Invasion of Sakhalin

Japanese forces landing on Sakhalin

Date	7 July to 31 July 1905
Location	Sakhalin island
Result	Japanese victory

Belligerents

Empire of Japan

Russian Empire

Commanders and leaders

Haraguchi Kensai
Kataoka Shichirō

General Lyapunov

Strength

14,000

7280 men

Casualties and losses

minimal

181 dead and 3,270 prisoners

The Invasion of Sakhalin (Japanese: 樺太の戦い, Karafuto no tatakai; Russian: Японское вторжение на Сахалин) was the last land battle of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905.

The invasion and occupation of the island of Sakhalin had been considered by the Japanese government from the early stages of the Russo-Japanese War, and the plan was actively promoted by General Gaishi Nagaoka, a senior member of the Imperial General Headquarters. However, the plan was vetoed, primary due to opposition by the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 7 June 1905, shortly after the Battle of Tsushima, US president Theodore Roosevelt met with Japanese diplomat and Kaneko Kentarō and the issue was reconsidered. Roosevelt agreed with the Japanese assessment that the invasion and occupation of Sakhalin was now necessary, as only the threat of direct loss of Russian territory would bring Russian Tsar Nicholas II to consider a negotiated settlement to the war.

Japan and Russia had previously shared ownership of Sakhalin; however, the Japanese relinquished their claims in the 1875 Treaty of St Petersburg in exchange for undisputed sovereignty over all of the Kurile islands. By 1904, Sakhalin had an estimated 30,000 inhabitants, including around 4000 Ainu. However, the island was used as a prison and a place of exile for political dissidents; it did not figure prominently in Russian strategic plans. The island was noted for its harsh climate, isolation, and the high level of corruption of its ruling bureaucrats, and consequently little investment was made in its defence.

The Imperial Russian Army had a garrison on Sakhalin with a nominal strength of 7280 men. However, many of these men were conscripted farmers, hunters, or political prisoners with minimal training or equipment. Russian General MN Lyapunov had been a lawyer before the war, and had limited formal military training.

...
Wikipedia