Russo-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War was a war between Russia and Japan. Its date was between 8 February 1904 and 5 September 1905. It lasted 1 year, 6 months and 4 weeks. Its location was in Manchuria, the Yellow Sea, and the Korean Peninsula. Its result was a Japanese victory and the Treaty of Portsmouth.

The belligerent on the first side was the Empire of Japan. The belligerents on the other side were the Russian Empire and the Principality of Montenegro.

The strength of the Empire of Japan was 1,200,000 in total and 650,000 at its peak. The strength of the Russian Empire was 1,365,000 in total and 700,000 at its peak.

The casualties and losses of the Empire of Japan were 47,152–47,400 killed, 11,424–11,500 died of wounds, and 21,802–27,200 died of disease. The casualties and losses of the Russian Empire were 34,000–52,623 killed or died of wounds, 9,300–18,830 died of disease, 146,032 wounded, and 74,369 captured.

The course of the war involved early land victories by Japan and a siege of Russia's valuable pacific city, Port Arthur. Russia then sent the Baltic sea fleet. As it approached, the Japanese intercepted and destroyed it.

The outcome of the war shocked world powers and military analysts of the day, who had thought the Russian juggernaut would easily run over the non-European smaller country of Japan. It showed how a well-run, technologically-advanced military could exert power beyond its numbers. Some of the battles held important lessons for the coming conflict of World War I, but they were not observed well enough or dismissed because of the belligerents involved.

The war also dealt a serious blow to the Russian Empire and the Romanov dynasty. Following the embarrassing loss and having to cede Port Arthur to the Japanese, Nicholas II was forced to give concessions to the Russian Duma and allow some democratization. However in the next few years he backpedaled on his promises, and tried to reassert authoritarianism. This led to his violent overthrow in 1917.