Russo-Japanese War

Kisaburō Ohara, Europe and Asia Octopus Map, 1904 Cornell CUL PJM 1145 01

Serio-comic war map for 1877

Great Victory of Pyongyang and Capture of Chinese Qing Generals by Migita Toshihide 1894

Troops of the Eight nations alliance 1900

Shinichiro Kurino

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Manchuria

Russo-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was a military conflict fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. The war is significant for being the first modern conflict in which an Asian power defeated a European one, which had far-reaching implications for the balance of power in Asia and the approach of European powers towards colonial conflicts. It also marked the emergence of Japan as a major world power.

Background

The origins of the Russo-Japanese War can be traced back to the conflicting imperial ambitions of Russia and Japan in East Asia. Russia sought access to warm-water ports on the Pacific Ocean for its navy and for maritime trade. Meanwhile, Japan had emerged from the Meiji Restoration with increased industrial and military capabilities, aiming to become the dominant power in Asia. Both nations were interested in controlling Manchuria and Korea for strategic and economic reasons.

Course of the War

The war began on 8 February 1904, with a surprise night attack by the Japanese navy on the Russian Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur, a naval base in the Liaodong Peninsula leased to Russia by China. Following the attack, Japan declared war on Russia.

Significant battles included the Battle of Mukden and the Battle of Tsushima. The Battle of Mukden was one of the largest land battles to be fought before World War I, involving over half a million troops. The Battle of Tsushima was a decisive naval battle that resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet, which had sailed around the world to reach the Far East.

Consequences

The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth on 5 September 1905, mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. The treaty recognized Japan's claims to Korea and ceded Russia's lease of Port Arthur and the Liaodong Peninsula, along with the southern half of Sakhalin Island, to Japan.

The Russo-Japanese War had significant implications for the international balance of power. Japan's victory established it as a major world power and demonstrated that Asian powers could defeat European ones in modern warfare. For Russia, the defeat exacerbated internal unrest, contributing to the 1905 Russian Revolution. The war also led to a reevaluation of military tactics and technology, influencing the development of warfare in the 20th century.

Legacy

The Russo-Japanese War left a lasting legacy on international relations, military strategy, and the geopolitical landscape of East Asia. It marked the rise of Japan as a major imperial power and set the stage for its future expansionist policies in Asia. The war also highlighted the vulnerability of European powers in colonial conflicts, signaling a shift in global power dynamics.