The Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese war lasted only 1 year, from 1904-1905. The conflict between the Russian and the Japanese government was over dominance or influence over a small region of East Asia, specifically Korea, Manchuria, and the Liaodong Peninsula. Russia wanted to gain access and influence over these places so that they could use them for porting navy ships year round, even during the cold season. Russia’s only port at the time was Vladivostok, located on the northwestern coast of Russia, thousands of miles from the Port Arthur, a port which they were renting from China on the Liaodong Peninsula. They were renting Port Arthur for several reasons. One being to have a port on either side of the country to maximize efficiency and mobility. The other, and more pressing reason was that due to weather conditions Vladivostok could only be open during the summer, so Russia needed a second harbor.
Russia being so close, and with a military presence no less, made the Japanese government nervous that they might encroach on Japan’s plans to gain influence and control over Manchuria and Korea. Japan sent out a formal proposition to Nicholas II, the current (and last) Tsar of Russia that Japan would allow them to have sway over Manchuria they would require Russia to leave Korea for them. Russia however did not think this deal was fair and demanded that everything north of the 39th Parallel in Korea be neutral territory between the nations. Japan took this as a clear threat their plans of expansion and opened fire on all Russian ships ported in Arthur’s Port in 1904.
Nicholas II entered the war with Japan feeling absolutely unthreatened. He saw it as an easy war to win and that it could help boost morale and patriotism in his country at a time when it was crumbly from between his fingers. Tsardom was coming to a close, the people were unsettled and they were on the brink of a civil war. To add to this Russia had become weak in Industry and Agriculture. He wanted to rally his people together for them to feel proud of their country. Because of this he stayed in the war even after several defeats by Japan.
SOURCES:
www.britannica.com/topic/Central-Powers
nzhistory.govt.nz/war/central-powers