Battle of Sandepu
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Sandepu, (also known as the Battle of Heikoutai) was a major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War
. It was fought within a group of villages about 36 miles (58 km) southwest of Mukden, Manchuria
.
, the Russian
and Japanese
forces faced each other south of Mukden until the frozen Manchurian winter began. The Russian were entrenched in the city of Mukden, whereas the Japanese were occupying a 160 kilometer long front with the Japanese 1st Army
, 2nd Army
, 4th Army and the Akiyama Independent Cavalry Regiment
. The Japanese field commanders thought no major battle was possible and assumed that the Russians had the same view regarding the difficulty of winter combat.
The Russian commander, General Kuropatkin was receiving reinforcements via the Trans-Siberian Railway
, but was concerned about the impending arrival of the battle-hardened Japanese Third Army
under General Nogi Maresuke to the front after the fall of Port Arthur
on 2 January 1905.
On Kuropatkin’s staff at Mukden was General Nikolai Linevich
, who had been brought over from Vladivostok
to command the 1st Manchurian Army and Kuropatkin’s left flank. The center was held by General Alexander Kaulbars
’s 3rd Manchurian army. The right flank was commanded by General Oskar Grippenberg, the inexperienced newly-arrived commanding general of the 2nd Manchurian Army. The 2nd Manchurian Army consisted of the 8th European Army Corps, a division of the 10th, the 61st Reserve Division, the 5th Rifle Brigade, and the 1st East Siberian Army Corps under General Baron Georgii Stackelberg
, besides a large body of cavalry, or approximately, 285,000 men and 350 guns.
Grippenberg was initially pessimistic towards Kuropatkin’s plans for an offensive against the Japanese left wing, which was left in an exposed northern position close to Russian territory near the small village of Heikoutai. He agreed to the plan on the condition that all three Russian armies coordinate their attack. Details of the plan were leaked by St Petersburg to a war correspondent
from the Echo de Paris, who credited the plan to Grippenberg. This news article, as well as Grippenbrg’s major redeployments of his forces in 14 and 16 January, signaled to the Russian intentions to the Japanese.
south with 6000 cavalry and six batteries of light artillery with the aim of destroying Newchang Station on the South Manchurian Railroad. The station was known to have a large stockpile of food and supplies. Mishchenko was also instructed to destroy railway bridges and sections of the train track along the way. Departing on 8 January, Mishchenko made unexpectedly slow progress due to inclement weather and the lack of forage and supplies along the way. By the time he reached the station on 12 January, it had been heavily reinforced by the Japanese. After failing to take the station in three attempts, he was forced to withdraw, returning to Mukden on 18 January. The damage made by his dragoon
s to the rail tracks was quickly repaired by the Japanese.
’s Japanese Second Army before Nogi’s Third Army could arrive. However, Grippenberg was not allowed to commit all of his forces – Kuropatkin limited him to three divisions plus the 1st East Siberian Army Corps and cavalry. The Japanese were aware of these plans, causing Oyama to reinforce his left flank. Kuropatkin afterwards blamed premature moves by Grippenberg for alerting the Japanese.
On 25 January 1905, the battle began with an attack by the 1st Siberian Rifle Corps on the fortified village of Heikoutai, which the Russians took with severe losses. The Russian 14th Division, which was intended to attack the fortified village of Sandepu, failed to coordinate its attack with the 1st Siberian, and attacked on the following day, 26 January, instead. Hampered by a lack of maps, reconnaissance and poor weather conditions, with occasional blizzards the Russians also attacked the wrong village, occupying the neighboring hamlet of Paotaitzu, which came under a strong artillery barrage and counterattack from Sandepu, which was occupied in strength by the Japanese 5th Division. . Rather than come to their rescue, Grippenberg sent a false report to Kuropatkin that Sandepu had been taken, and ordered his men to rest on 27 January. However, the rest area assigned to Stakelberg’s troops was in Japanese hands, and despite standing orders to the contrary, Stakelberg order his men to attack. After losing 6000 men, Stakelberg was forced to fall back.
By the morning of 28 January, Grippenberg found that he was separated from Kaulbars by the village of Sandpu, which prevented any attempt to link forces. However, as he still outnumbered the Japanese defenders by seven divisions to five divisions, he insisted on continuing the offensive. His decision was not supported by Kuropatkin, who acted with his usual caution and hesitation, and ordered Grippenberg’s forces back. Stakelburg, again ignoring orders, continued to attack, and with the help of Mishchenko’s cavalry, and took part of Sandepu village. Simultaneously, the Russian 10th Army Corps under General Konstantin Tserpitsky, with Grippenberg’s consent, succeeded in securing positions to the rear of Sandpu. Despite the advantageous situation, Kuropatkin then relieved Stakelburg of his command for insubordination, and again demanded that Grippenberg withdraw. Advancing Russian soldiers, their morale high as they were on what appeared to be a successful offense for the first time since the beginning of the war, could not understand the reason.
Oyama then launched a massive counteroffensive on 29 January 1905, and succeeded retaking Heikoutai by mid-morning. .
Immediately after the battle, Grippenberg resigned his commission, claiming illness. On his return to St Petersburg, he stopped at Harbin
where he bitterly blamed Kuropatkin for the debacle in the newspapers, declaring that he was a “traitor” and claiming that Kuropatkin withheld crucial support due to jealousy at his success. He continued a harsh publicity campaign against Kuropatkin in the newspapers after his return to Russia.
As the battle ended in a tactical stalemate, neither side claimed victory. In Russia, the Marxists used the newspaper controversy created by Grippenberg, and by Kuropatkin’s incompetence in previous battles, to drum up more support in their campaign against the government.
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
. It was fought within a group of villages about 36 miles (58 km) southwest of Mukden, Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
.
Background
After the Battle of ShahoBattle of Shaho
The Battle of Shaho was a land battle of the Russo-Japanese War fought along a front centered at the Sha River on the Mukden–Port Arthur spur of the China Far East Railway just north of Liaoyang, Manchuria.-Background:...
, the Russian
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
and Japanese
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
forces faced each other south of Mukden until the frozen Manchurian winter began. The Russian were entrenched in the city of Mukden, whereas the Japanese were occupying a 160 kilometer long front with the Japanese 1st Army
Japanese First Army
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army. It was raised and demobilized on three separate occasions.-History:The Japanese 1st Army was initially raised during the First Sino-Japanese War from September 1, 1894 to May 28, 1895 under the command of General Yamagata Aritomo...
, 2nd Army
Japanese Second Army
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army. It was raised and demobilized on four separate occasions.-History:The Japanese 2nd Army was initially raised during the First Sino-Japanese War from September 27, 1894 to May 14, 1895 under the command of General Ōyama Iwao.It was revived for the...
, 4th Army and the Akiyama Independent Cavalry Regiment
Akiyama Yoshifuru
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, and was considered the father of the modern Japanese cavalry. Akiyama Yoshifuru was Vice Admiral Akiyama Saneyuki's older brother.-Early life:...
. The Japanese field commanders thought no major battle was possible and assumed that the Russians had the same view regarding the difficulty of winter combat.
The Russian commander, General Kuropatkin was receiving reinforcements via the Trans-Siberian Railway
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
, but was concerned about the impending arrival of the battle-hardened Japanese Third Army
Japanese Third Army
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army based in Manchukuo as a garrison force under the overall command of the Kwantung Army during World War II, but its history dates to the Russo-Japanese War.-History:...
under General Nogi Maresuke to the front after the fall of Port Arthur
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
on 2 January 1905.
On Kuropatkin’s staff at Mukden was General Nikolai Linevich
Nikolai Linevich
Nikolai Petrovich Linevich, also Lenevich and Linevitch was a career military officer, General of Infantry and Adjutant general in the Imperial Russian Army in the Far East during the latter part of the Russo-Japanese War.-Biography:...
, who had been brought over from Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
to command the 1st Manchurian Army and Kuropatkin’s left flank. The center was held by General Alexander Kaulbars
Alexander Kaulbars
Baron Alexander Vasilyevich Kaulbars was a general in the Imperial Russian Army during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and a noted explorer of Central Asia.-Biography:Kaulbars was a native St...
’s 3rd Manchurian army. The right flank was commanded by General Oskar Grippenberg, the inexperienced newly-arrived commanding general of the 2nd Manchurian Army. The 2nd Manchurian Army consisted of the 8th European Army Corps, a division of the 10th, the 61st Reserve Division, the 5th Rifle Brigade, and the 1st East Siberian Army Corps under General Baron Georgii Stackelberg
Georgii Stackelberg
Baron Georgii Karlovich Stackelberg was a cavalry general in the Imperial Russian Army during the late 19th century and early 20th century.-Biography:...
, besides a large body of cavalry, or approximately, 285,000 men and 350 guns.
Grippenberg was initially pessimistic towards Kuropatkin’s plans for an offensive against the Japanese left wing, which was left in an exposed northern position close to Russian territory near the small village of Heikoutai. He agreed to the plan on the condition that all three Russian armies coordinate their attack. Details of the plan were leaked by St Petersburg to a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
from the Echo de Paris, who credited the plan to Grippenberg. This news article, as well as Grippenbrg’s major redeployments of his forces in 14 and 16 January, signaled to the Russian intentions to the Japanese.
The Mishchenko Raid
Kuropatkin’s first move was to send General Pavel MishchenkoPavel Mishchenko
Pavel Ivanovich Mishchenko was a career military officer and statesman in the Russian Empire.-Biography:Mishchenko was born in 1853 in the Russian fortress settlement called Temir-Khan-Shura in Dagestan. He graduated in 1871 from Pavlovsk Military School as an officer in the artillery, and was...
south with 6000 cavalry and six batteries of light artillery with the aim of destroying Newchang Station on the South Manchurian Railroad. The station was known to have a large stockpile of food and supplies. Mishchenko was also instructed to destroy railway bridges and sections of the train track along the way. Departing on 8 January, Mishchenko made unexpectedly slow progress due to inclement weather and the lack of forage and supplies along the way. By the time he reached the station on 12 January, it had been heavily reinforced by the Japanese. After failing to take the station in three attempts, he was forced to withdraw, returning to Mukden on 18 January. The damage made by his dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s to the rail tracks was quickly repaired by the Japanese.
The Battle of Sandepu
On 19 January, Kuropatkin issued orders for the Second Manchurian Army to attack in a maneuver to outflank General OkuOku Yasukata
- Notes :...
’s Japanese Second Army before Nogi’s Third Army could arrive. However, Grippenberg was not allowed to commit all of his forces – Kuropatkin limited him to three divisions plus the 1st East Siberian Army Corps and cavalry. The Japanese were aware of these plans, causing Oyama to reinforce his left flank. Kuropatkin afterwards blamed premature moves by Grippenberg for alerting the Japanese.
On 25 January 1905, the battle began with an attack by the 1st Siberian Rifle Corps on the fortified village of Heikoutai, which the Russians took with severe losses. The Russian 14th Division, which was intended to attack the fortified village of Sandepu, failed to coordinate its attack with the 1st Siberian, and attacked on the following day, 26 January, instead. Hampered by a lack of maps, reconnaissance and poor weather conditions, with occasional blizzards the Russians also attacked the wrong village, occupying the neighboring hamlet of Paotaitzu, which came under a strong artillery barrage and counterattack from Sandepu, which was occupied in strength by the Japanese 5th Division. . Rather than come to their rescue, Grippenberg sent a false report to Kuropatkin that Sandepu had been taken, and ordered his men to rest on 27 January. However, the rest area assigned to Stakelberg’s troops was in Japanese hands, and despite standing orders to the contrary, Stakelberg order his men to attack. After losing 6000 men, Stakelberg was forced to fall back.
By the morning of 28 January, Grippenberg found that he was separated from Kaulbars by the village of Sandpu, which prevented any attempt to link forces. However, as he still outnumbered the Japanese defenders by seven divisions to five divisions, he insisted on continuing the offensive. His decision was not supported by Kuropatkin, who acted with his usual caution and hesitation, and ordered Grippenberg’s forces back. Stakelburg, again ignoring orders, continued to attack, and with the help of Mishchenko’s cavalry, and took part of Sandepu village. Simultaneously, the Russian 10th Army Corps under General Konstantin Tserpitsky, with Grippenberg’s consent, succeeded in securing positions to the rear of Sandpu. Despite the advantageous situation, Kuropatkin then relieved Stakelburg of his command for insubordination, and again demanded that Grippenberg withdraw. Advancing Russian soldiers, their morale high as they were on what appeared to be a successful offense for the first time since the beginning of the war, could not understand the reason.
Oyama then launched a massive counteroffensive on 29 January 1905, and succeeded retaking Heikoutai by mid-morning. .
Immediately after the battle, Grippenberg resigned his commission, claiming illness. On his return to St Petersburg, he stopped at Harbin
Harbin
Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
where he bitterly blamed Kuropatkin for the debacle in the newspapers, declaring that he was a “traitor” and claiming that Kuropatkin withheld crucial support due to jealousy at his success. He continued a harsh publicity campaign against Kuropatkin in the newspapers after his return to Russia.
Results
Total Russian casualties at the Battle of Sandepu were 1,781 killed, 9,395 wounded and 1,065 MIA per modern Soviet sources., although other sources put to toll at over 20,000 men. Japanese casualties totaled around 9,000 killed, wounded or captured.As the battle ended in a tactical stalemate, neither side claimed victory. In Russia, the Marxists used the newspaper controversy created by Grippenberg, and by Kuropatkin’s incompetence in previous battles, to drum up more support in their campaign against the government.