, and hand grenades appeared, and experience began to be accumulated in the use of radios, searchlights, balloons, wire obstacles with electric current in war. For the first time, submarines and new sea mines were used. Improved tactics and strategy. The defensive positions combined trenches, trenches, dugouts. Of particular importance was the achievement of fire superiority over the enemy and the close interaction of the combat arms on the battlefield, and at sea - the optimal combination of speed, fire power and armor protection.

In Russia, the defeat marked the beginning of a revolutionary crisis, culminating in the transformation of the autocracy into a constitutional monarchy. But the lessons of the Russo-Japanese War did not teach the ruling circles of the Russian Empire anything, and eight years later they pushed the country into a new, even more grandiose war - the First World War.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia was one of the influential world powers, owning significant territories in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, while Japan dominated the eastern part of the Asian continent.

Therefore, the Russo-Japanese War had a significant resonance, long before its end in 1905. There is every reason to believe that the Russo-Japanese War was a harbinger of the First World War, and then, and. Because the causes of the initial conflict between states influenced subsequent events. Some tend to refer to the Russo-Japanese War as "World War Zero" since it took place 10 years before it began.

Causes of the Russo-Japanese War

In 1904, Russia, led by Emperor Nicholas II, was the largest world power with vast territories.

The port of Vladivostok did not have year-round navigation due to difficult climatic conditions. The state needed to have a port in the Pacific Ocean, which would receive and send merchant ships all year round, and also be a fort on the eastern borders of Russia.

He staked on the Korean Peninsula and Liaodong, now located in China. Russia has already entered into a lease agreement with, but the emperor wanted complete sovereignty in this region. The Japanese leadership has not been satisfied with Russia's activity in the region since the Sino-Japanese War of 1895. Russia at that time supported the Qing Dynasty, i.e. was on the side of the conflict.

Initially, the Japanese side offered Russia a deal: Russia gets full control of Manchuria (northeast China), and Japan controls Korea. But Russia was not satisfied with such an outcome of events, it put forward a demand to declare the territory of Korea above the 39th parallel a neutral zone. The negotiations were disrupted by the Japanese side, and she, unilaterally, began hostilities against Russia (attack on the Russian fleet in Port Arthur on February 8, 1904).

Beginning of the Russo-Japanese War

Japan officially declared war on Russia only on the day of the attack on the ships of the Russian Navy in Port Arthur. Prior to this, the Russian leadership had no information about the military intentions of the land of the rising sun.

The Cabinet assured the emperor that even after unsuccessful negotiations, Japan would not dare to attack Russia, but this was an unfortunate assumption. An interesting fact is that, according to the norms of International law, a declaration of war before the outbreak of hostilities was optional at that time. This rule ceased to operate only 2 years after these events, which was enshrined at the second Hague Peace Conference.

The purpose of the attack of the Japanese fleet on Russian ships was the blockade of the Russian fleet. By order of Admiral Togo Heihachiro, the torpedo boats of the Japanese fleet were to disable the three largest cruisers: Tsesarevich, Retvizan and Pallada. The main battle was expected a day later, in Port Arthur.

The Russian fleet in the Far East was well protected in the harbor of Port Arthur, but the exits from it were mined. So on April 12, 1904, the battleships Petropavlovsk and Pobeda were blown up at the exit from the harbor. The first sank, the second returned to the harbor with heavy damage. And, although Russia, in response, damaged 2 Japanese battleships, Japan continued to control and carry out regular bombing of Port Arthur.

At the end of August, Russian troops, deployed from the center to help the sailors of Port Arthur, were driven back by the Japanese and could not get into the harbor. Having settled in the newly conquered positions, the Japanese military continued shelling the ships in the bay.

In early 1905, the garrison commander, Major General Sessel, decided to leave the harbor, believing that the losses among the naval personnel were significant and meaningless. This decision came as a surprise to both the Japanese and the Russian command. The general was later convicted and sentenced to death, but was pardoned.

The Russian fleet continued to suffer losses in the Yellow Sea, forcing the military leadership of the state to mobilize the Baltic Fleet and send it to the combat area.

Military operations in Manchuria and Korea

Seeing the weakness of the Russians, the Japanese gradually moved to complete control of the Korean Peninsula. Landing in its southern part, they gradually advanced and captured Seoul and the rest of the peninsula.

The plans of the Japanese command was to capture Russian-controlled Manchuria. During the first hostilities on land, they successfully attacked Russian shipping in May 1904, forcing them to withdraw to Port Arthur. Further, in February 1905, the Japanese continued to attack the Russian troops in Mukden. These bloody battles also ended in victory for the Japanese. The Russians, suffering heavy losses, were forced to retreat to northern Mukden. The Japanese side also had tangible losses of soldiers and equipment.

In May 1905, the Russian fleet arrived at the place of deployment, sailing about 20 thousand miles - a fairly serious military campaign for that time.

Making the transition at night, the Russian armada was nevertheless discovered by the Japanese. And Togo Heihachiro blocked their path near the Tsushima Strait at the end of May 1905. Russian losses were enormous: eight battleships and over 5,000 men. Only three ships managed to break into the harbor and complete the task. All the above events forced the Russian side to agree to a truce.

Treaty of Portsmouth

The Russo-Japanese War was fierce and could serve as a bad echo of subsequent events. Both sides lost about 150,000 military men in hostilities, and about 20,000 Chinese civilians died.

The peace agreement was concluded in Portsmouth in 1905, through the mediation of Theodore Roosevelt (US President). Russia was represented by Sergei Witte, the minister of his imperial court, and Japan by Baron Komuro. For his peacekeeping activities during the negotiations, Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Results of the Russo-Japanese War

As a result of the agreement, Russia transferred Port Arthur to Japan, retaining half of Sakhalin Island (the island will completely go to Russia only at the end of World War II. He supported Nicholas II's refusal to pay compensation to the victorious side. Russian troops liberated the territory of Manchuria and recognized the control of the Japanese side over the Korean Peninsula.

The humiliating defeats of the Russian army in the Russo-Japanese War added negative consequences to the political unrest in Russia, which ultimately served as the impetus for the overthrow of the government in 1917.

Russo-Japanese War- This is a war that was fought between the Russian and Japanese empires for control of Manchuria and Korea. After a break of several decades, it became the first big war with the latest weapons : long-range artillery, armadillos, destroyers, wire fences under high voltage; as well as using spotlights and a field kitchen.

Reasons for the war:

• Lease by Russia of the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur as a naval base.
• Construction of the CER and Russian economic expansion in Manchuria.
• The struggle for spheres of influence in China and Kopee.
• Means of distraction from the revolutionary movement in Russia ("small victorious war")
• The strengthening of Russia's positions in the Far East threatened the monopolies of England and the USA and the militaristic aspirations of Japan.

The nature of war: unfair on both sides.

In 1902, England entered into a military alliance with Japan and, together with the United States, embarked on the path of its preparation for war with Russia. In a short time, Japan built an armored fleet at the shipyards of England, Italy, and the USA.

The bases of the Russian fleet in the Pacific - Port Arthur and Vladivostok - were separated by 1,100 miles and were poorly equipped. By the beginning of the war, out of 1 million 50 thousand Russian soldiers, about 100 thousand were deployed in the Far East. The Far Eastern army was removed from the main supply centers, the Siberian railway had a low capacity (3 trains per day).

COURSE OF EVENTS

January 27, 1904 Japanese attack on the Russian fleet. The death of the cruiser "Varangian" and the gunboat "Koreets" in Chemulpo Bay off the coast of Korea. Blocked in Chemulpo "Varyag" and "Korean" rejected the offer to surrender. Trying to break through to Port Arthur, two Russian ships under the command of Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev engaged in battle with 14 enemy ships.

January 27 - December 20, 1904. Defense of the naval fortress Port Arthur. During the siege, new types of weapons were used for the first time: quick-firing howitzers, Maxim machine guns, hand grenades, mortars.

Commander of the Pacific Fleet Vice Admiral S. O. Makarov prepared for active operations at sea and the defense of Port Arthur. On March 31, he led his squadron to the outer roadstead in order to engage the enemy and lure his ships under fire from coastal batteries. However, at the very beginning of the battle, his flagship Petropavlovsk hit a mine and sank within 2 minutes. Most of the team died, the entire headquarters of S. O. Makarov. After that, the Russian fleet went on the defensive, as the commander-in-chief of the Far Eastern forces, Admiral E. I. Alekseev, refused active operations at sea.

The ground defense of Port Arthur was headed by the head of the Kwantung Fortified Region, General A. M. Stessel. The main struggle in November unfolded over Mount Vysokaya. On December 2, the head of the land defense, its organizer and inspirer, General R. I. Kondratenko. Stessel December 20, 1904 signed capitulation . The fortress withstood 6 assaults and was surrendered only as a result of the betrayal of the commandant, General A. M. Stessel. For Russia, the fall of Port Arthur meant the loss of access to the non-freezing Yellow Sea, the deterioration of the strategic situation in Manchuria and a significant aggravation of the domestic political situation in the country.

October 1904 The defeat of Russian troops on the Shahe River.

February 25, 1905 The defeat of the Russian army near Mukden (Manchuria). The largest land battle in history before the First World War.

May 14-15, 1905 Battle in the Tsushima Strait. The defeat by the Japanese fleet of the 2nd Pacific squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Z. P. Rozhestvensky, sent to the Far East from the Baltic Sea. In July, the Japanese occupied Sakhalin Island.

REASONS FOR THE DEFEAT OF RUSSIA

• Support for Japan from Britain and the United States.
• Weak preparation of Russia for war. Military-technical superiority of Japan.
• Mistakes and ill-conceived actions of the Russian command.
• The inability to quickly transfer reserves to the Far East.

Russo-Japanese War. RESULTS

• Korea was recognized as a sphere of influence of Japan;
• Japan took possession of South Sakhalin;
• Japan received the right to fish along the Russian coast;
• Russia leased the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur to Japan.

Russian commanders in this war: A.N. Kuropatkin, S.O. Makarov, A.M. Stessel.

Consequences of Russia's defeat in the war:

• weakening of Russia's positions in the Far East;
• public dissatisfaction with the autocracy, which lost the war with Japan;
• destabilization of the political situation in Russia, the growth of the revolutionary struggle;
• active reform of the army, a significant increase in its combat capability.