Why Was Russia So Ineffective Against Japan in the Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905)?

[@HistoryHustle]

Check out the playlist of REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYuQaHaBmqeAns0

[@janherburodo8070]

I wonder why Japanese attitude towards POW's changed so drastically in such a relatively short period.

[@janherburodo8070]

@Guy Incognito Kinda ironic, just like U.S forcing Japan out of isolationism to get attacked by Japanese Empire 80 years later

[@itsblitz4437]

@Guy Incognito wow, had no idea a generation growing up under repressive and brutal conditions can have major effects on the psyche and produce long term consequences.

[@itsblitz4437]

@@janherburodo8070 not to mention, the people who in charged were descended from Samurai and aristocrats before the Meiji Restoration and after that they still had the most power and had been swayed on Nationalism and believing they can mimic other Imperial powers like Great Britain 🇬🇧

[@DeltaEchoGolf]

@Guy Incognito That should be a good topic for another video. Japan during the inter-war years.

[@ewok40k]

Success going to the head, and nationalism going wild.

[@bnipmnaa]

9:20 Small correction: the British didn't deny the Russian fleet access to the Suez canal - in fact, about half of the Russian fleet did go by that route (marked in red on your map).

[@HistoryHustle]

I see!

[@theodoros9428]

Yes it's true

[@mint8648]

Source?

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Now the Russians watch History Hustle too.

[@itsblitz4437]

And the Japanese too.

[@HistoryHustle]

😬

[@Belsen85]

Yes, we do!

[@mariyanadobreva8724]

Thank you for this important information. In a book by a Russian historian, I read interviews of Soviet soldiers about the campaign in Manchuria in 1945. I was surprised to see how deeply they were affected by the defeat in 1905 and resented it. Many of them had lost a grandfather in this war and were eager to fight against Japan despite the long and exhausting war in Europe against Germany. For sure, the Russo-Japanese war was a final blow to the already shattered authority of the Tsar who underestimated the Japanese Army. In their turn, the Japanese underestimated the USSR and had a very nasty surprise in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, in 1939.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for replying!

[@QuicksilverVM]

Actualy this short 18 months lasting war war was very unpopular in russia, also because it was while russian Revolution and its the west not asia who claim japanese won while japan didnt qonquer any russian teriritory and seeked negotiations first and russia negotiated because they had the Revolution goin on

[@Artur_M.]

Fun fact: in the summer of 1904 one of the leaders of the Polish Socialist Party, Józef Piłsudski arrived in Tokyo, to offer his services to the Japanese government and try to convince them to create Polish Legions (with Poles conscripted to the Russian army and taken captive as the main source of recruits). It didn't work out but it would be an amazing material for one of the episodes about military formations if it did. Due to unrelated reasons, there are descendants of Bronisław Piłsudski (Józef's older brother) living in Japan but that is a whole another story.

[@theodoros9428]

Interesting information

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jangrosek4334]

I was very surprised when I learned that Lenin's elder brother and Pilsudski's elder brother were familiar and were in the underground socialist movement.

[@theodoros9428]

@@jangrosek4334 Interesting

[@jangrosek4334]

@@theodoros9428 There are many strange coincidences. Jozef Piłsudski and Felix Dzerzhinsky study at the same school. Kerensky's parents were friends with Lenin's parents and lived in the same city. This is the most famous.

[@tillytilford2158]

The British ships that you mentioned that were fired on were fishing boats in the North Sea. The Russian Baltic Fleet believed they may have been Japanese Navy vessels! Quite a conclusion but demonstrates the competence of the Russians at the time.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@BajanEnglishman51]

this channel is so god tier underrated

[@HistoryHustle]

Feel free to share 👍

[@robendert7617]

Thank you for this compact overview of this tragic conflict. It underlined 4 common errors that in any combination lays the foundation for defeat. 1 Underestimating the enemy 2 Overestimating yourself 3 Overestimating the enemy 4 Underestimating yourself So obvious that it might sound a bit corny. Groeten uit het Jura-gebergte!

[@HistoryHustle]

Mooie plek 👍

[@nickc7320]

If I had to take one combo I'd underestimate myself and overestimate my enemy and fight like hell to even it out.

[@653j521]

Quite right. It IS that obvious. And yet, you felt you had to write it.

[@robendert7617]

@@653j521 Yeah, because it is obvious for us who study history. But as the current events, also involving Russia, show, these seemingly obvious facts seem to totally elude most people, including the neocons who organized the NATO war against Russia in the Ukraine. They totally underestimated Russia, and totally overestimated the west.

[@frankberkemeier]

Good stuff again. As I understood it, this victory over the Russians gave the Japanese such a boost, that it gave them confidence to execute the attack at Pearl Harbour in 1941.

[@HistoryHustle]

Guess so

[@jangrosek4334]

The Japanese received an additional boost in WWI when they capture the German colonies in Asia with minimal forces.

[@LauftFafa]

Well not that. That gave them a foot step to become stronger only , they barely had any local made ship in this war while in ww2 they had the biggest fleet in the world all of it built in their own shipyards . They had confidence because they were simply strongest . Notice their battles against the royal navy in ww2 . The Japanese won all of their battles against them . That's how much they were strong. After this war they still had to deal with mongolia , china , germans in ww1 . That made them confident enough to take the british by a storm and fight the Americans to the last island

[@juliansenfr]

They attack Pearl Harbor because animosity towards the Americans were at a boiling point by then, & it all started from this war. They went to the US for negotiations after the Russo-Japanese war & got the hardly anything of worth. (Everything else in China/Manchuria were already theirs to claim anyways, they didn't need the Russian permission for that) The only thing they gained was half of Sakhalin Island (not even the whole thing) on the literal fringes of Russia, & NO reparations. & the fact that they had more casualties left the entire nation feeling betrayed by a supposed ally in the US (Theodore Roosevelt especially) who negotiated the deal. Teddy did it to keep the Japanese Empire in check (which I guess he essentially did as far as he's alive to see for it) but planted the seed of vengeance & distrust between Japan & the US. Who knows how WWII would turn out if Japan & the US were still close allies leaving the negotiation table in Portsmouth that day in 1905.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

I thought you were posting this tomorrow? Edit: This was a great video! Very interesting. Maybe a video also on the Sino Japanese war of 1895?

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. Early post so you could rewatch this video all Day long;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYiwqGudadh-a68

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@HistoryHustle 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Thanks for sending me this! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@HistoryHustle]

💪🇱🇺

[@Xycomm]

Stephan is possibly one of the greatest WW2//General history creators on the platform!! Who else covers topics like the Germans foreign fighters as well as conflicts as well as him and as consistently?!?

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@BHuang92]

Sending a fleet that had little experience in fighting (let alone traveling) across the world to face a modernized naval power. *What can go wrong?*

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@mammuchan8923]

Great early weekend surprise😇. Russia really shot themselves in the foot with their racial prejudice leading them to underestimate the Japanese. Nice touch with the artworks 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, these Japanese artworks are really nice to use :) Thanks as always!

[@deanstuart8012]

I think that the writing was on the wall for the Russian fleet when they fired on "Japanese" boats in the North Sea. These turned out to be British fishing boats. However it was not as mad as it sounds. Virtually the entire Russian and Japanese fleets had actually been built on the shipyards of the Wear (pronounced "wee a") and Tyne in the north east of England. Perhaps the Russians thought that Japanese crews were in England collecting new ships?

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps, can't tell.

[@DRFelGood]

Good info and great research 👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@wodzimierzcieciura1099]

Great episode on one of the most important conflicts of the modern era. It's worth remembering that during the Napoleonic wars Russia stretched from Central Europe not only to East Asia but to North America. It was that huge.

[@MrKakibuy]

@Piet Hein I believe at that point no one knew theres gold in Alaska, it was viewed as worthless to Russia

[@HistoryHustle]

More on that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGnKo3-AataBa6c

[@mcronniefreshfries2106]

well done, sir.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, sir 👍

[@RickJZ1973]

Nice way to end a Friday evening with an informative History Hustle presentation. Definitely enjoyed this one!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@seanmcmullen4274]

thanks for making this video. there really isnt very much of this topic on youtube

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you found it interesting, Sean!

[@kayakdan48]

Good stuff...easily accessible history. Adds so much to life...thank you!

[@HistoryHustle]

Great to read, thanks for your reply!

[@chh3781]

This channel is so underrated! Thanks for the video!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. Feel free to share 👍

[@JohnnoDordrecht]

Great episode of the hustle , keep on coming !

[@HistoryHustle]

👍thank you!

[@teddypup2424]

Wow, I had no idea Gen Milley was alive and worked for the Russians in 1905.

[@HistoryHustle]

?

[@jacqueslefave4296]

🤑😋🤪😅

[@albertoperez7119]

The Russian commanders was just pathetic I think that's the country that lost more Wars than any other country in the world

[@HistoryHustle]

Well, they emerged victorious out of the biggest one: WW2.

[@midnight-2021]

@@HistoryHustle their biggest victory of WW2 was that the British government didn't listen to Winston Churchhill and the USA government didn't listen to General Patton. Both Churchhill and Patton saw the USSR as an immediate danger to the west and wanted immediate war with the USSR after the defeat of Nazi Germany. With the USA already having an atomic bomb this would have been used against the USSR if General Patton got his wish to fight the USSR. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6mkenhvicd6r80

[@cgt3704]

when you cant choose between vodka and noodles

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol

[@ProfessorBarrancoIII]

can you make a video about italian volunteers in the eastern front and italian puppe state 1943-1945? good job BTW

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, a topic for the future. Can't tell when though.

[@surplusshepherd]

Great video as always! Also I like your type 30 bayonet in the background.

[@HistoryHustle]

You have an eye for detail, great you liked it!

[@mikhailv67tv]

Japan defeated Russia with 20 century Technology, 100 years later Azerbaijan defeated Armenia with 21st century technology. I've always loved the Japanese artwork from this conflict. Great use of it Stephan.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, these Japanese artworks are really interesting.

[@damagejackal10]

This was also the first time the attacker to defenders ratio went up from 3:1 to 5:1, (because of machine guns and barbed wire). It's a classic case of a larger underperfoming army getting out worked by a smaller overperforming army. You see this dynamic happen in sports sometimes!

[@HistoryHustle]

It surely is an interesting conflict to study.

[@danteopen]

Interessante video maat ! Groetjes uit Hengelo Overijssel

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt, Danté!

[@surinfarmwest6645]

I knew there was this war but never knew why. Thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome.

[@hermes112]

i love the maps you have in the background, and books, nice video, very interesting

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks 👍

[@charliebrownie4158]

One thing I heard that made the Germans think they could defeat France then attack Russia before mobilization was because it took it too long to Mobilize against Japan, they assumed it would be like the slaves, but against Germany they mobilized quick enough to enter Prussia before they were ready.

[@tommy-er6hh]

Nice Video! One point, it was not just Japanese desire for more, also the Czar tried to push into Korea - which was supposed to be in Japanese Sphere puppet - although that failed. So as far as I can see, both sides pushed into the war - only the Japanese attacked first - and that was inspired by the British attack on the Danish fleet in Copenhagen by Nelson during the Napolianic wars.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this additional information.

[@georgejones8481]

Neutral country 🌅✌️ *Japan has entered the chat* 🎌⚔️💣

[@MansionByBeach1]

Its 75 years already. You can stop explaing yourself.

[@HistoryHustle]

I see.

[@nomustachemanhunter2605]

The country was exactly neutral... Russia was aggressive at the time.

[@interestinglife934]

Love your content.

[@HistoryHustle]

Great!

[@Hitesh-rq9fc]

Its astonishing that japan defeated russia

[@MrKakibuy]

Well its not that they defeated the entire might of Russia, they defeated the Russian navy in 1 battle and that left Russia with no choice but to negotiatie peace My point is: Its unlikely that they would have won if it was a land war like against France. Manchuria was the back yard of Japan while for Russia it was half a world away

[@HistoryHustle]

Fair point. If Japan would've sailed all across to Europe to battle Russia there, they most likely would lose as well.

[@Krabbenbaum]

Great video History Hustle. Keep up the good work, please!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@glhmedic]

Good video on a subject I would like to know more about. Btw like your tie.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply:)

[@noahbpeters]

These Russians, quality is the most important thing Also a very good video

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your message 👍

[@anglowarrior7970]

U are such an good KZbinr ❤❤❤

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!

[@davidblaskie8987]

Lenin called the Revolution of 1905 "A dress rehearsal for the revolution of 1917"

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed. More on that this Saturday.

[@Karpaneen]

I think you got one of the years wrong in the description. I don't think the first sino-japanese war lasted until 1985..

[@HistoryHustle]

😅👍

[@caslinden1373]

Mooie video man👍🇳🇱

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt, Cas!

[@арефнар]

The research put into this video was probably more than the research put into the Japanese situation by the Russian chief of staff.

[@HistoryHustle]

Haha, guess so...

[@friedrice9535]

The Tsar was advised he had logistic problems. Bullets and arms were manufactured in Tula, western Russia, and there was just one train track leading to eastern Russia. 7000 miles. Боже, Царя храни!

[@HistoryHustle]

Logistics are key for successful warfare.

[@t.jjohnson6317]

Another good vid. Thank-you. i have a old book called.''A Photographic Record of The Russo-Japanese War'' has about 150-200 black and white photos Interresting, thank-you

[@HistoryHustle]

👍 thank you. Sounds like an interesting book.

[@t.jjohnson6317]

Yes it was printed in 1926, thx again

[@HistoryHustle]

Ancient!

[@ryanmaria2882]

Could you do the1940 invasion of Denmark

[@HistoryHustle]

One day perhaps.

[@hangten1904]

Bruh, The Russians fired at British fishing boats at the North Sea thinking it was Japanese torpedo boats.

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok.

[@rsocor01]

Man, your English is pretty good to be from the Netherlands. :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks 👍

[@drdeeja6402]

WHOS HERE FOR HOMEWORK

[@HistoryHustle]

☝️

[@norjop]

Your English is better than my Dutch. Prejudices ( vooroordeelen ).

[@HistoryHustle]

👌 do my best haha.

[@adamradziwill]

1885 was THE best year for all Moscow´s European colonies from Finland to Belarus !

[@HistoryHustle]

Please explain.

[@QuicksilverVM]

Funfact , only the west talks about russian loss in russian japanese war. Japan didnt qonquer any russian territory in the 18 months war and it was japan who seeked negotiations first. This war was fought while revolution in russia and it was very unpopular under russians and thats the reason russia negotiated.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, indeed. It does count as a loss though.

[@avnrulz8587]

One empire in decline trying to save itself by pushing around another empire in decline. (Russia v. China)

[@HistoryHustle]

More or less yes.

[@Wave741]

Did you say you are history teacher from Netherlands? Kom ik nu pas achter 😁

[@HistoryHustle]

Jaja 👍

[@orange8420]

Russia the battle you WIN but the war is not 34 years later Ussr guess who's Back Back again Japan CONFUSED scream

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes..

[@henkstersmacro-world]

You forgot that there is another side to this story, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Schiff

[@HistoryHustle]

Please explain.

[@simplicius11]

@@HistoryHustle Schiff financed Japan's war effort.

[@HistoryHustle]

I see. Feel this is another antisemtite trying to bring forward his cause..

[@chriszenko6355]

The Russian fleet was already defeated before they arrived they had many blunders on their 7 month voyage

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@andrewegan7011]

Won and lost with armaments and ships built in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and sold to both sides.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting.

[@andrewegan7011]

@@HistoryHustle The Armstrong works (Lord Armstrong) built the machine guns and his shipyards on the Tyne supplied Destroyers. Further down the Tyne Swan Hunters supplied ships to the Japanese. Making the war a particular North East of England one. Even though the British were not involved directly, as always there was also some link. Great video love your style. I believe History has become to diverse the way it is taught nowadays and that's what makes channels like yours so popular giving the the young ones a chance to hear what oldies like me were taught at school. Keep up the good work.

[@ronmaximilian6953]

I look forward to your series on the Russian revolutions. Russia was not just ineffective on land, but also at sea largely because of their class structure. Drachinifel is a channel for naval affairs and has a two-part series on the Russian second Pacific fleet. It is quite in-depth and worth watching. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b37HmpJ8nZ6Sd8k PS. The Russians were not throwing in their best in this battle. In fact, they disproportionately sent in non-ethnic Russians. To put it mildly, many of these had no desire to die for the czar. My maternal great-grandfather was supposed to be drafted at the age of 13, but got around it by getting married to a 15-year-old girl. He was so intimidated, that he ran home the first night. It's a good thing that he never went into battle and grew up.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing, Ron!

[@draug7966]

Imagine being in the russian navy and have to sail all the way around africa and up through the indian ocean just to get your ship shot up by the japanese, must have sucked to say the least.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@Adam.G.Trapper]

With cost of “black gold” at 15-23 dollars per barrel, the USSR economy collapsed, and the sovok itself collapsed, and the "golden" horde (Muscovy) budget can only be fulfilled only with oil price at $ 42.4 and higher

[@HistoryHustle]

okay, this video isn't about the USSR.

[@Adam.G.Trapper]

@@HistoryHustleall Moscow´s empires have been natural resource based. Ivan the terrible or Putin´s empire have had the same economical structure

[@ronalddino6370]

Russia was not soviet union yet

[@niedersacksen]

Suprise attack.... jup the japanese dont change

[@HistoryHustle]

Lol

[@CalebNorthNorman]

👍

[@HistoryHustle]

:)

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Even if 2.5 months were spent languishing on Nosy Be, a 7 month voyage on a luxuriously appointed Russian navy ship of the time would have had even the best of men talkng to Baba Yaga on a regular basis.

[@HistoryHustle]

Baba Yaga, the supernatural being..?

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

@@HistoryHustleI was referribg to the fact that the crew began going insane and talking to the Boogeyman. " Men began to go mad. An old acquaintance of Politovsky’s wandered about the boats half-undressed, asking people if they feared Death.....Rozhestvensky collected an assortment of misfits to ship back home through the Suez aboard the “Malay”-lunatics, drunkards, invalids, men imprisoned for mutinous acts" Great video btw BZ

[@actonman7291]

Russian went full racist never go full racist against Japan.

[@HistoryHustle]

Never go like that against any country I'd say.

[@jacqueslefave4296]

There were supply issues for the Russians, the trans-Siberian railroad was a causus bellum for the Japanese, but it cost the Russian government so much, corners were cut to save money, sometimes iron rather than steel rails were used, and wooden cross ties were stretched out too much, leading to failures and later weight limits which constricted supply. Also, there was a supply officer before the war started or was considered a possibility, and had his position from a family connection to the Romanov's, that supplied black volcanic sand instead of black cannon powder, that led to some combat artillery failures. Some rotten meat was also supplied at times, but that may have been poor handling rather than corruption. A not so funny comedy of errors.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing your insights.

[@jjc5475]

prejudeces. i can't even spell it. english is pain.

[@HistoryHustle]

😅

[@tomfrazier1103]

Japan claimed the U.S. double dealt them and cheated them of a more comprehensive victory at Portsmouth. They racialized this a a caucasian conspiracy against an Asian victor, an excuse for their 1941 attack on the U.S. They did not fool anyone, Asian or Caucasian by their conduct. Very few African Americans were involved. As civilians they were interned, and a few others were military and naval prisoners. I would be interested in African American memoirs of the Asia/Pacific theater of WWII.

[@HistoryHustle]

Don't know if they used this as their excuse in 1941...

[@tomfrazier1103]

There is ultimately no excuse for aggression, but printers are kept busy with unofficial and official justifications.

[@mark12strang58]

At the end of the war Japan was heavily in debt and riots broke out in Japan because the country didnt receive any war reparations from Russia. I consider Japanese victory a Pyrrhic victory

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps, but in the long term in strengthened the country.

[@jangrosek4334]

The Russian fleet suffered catastrophic losses and this had consequences in WWI

[@ArdeshirshahJahanshayanfar2001]

Do you smoke weed?

[@HistoryHustle]

No, you?

[@Arizona-ex5yt]

The US saved Japan's ass by negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth and they were totally ungrateful going forward. Japan was near the absolute end of its strength when the war ended, and they had no way to extricate themselves (sort of like their ever-escalating war against China in the 1930s). Had the war dragged on for another year or two, Russia's massive manpower advantage would have eventually won.

[@HistoryHustle]

Eventually tables turned yes.