Russian-Japanese war, Liaoyang battle: participants, results

The Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905 was inevitable, because at the end of the 19th century the geopolitical interests of the Russian Empire changed drastically. At that time, the major world states had not yet learned to solve serious geopolitical issues without the use of force and, accordingly, human victims.

The causes of the Russo-Japanese War

1. Strengthening of friendly relations between Russia and China. As is known, until the 90s of the 19th century the main emphasis of Russia's foreign policy was in the Balkans, but since 1894, the strengthening of friendship with China has begun. Russia rendered diplomatic and military assistance to this state in the war with Japan.
2. Conflict of interests of Russia and Japan in terms of influence in the Far East and in Manchuria.

Strategic mistakes and military victories

Initially, it was clear that the Japanese army was not ready for a long war. But the Russian generals believed that the Asians would negotiate with the European countries and organize a war on two fronts. This turned out to be a strategic mistake by Russian military and diplomats. Also, Russians, assuming the general backwardness of Japan's forces (incidentally, also a mistake), thought that much more forces would be needed on the Western Front than in the East. Russia's plan was to conduct a grueling, protracted war, during which a victory at sea would be achieved by the 7th-8th month, and landing on the islands would land. The Japanese plan worked as a result, the main idea of which was an instant strike on the Pacific squadron and seizure of domination at sea.

The correlation of forces at sea

Russia and Japan, several years before the outbreak of war, have already begun to strengthen their flotillas. Russia already had experience in the Crimean War, which showed the importance of success at sea. Assuming the inevitability of war in the east with Japan, the military commanders determined the main task - the strengthening of the Pacific fleet.

So, let us consider the state of the fleets of countries. The total number of ships of the Russian Empire in the east for 1904 was 64. Of these, the destroyers were 35, also cruisers, armored ships, large boats. The Japanese fleet outnumbered the Russian one. Only destroyers were put into operation 47. The total number of the Japanese Navy was 87 units. As we can see, in terms of the number of the Navy, Japan outnumbered the Russian squadron by 23 ships. Perhaps, the Russians were confident of technical superiority, but this also did not work. Japanese ships were faster, better fired and were more protected from enemy shots.

The War Begins

Suddenness is one of the important elements of success in the war. The Japanese army, namely the fleet's forces, started the war immediately on two fronts on January 27. Note that both fights ended successfully for the Japanese, although their fleet also lost some strength. The first attack of the Japanese was at night. The squadron of Asians consisted of 25 ships of three types: battleships, cruisers, destroyers. As a result of the shelling, the Russian battleships "Tsesarevich" and "Ratzivan" were damaged, as well as the "Pallada" cruiser. From the surprise, the Russian troops could not really get rid of this sortie of Japanese.

The second attack took place on the morning of the same day, as a result of which five more Russian ships were out of order. It can not be said that the damage to the fleet of the empire was fatal, but quite palpable, because the repair of ships was badly adjusted.

Where was the second battle of the day? Now the famous Korean Incheon at the time was called Chemulpo. At the beginning of 1904, in the roadstead in this port there were 2 Russian ships: the Varyag and the Korean. The Japanese attacked the Russians by 14 ships. It is clear that the fate of Russian ships was determined, but they could not be defeated quickly by the Japanese in any case. The commander of the "Varyag" Rudnev believed that we should try to escape from the claws of the Japanese and reach the port of Arthur. In the sea, a fight ensued. Damage to the "Varyag" did not allow the idea of getting out of Korea, but 3 Japanese ships were also neutralized. Note that the Russian sailors did not die and after a while could get to their homeland.

Makarov's death

The leadership of the Russian army understood that at the time of the beginning of the war the Pacific Fleet could not stand the test of military operations. To establish military training, the commander of the fleet appointed a well-known Vice Admiral Makarov. This man had considerable combat experience, so he had to cope effectively with the tasks set.

For a month of its activity the Russian fleet has changed. Makarov significantly increased the level of military training, raised the organization of the fleet. The intensity of the exercises also increased, which made it possible to increase the number and success of ship exits to the sea. Of course, the Japanese did not sit idly by, watching the qualitative changes in the Russian fleet. All exits from the port of Arthur were continually mined. March 31, 1904, the cruiser "Petropavlovsk", on board which sailed and Makarov, was blown up by a mine. All the people on board perished.

The second stage of the war

The victory of the Japanese Navy provided an opportunity for the island state to transfer significant landing forces to the Liaotung Peninsula . By the way, this operation was thought out and organized in advance, because secretly gradually the Japanese penetrated into Korea from the autumn of 1903. Of course, the Japanese army did not conduct open aggression. We are talking about people from the reserve, who were traders, artisans, etc. The main task of these forces was to prepare the conditions for the success of the landing operation, the collection of intelligence.

From January 24 to March 3, more than 35 thousand Japanese landed on the Korean coast. It is important for us to understand the alignment of Russian forces. The total strength of the army in Asia was 123 thousand people. Of these, about 24 thousand were located in Primorsky Krai. On the Kwantung peninsula stood about 30 thousand. The Russians guarded the border with Korea with a 19-thousand-strong army. Northeast China was a strategically important territory for tsarism. Here were more than 50 thousand soldiers of the tsarist army. The land army was commanded by General A. N. Kuropatkin.

The grouping of Russians on the border with Korea acted passively. Sluggishness led to the fact that the Japanese managed to attack the 7-thousand Russian corral and defeat it. As a result of the battle, the Russian army lost more than 30 guns, about 3 thousand soldiers were killed, and we had to retreat by 70 kilometers. The Liaoyang battle began for the empire unsuccessfully.

Jinzhou: another defeat of the tsarist army

Yes, the Russians were confident of their superiority on land, but in this they were mistaken. Another Japanese landing landed on the Liaodong peninsula on April 22, 1904. The size of this group was also about 35,000. The Japanese maneuver consisted in the fact that they did not engage in combat with the army commanded by AN Kuropatkin, but headed deep into the continent. Of course, the command of the Asiatics understood the full risk of the operation, so on May 4 in the area of Dagushan landed landing of 15 thousand. The task: to cover the offensive on Jinzhou.

The Japanese campaign lasted 19 days. Near this city is the narrowest passage to the Kwantung peninsula. The grouping of Russians on this isthmus was about 4 thousand people. May 13 was a long battle. Although the loss of the Japanese was 3 times more, but they won the battle. As a result of this victory, the Japanese army opened its way to the Dalny port. Northeast China fell under the general control of Japanese forces, and Russian troops were in fact cut off from each other.

Further fighting continued with varying success and heavy losses for both armies.

The Liaoyang Battle

In August 1904, the third stage of the war began. The Liaoyang battle was already planned, because for three months serious defense facilities were built near this settlement. As of August 1904, the strength of the Manchurian Russian Army was 152,000, while the Japanese forces were 22,000 fewer. Liaoyang Battle of 1904 went down in history as an event that completely broke the spirit of the Russian army.

Despite the smaller numbers, the Japanese were the first to attack the August 11 attack. They wanted to surround the Russians, or at least completely isolate them from the possible way of approaching the new forces. The initiative has always belonged to Japanese troops, because they, unlike Russians, were active.

Kuropatkin's army did not have the opportunity to go on the offensive, because the distance from the center was more than 7,000 km. August 19 Kuropatkin handed over the Japanese to another point, after which there was a threat of capture Yantai. Realizing that nothing could be achieved, the command decided to retreat to Mukden. The Liaoyang battle, whose participants lost a total of up to 40,000 people, showed the backwardness and immobility of Russian troops.

Results of the war

Talking about further battles, in principle, there is not much point, because it was the successes of the Japanese and the agony of Russia.

The results of the war were very difficult for Russia. So, in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty of 1905 it is said that:

1. Southern Sakhalin moves to Japan.
2. Japan gets a lease on the Liaodong Peninsula.
3. The possibility of carrying out by the Japanese a railway along the Liaodong Peninsula.
4. The withdrawal of the Russian army from Manchuria.

Russia and Japan have entered into a conflict, the consequences of which, in fact, are felt today, because the peace treaty between Russia and Japan after the 1945 war is not yet concluded.