Battle of Mukden
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Template:Battlebox The Battle of Mukden was the last major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War, fought from February 20 to March 10, 1905 between Japan and Russia near Mukden in Manchuria. The city is now called Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province in China.
The Russian forces of 370,000 troops were under General Alexei Nikolajevich Kuropatkin. The Japanese force of 250,000 troops were lead by Field-Marshal and Prince Oyama Iwao. This battle was the largest land battle of its time.
The preceding Battle of Liaoyang (August 24, 1904 – September 4, 1904) forced the Russians to retreat to the river Sha Ho near Mukden. In the subsequent months the two forces faced each other without any major battles or territory gains. The Imperial Army concentrated on ending the siege at Port Arthur. After the end of the siege Japan reinforced the lines near Mukden in preparation for an attack.
The battle opened with the Japanese 5th army attacking the left flank of the Russian forces on February 20. On February 27 the Japanese 4th army attacked the right flank, while other Japanese forces also attacked the Russian front lines. Despite heavy fighting the Japanese forces progressed and threatened to encircle the Russian forces in the city. Subsequently, General Kuropatkin ordered a retreat to the north, leading to the collapse of the Russian forces in Mukden and the total evacuation of the Russian forces out of Mukden on March 10.
Russian casualties include 26,500 killed, approximately 25,000 wounded, and about 40,000 taken prisoner, for a total of 100,000 men lost. The Japanese forces lost about 75,000, including both killed and wounded. Strategically the possession of the city meant little, but the defeat was one more reason to convince the Russian Czar Nicholas II of Russia to accept mediation by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905.ja:奉天会戦