Battle Of Tsushima

The naval battle of Tsushima in 1905 between Japan and Russia wasn't a world-changing event in and of itself. It had little direct impact on world politics, lasting just two days in late May 1905 and ending in a resounding Japanese triumph. It could even be written off as one of the many confrontations that took place prior to the devastation of the two world wars.

Because it was the first modern naval combat incorporating wireless telegraphy and steel battleships, the battle's actual significance could be appreciated in its place in the overall scheme of things. More significantly, it had long-lasting effects within the two nations. The conflict bolstered the most militaristic groups within the army in Japan and reaffirmed the military's superiority in the eyes of the general public.

These factions would go on to play a significant part in the events of the decades that followed. The defeat and nearly total annihilation of the Baltic fleet in Russia sparked a number of mutinies, including the Potemkin rebellion. That would directly pave the way for the 1917 revolutions and the subsequent civil war in Russia, along with the revolution earlier in the year.

Date: 27–28 May 1905
Location: Straits of Tsushima
Result: Japanese victory