It may seem strange, but for Russia today World War II is not yet completely over. The country does not have a peace treaty with one of the countries of the aggressive bloc. The reason is territorial issues.

This country is the Japanese Empire, the territory is the South Kuriles (they are now on everyone's lips). But is it really that they were not so divided by two great countries that they got involved in the world slaughter for the sake of these sea rocks?

No, naturally. The Soviet-Japanese War (it is correct to say that, since in 1945 Russia did not act as a separate subject of international politics, acting exclusively as the main, but still only a constituent part of the USSR) had deep reasons that appeared far from 1945. And no one then thought that the “Kuril issue” would drag on for so long. Briefly about the Russo-Japanese War of 1945 will be told to the reader in the article.

5 laps

The reasons for the militarization of the Japanese Empire at the beginning of the 20th century are understandable - rapid industrial development, coupled with territorial and resource limitations. The country needed food, coal, metal. All of this was in the neighborhood. But they did not want to share just like that, and at that time no one considered war to be an unacceptable way to resolve international issues.

The first attempt was made in 1904-1905. Russia then shamefully lost to a tiny, but disciplined and cohesive island state, having lost Port Arthur (everyone heard about it) and the southern part of Sakhalin in the Portsmouth Peace. And even then, such small losses became possible only thanks to the diplomatic talents of the future Prime Minister S. Yu. Witte (although he was nicknamed “Count Polusakhalinsky” for this, the fact remains).

In the 20s, in the Land of the Rising Sun, maps were printed, called "5 Circles of Japan's National Interests." There, in different colors in the form of stylized concentric rings, territories were designated that the ruling circles of the country considered it right to conquer and annex. These circles captured, including almost the entire Asian part of the USSR.

Three tankers

In the late 1930s, Japan, which had already successfully waged wars of conquest in Korea and China, "tested the strength" of the USSR as well. There were conflicts in the area of ​​Khalkhin Gol and on Lake Khasan.

It turned out bad. The Far Eastern conflicts laid the foundation for the brilliant career of the future “Marshal of Victory” G.K. Zhukov, and the entire USSR sang a song about three tankers from the banks of the Amur, where there was a phrase about samurai under the pressure of steel and fire (later it was redone, but the original version is exactly that) .

Although Japan agreed with its allies on the distribution of future spheres of influence under the Anti-Comintern Pact (also called the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis, although it takes a lot of imagination to understand how the axis looks like in the understanding of the author of such a term), it did not specify when exactly each side must take its own.

The Japanese authorities did not consider themselves so bound by obligations, and the events in the Far East showed them that the USSR was a dangerous adversary. Therefore, in 1940, an agreement was concluded between the two countries on neutrality in the event of war, and in 1941, when Germany attacked the USSR, Japan chose to deal with Pacific issues.

Allied debt

But the USSR also did not have much respect for treaties, therefore, within the framework of the anti-Hitler coalition, talk immediately began about its entry into the war with Japan (the United States was shocked by Pearl Harbor, and England was afraid for its colonies in South Asia). During the Tehran Conference (1943), a preliminary agreement was reached on the entry of the USSR into the war in the Far East after the defeat of Germany in Europe. The final decision was made during the Yalta Conference, when it was announced that the USSR would declare war on Japan no later than 3 months after the defeat of Hitler.

But the USSR was not led by philanthropists. The country's leadership had its own interest in this matter, and not only provided assistance to the allies. For participation in the war, they were promised the return of Port Arthur, Harbin, South Sakhalin and the Kuril ridge (transferred to Japan under an agreement by the tsarist government).

Atomic blackmail

There was another good reason for the Soviet-Japanese War. By the time the war in Europe ended, it was already clear that the Anti-Hitler coalition was fragile, so that soon the allies would turn into enemies. At the same time, the Red Army of “Comrade Mao” fought fearlessly in China. The relationship between him and Stalin is a complex issue, but there was no time for ambition, since it was about the possibility of grandly expanding the space controlled by the communists at the expense of China. It took a little for this - to defeat the almost one million Kwantung Japanese army stationed in Manchuria.

The United States, on the other hand, did not want to fight the Japanese face to face. Although their technical and numerical superiority allowed them to win at a low cost (for example, the landing on Okinawa in the spring of 1945), the spoiled Yankees were very frightened by military samurai morality. The Japanese equally cold-bloodedly cut off the heads of captured American officers with swords and made themselves hara-kiri. In Okinawa, there were almost 200 thousand Japanese dead, and a few prisoners - officers ripped their stomachs open, ordinary and local residents drowned themselves, but no one wanted to surrender to the mercy of the winner. Yes, and the famous kamikaze was taken, rather, by moral influence - they did not achieve their goals very often.

Therefore, the United States went the other way - atomic blackmail. There was not a single military in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Atomic bombs destroyed 380 thousand (in total) of the civilian population. The atomic "scarecrow" was supposed to restrain Soviet ambitions.

Realizing that Japan would inevitably capitulate, many Western leaders were already regretting that they had embroiled the USSR in the Japanese issue.

forced march

But in the USSR at that time, blackmailers were categorically not loved. The country denounced the neutrality pact and declared war on Japan right on time - August 8, 1945 (exactly 3 months after the defeat of Germany). It was already known not only about the successful atomic tests, but also about the fate of Hiroshima.

Prior to that, serious preparatory work had been carried out. Since 1940, the Far Eastern Front existed, but it did not conduct hostilities. After the defeat of Hitler, the USSR carried out a unique maneuver - 39 brigades and divisions (tank and 3 combined arms armies) were transferred from Europe along the only railway line of the Trans-Siberian during May-July, which amounted to about half a million people, more than 7000 guns and more than 2000 tanks. It was an incredible indicator of moving so many people and equipment over such a distance in such a short time and in such adverse conditions.

The command also picked up a decent one. General management was carried out by Marshal A. M. Vasilevsky. And the main blow to the Kwantung Army was to be delivered by R. Ya. Malinovsky. Mongolian units fought in alliance with the USSR.

Excellence is different

As a result of the successful transfer of troops, the USSR achieved unequivocal superiority over the Japanese in the Far East. The Kwantung Army numbered about 1 million soldiers (rather, somewhat less, since the units were understaffed) and was provided with equipment and ammunition. But the equipment was outdated (compared to the Soviet one, then the pre-war model), and among the soldiers there were many recruits, as well as forcibly drafted representatives of the conquered nationalities.

The USSR, having combined the forces of the Trans-Baikal Front and the arriving units, could field up to 1.5 million people. And most of them were experienced, shelled front-line soldiers who went through the Crimea and Rome on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. Suffice it to say that 3 departments and 3 divisions of the NKVD troops took part in the hostilities. And only the victims of the "revealing" articles of the 90s can believe that these units only knew how to shoot the wounded, trying to go to the rear or suspect honest people of betrayal. Anything happened, of course, but ... There were no detachments behind the NKVD - they themselves never retreated. These were very combat-ready, well-trained troops.

Take in pincers

This aviation term best describes the strategic plan called the Manchurian operation of R. Ya. Malinovsky to defeat the Kwantung Army. It was assumed that a simultaneous very powerful blow would be delivered in several directions, which would demoralize and split the enemy.

So it was. Japanese General Otsuzo Yamada was amazed when it turned out that the guardsmen of the 6th Panzer Army were able to overcome the Gobi and the Greater Khingan in 3 days, advancing from the territory of Mongolia. The mountains were steep, moreover, the rainy season spoiled the roads and brought mountain rivers out of their banks. But the Soviet tankers, who were almost able to carry their vehicles on their hands through the Belarusian swamps during Operation Bagration, could not be prevented by some streams and rain!

At the same time, strikes were launched from Primorye and from the Amur and Ussuri regions. This was how the Manchurian operation was carried out - the main one in the entire Japanese campaign.

8 days that shook the Far East

That is how much (from August 12 to August 20) the main hostilities of the Russo-Japanese War (1945) took. A terrible simultaneous blow from three fronts (in some areas the Soviet troops managed to advance more than 100 km in one day!) split the Kwantung Army at once, deprived it of some of its communications, and demoralized it. The Pacific Fleet interrupted the communication of the Kwantung Army with Japan, the opportunity to receive help was lost, and even contacts were limited in general (there was also a minus - many groups of soldiers of the defeated army were not at all aware for a long time that they had been ordered to surrender). A mass desertion of recruits and forcibly drafted began; officers committed suicide. The "emperor" of the puppet state of Manchukuo Pu Yi and General Otsuzo were captured.

In turn, the USSR perfectly organized the supply of its units. Although it was possible to carry out this practically only with the help of aviation (huge distances and the absence of normal roads interfered), heavy transport aircraft did an excellent job. Soviet troops occupied vast territories in China, as well as the north of Korea (now North Korea). On August 15, Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, announced over the radio the need for surrender. The Kwantung Army received orders only on the 20th. But even before September 10, individual detachments continued hopeless resistance, trying to die undefeated.

The events of the Soviet-Japanese war continued to develop at a rapid pace. Simultaneously with the actions on the continent, steps were taken to defeat the Japanese garrisons on the islands. On August 11, the 2nd Far Eastern Front began operations in the south of Sakhalin. The main task was the capture of the Koton fortified area. Although the Japanese blew up the bridge, trying to prevent the tanks from breaking through, this did not help - it took the Soviet soldiers only one night to build a temporary crossing from improvised means. The battalion of Captain L.V. Smirnykh especially distinguished himself in the battles for the fortified area. He died there, receiving the posthumous title of Hero of the Soviet Union. At the same time, ships of the North Pacific Flotilla landed troops in the largest ports in the south of the island.

The fortified area was captured on August 17. The surrender of Japan (1945) took place on the 25th, after the last successful landing in the port of Korsakov. From it they tried to take valuable things home. The whole of Sakhalin was controlled by the USSR.

However, the South Sakhalin operation of 1945 was somewhat slower than planned by Marshal Vasilevsky. As a result, the landing on the island of Hokkaido and its occupation did not take place, about which the marshal gave orders on August 18.

Kuril landing operation

The islands of the Kuril chain were also captured by amphibious landings. The Kuril landing operation lasted from August 18 to September 1. At the same time, in fact, battles were fought only for the northern islands, although military garrisons were located on all. But after fierce battles for the island of Shumshu, the commander of the Japanese troops in the Kuriles, Fusaki Tsutsumi, who was there, agreed to capitulate and surrendered himself. After that, the Soviet paratroopers no longer encountered any significant resistance on the islands.

On August 23-24, the Northern Kuriles were occupied, and on the 22nd, the occupation of the southern islands also began. In all cases, the Soviet command allocated landing units for this purpose, but more often the Japanese surrendered without a fight. The largest forces were allocated to occupy the island of Kunashir (this name is now well-known), since it was decided to create a military base there. But Kunashir also surrendered virtually without a fight. Several small garrisons managed to evacuate to their homeland.

Battleship Missouri

And on September 2, the final surrender of Japan (1945) was signed aboard the American battleship Missouri. This fact marked the end of World War II (not to be confused with the Great Patriotic War!). The USSR was represented at the ceremony by General K. Derevyanko.

Little blood

For such a large-scale event, the Russo-Japanese War of 1945 (you learned briefly about it from the article) cost the USSR inexpensively. In total, the number of victims is estimated at 36.5 thousand people, of which a little more than 21 thousand died.

Japanese losses in the Soviet-Japanese War were more extensive. They had more than 80 thousand dead, more than 600 thousand were taken prisoner. Approximately 60 thousand prisoners died, the rest were almost all repatriated even before the signing of the San Francisco peace. First of all, those soldiers of the Japanese army who were not Japanese by nationality were sent home. The exception was those participants in the Russo-Japanese War of 1945 who were convicted of war crimes. A significant part of them was handed over to China, and it was for that - the conquerors dealt with the participants of the Chinese Resistance, or at least those suspected of it, with medieval cruelty. Later in China, this topic was revealed in the legendary film "Red Kaoliang".

The disproportionate ratio of losses in the Russo-Japanese War (1945) is explained by the clear superiority of the USSR in technical equipment and the level of training of soldiers. Yes, the Japanese sometimes offered fierce resistance. At the height of Ostraya (Khotou fortified area), the garrison fought to the last bullet; the survivors committed suicide, not a single prisoner was taken. There were also suicide bombers who threw grenades under tanks or groups of Soviet soldiers.

But they did not take into account that they were not dealing with Americans who were very afraid of dying. Soviet fighters themselves knew how to close the loopholes with themselves, and it was not easy to scare them. Very soon they learned to detect and neutralize such kamikaze in time.

Down with the Portsmouth Shame

As a result of the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945, the USSR got rid of the shame of the Peace of Portsmouth, which ended the hostilities of 1904-1905. He again owned the entire Kuril ridge and all of Sakhalin. The Kwantung Peninsula also passed to the USSR (this territory was then transferred to China by agreement after the proclamation of the PRC).

What else is the significance of the Soviet-Japanese War in our history? The victory in it also contributed to the spread of communist ideology, so successfully that the result outlived its creator. The USSR no longer exists, but the PRC and the DPRK do not exist, and they do not get tired of astonishing the world with their economic achievements and military power.

Unfinished war

But the most interesting thing is that the war with Japan is not actually over for Russia yet! A peace treaty between the two states does not exist to this day, and today's problems around the status of the Kuril Islands are a direct consequence of this.

The general peace treaty was signed in 1951 in San Francisco, but there was no sign of the USSR under it. The reason was just the Kuril Islands.

The fact is that the text of the treaty indicated that Japan was refusing them, but did not say to whom they should belong. This immediately created grounds for future conflicts, and for this reason the Soviet representatives did not sign the treaty.

However, it was impossible to be in a state of war forever, and in 1956 the two countries signed a declaration in Moscow to end this state. On the basis of this document, diplomatic and economic relations now exist between them. But a declaration to end the state of war is not a peace treaty. That is, the situation is half-hearted again!

The declaration stated that the USSR, after the conclusion of a peace treaty, agreed to transfer back to Japan several islands of the Kuril chain. But the Japanese government immediately began to demand the entire South Kuriles!

This story continues to this day. Russia continues it as the legal successor of the USSR.

In 2012, the head of one of the Japanese prefectures that was badly affected by the tsunami, in gratitude for Russian assistance in the aftermath of the disaster, presented President Vladimir Putin with a thoroughbred puppy. In response, the president gave the prefect a huge Siberian cat. The cat is now almost on the payroll of the prefect's office, and all the employees adore and respect him.

This cat's name is Mir. Maybe he can purr rapport between two great nations. Because wars must end, and after them it is necessary to make peace.

Upon completion wars 1894-1895 Japan claimed to take away from China not only Taiwan, but also the Liaodong Peninsula located near Beijing. However, three powerful European powers - Russia, Germany and France - staged a joint diplomatic demarche in 1895 and forced the Japanese to withdraw their demand for Liaodong's concession. After the suppression in 1900 Boxer Rebellion Russia occupied Manchuria together with Liaodong, thus gaining access to the Yellow Sea and starting to build a strong military harbor here, Port Arthur. In Tokyo, they were extremely stung by the fact that Russia took what it had forced the Japanese to abandon shortly before. Japan began to demand compensation for itself in Korea, where its own and Russian influence at that time roughly balanced each other.

In the late autumn of 1901, a prominent Japanese figure, the recent prime minister, Marquis Ito, came to St. Petersburg. He proposed an agreement on the condition that Russia recognize exclusive Japanese rights in Korea, and Japan recognize Russians in Manchuria. The Petersburg government refused. Then Japan began to prepare for war with Russia and in January 1902 entered into an alliance with England (friendly support in a war with one power and military support in a war with two).

A dangerous situation for Russia was created: Great Siberian Railway from the European part of the empire to Vladivostok was not completely completed. Through traffic on it opened already in August 1903, but so far there was not enough Circum-Baikal Road - there was a traffic jam in the middle of the road. Of the Russian battleships of the latest model, one "Tsesarevich" was ready. By 1905-1906, Russia was to strengthen in the Far East so as not to be afraid of Japan, but the next one and a half to two years became a time of great risk. Some members of the St. Petersburg government were in favor of an agreement with Japan, but Tsar Nicholas II leaned towards the opinion of the militant Admiral Alekseev and the "retired cavalry guard" Bezobrazov, who said that Russia's excessive compliance would only provoke new Japanese demands. Bezobrazov promised to take Manchuria and Korea for the empire with “one gesture”, promised fantastic profits to the state from a forest concession in Korea. Nicholas II made him his personal representative in the Far East. Bezobrazov ruled there, disregarding either the Russian ministries, or the obligations of diplomats, or the Chinese government (and often quarreling with Alekseev). On July 30, 1903, the tsar singled out the Far East into a special governorship headed by Alekseev, excluding the region from the jurisdiction of all ministries, giving the admiral both command of the troops, and administration, and diplomacy with Japan and China. On August 16, one of the main opponents of active operations in the Far East, Witte, was dismissed (honorary: removed from the post of Minister of Finance, but appointed chairman of the Committee of Ministers - which in Russia at that time was only an interdepartmental meeting, its chairman was not at all the head of government).

Russo-Japanese War [History of Russia. XX century]

Japan, meanwhile, began defiantly acting as a "defender of China", shouting that Russia had violated its rights, demanding the evacuation of Russian troops from Manchuria, frightening the Western world with Russian aggressiveness. This propaganda met with sympathetic attention in the Anglo-Saxon countries. At the end of 1903, the Russian government sent several new ships to the Far East. According to many, for Russia, in a clash with Japan, the issue of access to non-freezing seas in the east was decided. If Russia had not received it, the whole great movement into Siberia threatened to turn out to be only a gigantic dead end.

The balance of power at the start of the struggle was not particularly favorable for the Russians. The construction of Port Arthur progressed extremely slowly, funds were scarcely allocated for it (although Witte, who was in charge of finances, spent up to 20 million rubles on equipping a huge commercial port in the city of Dalniy). There were very few Russian troops in the Far East. The Japanese, from 1895 to 1903, using indemnities received from China in 1895 and 1900, increased their peacetime army two and a half times (from 64 to 150.5 thousand soldiers) and tripled the number of guns. The former Japanese fleet was numerically weaker even than the Chinese and Dutch, but Japan rebuilt it, mainly in English shipyards - and received at its disposal a naval force of a great power scale.

Although the Russian armed forces numbered about 1 million fighters, less than 100 thousand of them were stationed in the Far East (50 thousand in the Ussuri Territory, 20 thousand in Manchuria, 20 thousand in the Port Arthur garrison). So far, the Siberian way passed only 4 pairs of trains a day, there was no Circum-Baikal road. The Russian population of the Far East, from which an appeal could be made, did not even reach a million in number. Japan was able to mobilize a million men with a transport fleet sufficient to transport two divisions to the mainland at the same time with all the equipment. The Japanese fleet consisted of 14 battleships and armored cruisers, and the Russian Far East - 11 (although by 1905 their number was supposed to be increased to 15). In light ships, the Japanese predominance was even more impressive. In addition, the Russian Far Eastern fleet was divided into two parts: 3 armored cruisers in Vladivostok, closed by ice for several months a year, the rest in Port Arthur.

At the end of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century, relations between Japan and Russia, aggravated due to the right to own China and Korea, led to a major military conflict between the countries. After a long break, this was the first to use the latest weapons.

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The reasons

Completed in 1856, it limited Russia's ability to move and expand south, so Nicholas I. I. turned his eyes to the Far East, which negatively affected relations with the Japanese state, which itself claimed Korea and Northern China.

The tense situation no longer had a peaceful solution. Despite the fact that in 1903 Japan made an attempt to avoid a collision by proposing an agreement under which she would lose all rights to Korea. Russia agreed, but put forward conditions that demanded sole influence on the Kwantung Peninsula, as well as the right to protect the railway in Manchuria. The Japanese government did not like this, and it continued to actively prepare for war.

The Meiji Restoration, which ended in Japan in 1868, led to the fact that the new government began to pursue a policy of expansion and decided to improve the country's capacities. Thanks to the reforms carried out, by 1890 the economy was being modernized: modern industries appeared, electrical equipment and machine tools were produced, and coal was exported. The changes affected not only industry, but also the military industry, which has significantly increased thanks to Western exercises.

Japan decides to increase influence on neighboring countries. Based on the geographical proximity of Korean territory, she decides to take control of the country and prevent European influence. Having put pressure on Korea in 1876, an agreement on trade relations with Japan is signed, providing free access to ports.

These actions led to a conflict - the Sino-Japanese War (1894−95), which ended with the victory of Japan, and the final influence on Korea.

According to the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed as a result of the war, China:

1. transferred to Japan territories, which included the Liaodong Peninsula and Manchuria;
2. renounced rights to Korea.

For European countries: Germany, France and Russia, this was unacceptable. As a result of the Triple Intervention, Japan, unable to resist the pressure, was obliged to abandon the Liaodong Peninsula.

Russia immediately takes advantage of the return of Liaodong and in March 1898 signs a convention with China and receives:

1. lease rights for 25 years on the Liaodong Peninsula;
2. the fortresses of Port Arthur and Dalniy;
3. obtaining permission to build a railway passing through Chinese territory.

This had a negative impact on relations with Japan, which claimed these territories.

March 26 (April 8), 1902, Nicholas I. I. signs an agreement with China, according to which Russia needs to withdraw Russian troops from the territory of Manchuria within one year and six months. Nicholas I.I. did not keep his promises, but demanded that China restrict trade with foreign countries. In response, England, the USA and Japan protested against the violation of the deadlines and advised against accepting the Russian conditions.

In the middle of the summer of 1903, the movement along the Trans-Siberian Railway begins. The path passed along the Chinese Eastern Railway, through Manchuria. Nicholas I. I. begins to redeploy his troops to the Far East, arguing this by testing the capacity of the built railway connection.

At the end of the agreement between China and Russia, Nicholas I. I. did not withdraw Russian troops from the territory of Manchuria.

In the winter of 1904, at a meeting of the Privy Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan, a decision was made to start hostilities against Russia, and soon an order was given to land the Japanese armed forces in Korea and attack Russian ships in Port Arthur.

The moment of the declaration of war was chosen with the maximum calculation, since by that time she had assembled a strong and modernly equipped army, weapons and navy. While the Russian armed forces were heavily scattered.

Main events

Battle of Chemulpo

Significant for the annals of the war was the battle in 1904 at Chemulpo of the cruisers "Varyag" and "Korean", under the command of V. Rudnev. In the morning, leaving the port to the accompaniment of music, they tried to get out of the bay, but less than ten minutes had passed before the alarm sounded and a battle flag was raised above the deck. Together they resisted the Japanese squadron that attacked them, engaging in an unequal battle. The Varyag was severely damaged and was forced to turn back to port. Rudnev decided to destroy the ship, a few hours later the sailors were evacuated, and the ship was flooded. The ship "Koreets" was blown up, and the crew was previously evacuated.

Blockade of Port Arthur

To block the Russian ships inside the harbor, Japan is trying to sink several old ships at the entrance. These actions were thwarted by Retvizvan who patrolled the waters near the fort.

In the early spring of 1904, Admiral Makarov and the shipbuilder N. E. Kuteinikov arrived. At the same time, a large number of spare parts and equipment for the repair of ships arrive.

At the end of March, the Japanese flotilla again tries to block the entrance to the fortress, blowing up four transport ships filled with stones, but sinking them too far.

On March 31, the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk sinks after hitting three mines. The ship disappeared in three minutes, killing 635 people, among them were Admiral Makarov and the artist Vereshchagin.

3rd attempt to block the harbor entrance, was crowned with success, Japan, having sunk eight transport workers, locks up the Russian squadrons for several days and immediately lands in Manchuria.

The cruisers "Russia", "Gromoboy", "Rurik" were the only ones who retained freedom of movement. They sank several ships with military personnel and weapons, including the "Khi-tatsi Maru", which transported weapons for the siege of Port Arthur, due to which the capture dragged on for several months.

18.04 (01.05) The 1st Japanese Army, consisting of 45 thousand people. approached the river Yalu and entered the battle with an 18,000-strong Russian detachment led by M. I. Zasulich. The battle ended with the defeat of the Russians and was marked by the beginning of the Japanese invasion of the Manchurian territories.

On 22.04 (05.05), a Japanese army consisting of 38.5 thousand people landed 100 km from the fortress.

On 27.04 (10.05) Japanese detachments broke the railway communication between Manchuria and Port Arthur.

On May 2 (15), 2 Japanese ships were sunk, which, thanks to the Amur minelayer, fell into the placed mines. In just five May days (May 12-17), Japan lost 7 ships, and two went to the Japanese port for repairs.

Having successfully landed, the Japanese began to move towards Port Arthur in order to block it. To meet the Japanese detachments, the Russian command decided on fortified areas near Jinzhou.

On May 13 (26) a major battle took place. Russian detachment(3.8 thousand people) and in the presence of 77 guns and 10 machine guns, more than 10 hours repulsed the enemy attack. And only the approaching Japanese gunboats, having suppressed the left flag, broke through the defenses. The Japanese lost - 4,300 people, the Russians - 1,500 people.

Thanks to the battle won at Jinzhou, the Japanese overcame a natural barrier on the way to the fortress.

At the end of May, Japan captured the port of Dalniy without a fight, practically intact, which significantly helped them in the future.

On June 1-2 (14-15) in the battle of Vafangou, the 2nd Japanese Army defeats the Russian detachments under the command of General Stackelberg, who was sent to lift the blockade of Port Arthur.

On July 13 (26), the Japanese 3rd Army broke through the defenses of the Russian troops "on the passes" formed after the defeat at Jinzhou.

On July 30, the distant approaches to the fortress are engaged, and the defense begins.. This is a bright historical moment. The defense was carried out until January 2, 1905. In the fortress and adjacent areas, the Russian army did not have a single authority. General Stessel - commanded the troops, General Smironov - commander of the fortress, Admiral Vitgeft - commanded the fleet. It was difficult for them to come to a consensus. But among the leadership was a talented commander - General Kondratenko. Thanks to his oratory and managerial qualities, the authorities found a compromise.

Kondratenko earned the fame of the hero of the Port Arthur events, he died at the end of the siege of the fortress.

The number of troops in the fortress is about 53 thousand people, as well as 646 guns and 62 machine guns. The siege went on for 5 months. The Japanese army lost 92 thousand people, Russia - 28 thousand people.

Liaoyang and Shahe

During the summer of 1904, a Japanese army of 120,000 men approached Liaoyang from the east and south. The Russian army at that time was replenished with soldiers arriving along the Trans-Siberian Railway and slowly retreated.

On August 11 (24) there was a general battle at Liaoyang. The Japanese, moving in a semicircle from the south and east, attacked the Russian positions. In prolonged battles, the Japanese army, led by Marshal I. Oyama, suffered losses of 23,000, Russian troops, led by commander Kuropatkin, also suffered losses - 16 (or 19, according to some sources) thousand killed and wounded.

The Russians successfully repelled attacks in the south of Laoyang for 3 days, but Kuropatkin, assuming that the Japanese could block the railway north of Liaoyang, ordered his troops to retreat to Mukden. The Russian army retreated without leaving a single gun.

Armed clashes take place on the Shahe River in autumn. The beginning was the attack of the Russian troops, and a week later the Japanese launched a counterattack. Russia's losses amounted to about 40 thousand people, the Japanese side - 30 thousand people. The completed operation on the river. Shahe set a time of calm at the front.

On May 14-15 (27-28), the Japanese fleet in the Battle of Tsushima defeated the Russian squadron, which was redeployed from the Baltic, commanded by Vice Admiral Z. P. Rozhestvensky.

July 7 is the last major battle - Japanese invasion of Sakhalin. The 14,000th Japanese army was resisted by 6,000 Russians - they were mostly convicts and exiles who joined the army in order to acquire benefits and therefore did not have strong combat skills. By the end of July, Russian resistance was crushed, more than 3 thousand people were captured.

Effects

The negative impact of the war was also reflected in the internal situation in Russia:

1. the economy is undermined;
2. stagnation in industrial areas;
3. price increase.

Industry leaders pushed for a peace treaty. A similar opinion was shared by Great Britain and the United States, which initially supported Japan.

Military operations had to be stopped and forces should be directed to extinguish the revolutionary trends that were dangerous not only for Russia, but also for the world community.

On August 22 (9), 1905, with the mediation of the United States, negotiations begin in Portsmouth. The representative of the Russian Empire was S. Yu. Witte. At a meeting with Nicholas I. I., he received clear instructions: not to agree to an indemnity that Russia never paid, and not to give up land. In view of Japan's territorial and monetary demands, such instructions were not easy for Witte, who was already pessimistic and considered losses inevitable.

Following the results of the negotiations, on September 5 (August 23), 1905, a peace treaty was signed. According to the document:

1. The Japanese side received the Liaodong Peninsula, a section of the Chinese Eastern Railway (from Port Arthur to Changchun), as well as South Sakhalin.
2. Russia recognized Korea as a zone of influence of Japan and concluded a fishing convention.
3. Both sides of the conflict had to withdraw their troops from the territory of Manchuria.

The peace treaty did not fully respond to the claims of Japan and was much closer to Russian conditions, as a result of which it was not accepted by the Japanese people - waves of discontent swept through the country.

The countries of Europe were satisfied with the agreement, as they expected to take Russia as an ally against Germany. The United States, on the other hand, believed that their goals had been achieved, they had significantly weakened the Russian and Japanese powers.

Results

War between Russia and Japan 1904−1905 had economic and political reasons. She showed the internal problems of Russian governance and the diplomatic mistakes made by Russia. Russia's losses amounted to 270 thousand people, of which 50,000 were killed. Japan's losses were similar, but there were more killed - 80,000 people.

For Japan, the war turned out to be much more intense. than for Russia. She had to mobilize 1.8% of her population, while Russia - only 0.5%. Military operations quadrupled the external debt of Japan, Russia - by 1/3. The ended war influenced the development of military art in general, showing the importance of weapons equipment.

Results of the Russo-Japanese War

September 6, 1905

The results of the war

Results of the Russo-Japanese War

September 6, 1905. Portsmouth World (New Hampshire). Both sides were ready to make peace. The military claims of Japan were satisfied, while Russia, seething with discontent from within, was unable to continue the war. Thanks to the efforts of US President Theodore Roosevelt, as a result of peace negotiations, a peace agreement was reached, according to which Russia lost Port Arthur, half of Sakhalin Island and left Manchuria. Korea was placed under the Japanese sphere of influence.

Roosevelt took the position of not recognizing Japan's right to indemnity, as a result of which the war turned out to be ruinous for the Japanese economy. True, the ships of the Nebogatov squadron, the sunken ships of the Arthur squadron, including the Varyag (in Chemulpo) and Novik (off the coast of Sakhalin), went to the winner. All these ships were raised, repaired and put into the Japanese fleet, which thus emerged from the war stronger than it entered it. The Russian Pacific Fleet was liquidated. After the conclusion of peace, the cruisers of the Jessen detachment and the ships interned in neutral ports were returned to Kronstadt.

Russia might not have lost half of Sakhalin. At first, the position of the Russian representation, headed by Witte, was adamant: do not pay indemnities, do not give up Russian lands. Japan, in turn, wanted to receive indemnities and the whole of Sakhalin. Gradually the negotiations came to a standstill. Further delay was primarily not beneficial to Japan, which wanted to quickly restore the war-torn economy. The Emperor of Japan was already leaning toward the idea of ​​giving up his claims to Sakhalin. But then, at one of the secular receptions, Emperor Nicholas II, when asked about Russia's position in negotiations with Japan, scolded an inadvertent phrase: "Notify Witte that half of Sakhalin can be given away." This phrase became known to a Japanese spy at the Russian court and was reported to Emperor Mutsihito. At the same time, the Japanese official who reported to the emperor was at great risk, since in case of misinformation he had to commit suicide. The next day, the Japanese side put forward a demand for the transfer of half of Sakhalin. Witte agreed with this demand. Upon arrival in the capital, Witte was granted royal honors and the popular nickname "Semi-Sakhalin".

The results of the war

From a tactical point of view, the war on land revealed the tremendous value of the machine gun as a means of defense and the offensive value of indirect artillery fire. It is strange that Western observers failed to fully grasp the essence of the lesson taught by the machine gun. Despite the most difficult situation and the inability of most officers to lead, the Russian soldier once again proved his stamina and courage. The Japanese displayed considerable professional skill and fanatical devotion to duty. The Battle of Tsushima—the first and last great naval battle of the ironclad era before the advent of dreadnoughts—was also the greatest naval battle of annihilation since Trafalgar. She emphasized with particular clarity that knowledge of both naval and artillery matters was still essential for victory at sea. Psychologically and politically, Japan's victory in this war marked a turning point in world history. Asia learned that the Europeans were not always invincible: "white supremacy" became an outdated belief.

Despite its limited nature, the Russo-Japanese war had a noticeable impact on the balance of power in the world and thus predetermined the nature of many political processes and military clashes.

For Japan, victory in the war meant: The transformation of the country into a great power of the European level of development.

The growth of militaristic tendencies in its domestic policy, the militarization of the economy and the loss of its balance.

The "bifurcation" of foreign policy between the need to prevent revenge from the north and the need to develop expansion to the south and southwest. Inside the country, this contradiction was reflected in the permanent conflict between the army and the navy. Growing internal instability and, as a consequence, military intervention in matters of state administration.

Japan, having gained predominance in Korea and coastal China, began to show interest in the German naval base of Qingdao. This was one of the reasons for her entry into the world war on the side of Germany's opponents.

Further Japanese expansion into China was the cause of ever-increasing friction between Japan and the United States.

Having gained experience of successful operations at sea (and seeing firsthand that they can be profitable: the Japanese fleet only strengthened during the war), Japan began active naval construction, and the ships built at its shipyards were not inferior to the best English ships. By the end of World War I, Japan had become the third maritime power in the world.

This could not but lead to a cooling of relations with Great Britain. After the Washington Conference, when the maritime alliance between the powers was broken, a global Pacific conflict begins to form between the US and Great Britain on the one hand and Japan on the other.

For Russia, defeat in the war meant: A catastrophic increase in dissipative processes in society, which manifested itself as the "first Russian revolution." Although by 1907 revolutionary uprisings were suppressed, tsarism never recovered from the blow it received.

The loss of the country's position as one of the largest maritime powers. Rejection of the "oceanic" strategy and return to the continental strategy. As a result, the reduction of international trade and the tightening of domestic policies. These tendencies turned out to be long-term and operated in the 80s of the XX century.

The geopolitical balance in the world has changed significantly. Russia has lost almost all positions in the Pacific region. This meant that Russia was forced to abandon the eastern (southeastern) direction of expansion and direct its attention to Europe, the Middle East and the Straits. In view of the sharp weakening of Russia's sea power and the return of its policy to the "continental rails", Russian-British relations improved, as a result of which an agreement was signed with England on the delimitation of spheres of influence in Afghanistan and the Entente finally took shape.

The weakening of Russian military power after an unsuccessful war temporarily shifted the balance of power in Europe in favor of the Central Powers, which gave Austria-Hungary the opportunity to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, in general, Berlin and Vienna lost more than others from the unsuccessful outcome of the Russian-Japanese war for Russia. And not only because of the creation of an Anglo-French-Russian alliance. The feeling of shame for the worthlessly lost war led to certain positive changes in the army and navy. Western sources downplay the significance of the military reforms carried out in 1905-1912, however, there is no doubt that the Russian army acted much more skillfully on the fronts of the First World War than in 1904-1905. The command of the troops became skillful and energetic. Junior and middle officers actively used the accumulated combat experience. Combat training improved markedly, which was especially pronounced in artillery. In 1914, Russian field guns fired beautifully from closed positions, meaningfully interacted with ground troops, and often formed the backbone of defense (the Battle of Galicia). In naval artillery, the prize German indicator (3.3% of hits at real combat distances) was a credit for Russian commanders.

Many serious works and no less frivolous fiction have been written about the Russo-Japanese battles. However, even today, more than a century later, researchers are arguing: what was the main reason for the shameful and fatal defeat of Russia? The complete unpreparedness of a huge, unorganized empire for decisive military action, or the mediocrity of commanders? Or maybe the miscalculations of politicians?

Zheltorossiya: an unfulfilled project

In 1896, the real state councilor Alexander Bezobrazov submitted a report to the emperor, in which he proposed to colonize China, Korea and Mongolia. The Yellow Russia project provoked a lively debate in court circles... And a nervous resonance in Japan, which, in need of resources, claimed dominance in the Pacific region. The role of the catalyst in the conflict was played by Britain, who did not want Russia to turn into a gigantic colonial power. Diplomats recalled that all the Russian-Japanese negotiations that took place on the eve of the war were attended by the British - advisers and consultants of the Japanese side.

Nevertheless, Russia was gaining a foothold on the east coast: the governorship of the Far East was established, Russian troops occupied part of Manchuria, resettlement began in Harbin and the fortification of Port Arthur, which was called the gate to Beijing ... Moreover, preparations began officially for the inclusion of Korea into the Russian empire. The latter became the notorious drop that overflowed the cup of the Japanese.

One minute before the attack

Actually, the war in Russia was expected. Both the “bezobrazovskaya clique” (as those who financially supported the projects of Mr. Bezobrazov) and Nicholas II soberly believed that a military competition for the region was, alas, inevitable. Could it have been bypassed? Yes, but at too high a price - the price of the Russian crown not only abandoning colonial ambitions, but the Far Eastern territories as a whole.
The Russian government foresaw the war and even prepared for it: roads were built, ports were strengthened. Diplomats did not sit idly by: relations with Austria, Germany and France improved, which should have provided Russia, if not support, then at least European non-intervention.

However, the Russian politicians still hoped that Japan would not take risks. And even when the cannons rumbled, the country was dominated by hatred: is it really some kind of Japan in comparison with huge, mighty Russia? Yes, we will defeat the adversary in a matter of days!

However, was Russia so powerful? The Japanese, for example, had three times as many destroyers. And the battleships built in England and France surpassed the Russian ships in a number of the most important indicators. The Japanese naval artillery also had an undoubted advantage. As for the ground forces, the number of Russian troops beyond Baikal, including border guards and the protection of various objects, was 150 thousand military personnel, while the Japanese army after the announced mobilization exceeded 440 thousand bayonets.

Intelligence informed the tsar about the superiority of the enemy. She asserts: Japan is fully prepared for a skirmish and is waiting for an opportunity. But it seems that the Russian emperor forgot Suvorov's testament that procrastination is similar to death. The Russian elite hesitated and hesitated...

The feat of the ships and the fall of Port Arthur

The war broke out without a declaration. On the night of January 27, 1904, an armada of Japanese warships attacked a Russian flotilla stationed in a roadstead near Port Arthur. The Mikado warriors struck a second blow near Seoul: there, in Chemulpo Bay, the cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreyets, guarding the Russian mission in Korea, took an unequal battle. Since ships from Britain, the United States, Italy and France were nearby, the duel could be said to have taken place before the eyes of the world. Having sunk several enemy vessels,

"Varyag" with "Korean" preferred the seabed to Japanese captivity:

We did not let down before the enemy
Glorious Andreevsky flag,
No, we blew up the Korean
We sunk the Varyag...

By the way, a year later, the Japanese were not too lazy to raise the legendary cruiser from the bottom to make it a training watercraft. Remembering the defenders of the Varyag, they left the ship its honest name, adding on board: "Here we will teach you how to love your Fatherland."

Busi's heirs failed to take Port Arthur. The fortress withstood four assaults, but remained unshakable. During the siege, the Japanese lost 50 thousand soldiers, however, the losses of Russia were extremely noticeable: 20 thousand killed soldiers. Would Port Arthur survive? Perhaps, but in December, unexpectedly for many, General Stessel decided to surrender the citadel along with the garrison.

Mukden meat grinder and Tsushima rout

The battle near Mukden broke the record of military crowding: over half a million people on both sides. The battle lasted 19 days almost without interruption. As a result, the army of General Kuropatkin was completely defeated: 60 thousand Russian soldiers died the death of the brave. Historians are unanimous: the closeness and negligence of the commanders (the headquarters gave conflicting orders), their underestimation of the enemy’s forces and blatant sloppiness, which had a detrimental effect on providing the army with material and technical means, are to blame for the disaster.

The “control” blow was for Russia the battle of Tsushima. On May 14, 1905, 120 brand new battleships and cruisers under Japanese flags surrounded the Russian squadron, which arrived from the Baltic. Only three ships - including the Aurora, which played a special role years later - managed to escape from the deadly ring. 20 Russian battleships were sunk. Seven more were boarded. More than 11 thousand sailors became prisoners.

In the deep Tsushima Strait,
Far from native land
At the bottom, in the deep ocean
Forgotten there are ships
There Russian admirals sleep
And the sailors doze around
They grow coral
Between the fingers of outstretched hands ...

The Russian army was crushed, the Japanese army was so exhausted that the proud descendants of the samurai agreed to negotiate. Peace was concluded in August, in the American Portsmouth - according to the agreement, Russia ceded Port Arthur and part of Sakhalin to the Japanese, and also abandoned attempts to colonize Korea and China. However, the unsuccessful military campaign put an end not only to the expansion of Russia to the East, but, as it turned out later, to the monarchy in general. The “small victorious war”, which the Russian elite so hoped for, overturned the throne forever.

noble enemies

Newspapers of that time abound with photographs from Japanese captivity. On them, high-cheeked and narrow-eyed doctors, nurses, soldiers, and even members of the Japanese imperial family willingly pose with Russian officers and privates. It is hard to imagine something like this later, during the war with the Germans...

The attitude of the Japanese towards prisoners of war became the standard on the basis of which many international conventions were created years later. “All wars are based on political disagreements between states,” the Japanese military department said, “so one should not inflame hatred of the people.”

In 28 camps opened in Japan, 71,947 Russian sailors, soldiers, and officers were kept. Of course, they were treated differently, especially since becoming a prisoner of war for a Japanese meant tarnishing his honor, but on the whole, the humane policy of the military ministry was respected. The Japanese spent 30 sen for the maintenance of a Russian prisoner-soldier (twice as much for an officer), while only 16 sen went for their own, Japanese warrior. The meals of the prisoners consisted of breakfast, lunch, dinner, as well as tea drinking, and, eyewitnesses noted, the menu was varied, and the officers had the opportunity to hire a personal chef.

Heroes and traitors

More than 100 thousand privates and officers were laid in the graves of the war. And the memory of many is still alive.
For example, the commander of the "Varyag" Vsevolod Rudnev. Having received an ultimatum from Admiral Uriu, the cruiser captain decided to go for a breakthrough, which he informed the team about. During the battle, the crippled, shot through Varyag managed to fire 1105 shells at the enemy. And only after that the captain, having transferred the rest of the team to foreign ships, gave the order to open the kingstones. The courage of the Varyag impressed the Japanese so much that later Vsevolod Rudnev received from them the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun. True, he never wore this award.

Vasily Zverev, the mechanic of the destroyer "Strong", did something completely unprecedented: he closed the hole with himself, enabling the ship, broken by the enemy, to return to port and save the crew. This unthinkable act was reported by all foreign newspapers without exception.

Of course, among the numerous heroes were privates. The Japanese, who value duty above all else, admired the resilience of intelligence officer Vasily Ryabov. During the interrogation, the captured Russian spy did not answer a single question and was sentenced to death. However, even at gunpoint, Vasily Ryabov behaved, according to the Japanese, as befits a samurai - with honor.

As for the criminals, public opinion declared Adjutant General Baron Stessel as such. After the war, the investigation accused him of ignoring orders from above, did not take measures to provide Port Arthur with food, lied in reports about his personal, heroic participation in battles, misled the sovereign, handed out awards to senior officers who did not deserve them ... And , finally, he surrendered Port Arthur on conditions that were humiliating for the Motherland. In addition, the cowardly baron did not share the hardships of captivity with the garrison. However, Stessel did not suffer any special punishment: after serving a year and a half in home confinement, he was pardoned by a royal decree.

The indecisiveness of the military bureaucrats, their unwillingness to take risks, their inability to act in the field and their unwillingness to see the obvious - this is what pushed Russia into the abyss of defeat and into the abyss of cataclysms that occurred after the war.