Hejo Tokimune - conqueror of the Mongols. Mongol invasion of Japan

Mongol invasions of Japan were attempted by the Mongol-Korean-Chinese empire of Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan twice: in 1274 and 1281.

Both times, powerful invasion fleets were created in short order, the second of which was the largest in human history until World War II's Operation Overlord. However, those who had no experience in seafaring, navigation and naval battles, as well as the armadas of the continental empire, who did not know enough shipbuilding technology, were swept away both times, both to a small extent by the more maneuverable Japanese fleet and defensive forces, and, mainly, by strong winds. The invasion failed.
According to legend, the strongest typhoons that arose during the landing of invaders on the Japanese islands and destroyed most of the ships were called “kamikaze” by Japanese historians, which means “divine wind,” making it clear that this was divine help for the Japanese people.

During the first attack, which occurred in 1274, the Mongol-Korean fleet numbered up to 23-37 thousand people. The Mongols easily defeated Japanese troops on the islands of Tsushima and Iki and devastated them. After which they approached the island of Kyushu and began an attack, which included fire from flame-throwing weapons. However, a typhoon began, and commander-in-chief Liu was killed, as a result of which the Mongols were forced to retreat. Kublai began to prepare for a new attack. The Japanese also did not waste time - they built fortifications and prepared for defense. In 1281, two Mongol-Korean-Chinese fleets - from Korea and from South China - headed towards the island of Kyushu. The number of the fleet reached 100,000 people. The first to arrive was the small eastern fleet, which the Japanese managed to repel. Then the main fleet arrived from the south, but the typhoon repeated itself and destroyed most of the conquering fleet.

Mongol invasions, the only significant external conflict affecting Japanese territory in centuries, played an important role in the formation of the national identity of the Japanese. It is these events that include the creation of the Japanese flag, which, according to legend, was handed over to the shogunate by the Buddhist patriarch Nichiren.

Having crushed the Jin Empire, the basis of Northern China, in 1234, the Mongols immediately transferred military operations to Southern China, subordinate to the Song Empire. In 1259, with a powerful offensive, they finally managed to achieve a turning point in the war, i.e. subjugation of the Song became a matter of the foreseeable future. At the same time, in the same 1259, after 28 years stubborn struggle, Korea submitted to the Mongols, becoming a vassal state. After all these successes, the Supreme Khan of the Mongols, the grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, began developing plans for the Japanese campaign.

The first Mongol embassy did not reach Japan - strong storms prevented it (1266). The next one, in 1268, reached Kyushu and presented the Japanese with a petition demanding submission, interspersed with threats of war. Having received no answer to his message, Kublai Khan began to prepare a campaign against Japan with all his energy. The failure of several more diplomatic missions sent to Japan between 1268 and 1274 only further spurred the preparations. Military requisitioning was imposed on Korea, where in the spring of 1273 units of a 25-thousand expeditionary army began to arrive (according to other sources, up to 23-37 thousand). The Koreans provided several thousand auxiliary soldiers and a fleet.

In November 1274, a fleet of conquerors headed for the shores of Japan. The island of Tsushima was the first to be attacked by the Mongols, whose governor died in an unfortunate battle. After conquering Tsushima, the Mongols moved to the island of Iki, where the deputy governor, Taira Kagetaka, fell in battle. And on November 19, 1274, the Mongol fleet entered Hakata Bay and began landing near Imazu.
The attack of the samurai of all Kyushu, gathered to repel the invasion, was not successful (despite the victorious reports of the Japanese chronicle). The Mongols professionally fired clouds of arrows and iron balls from flame-throwing weapons, and the samurai retreated under the cover of old earthen fortifications.
The Mongols also suffered considerable losses. But this was not the main thing - strategically the campaign was already lost; The Japanese put up fierce resistance, new reinforcements could approach them from hour to hour, and the Mongols’ supply of projectiles and arrows was depleted. Therefore, the decision was made to evacuate the troops. When leaving the bay, an unexpected storm scattered the fleet. In this shipwreck and land battles, 13,000 soldiers of the Mongol army died.

Mongol flotilla ship

Supreme Khan Kublai began to prepare for a new attack. It was decided to repeat the expedition, but on a much larger scale. By this time, the Southern Song had already been practically conquered and a large Song fleet had passed into the hands of the Mongols, which it was decided to attach to the expeditionary army. The forces provided by Korea were concentrated in the Korean port of Aiur: 10,000 soldiers and 17,000 sailors. In addition, 15,000 Chinese and Mongolian soldiers were moved there. To transport all these troops, the Korean van prepared 900 ships.
The second group was formed at the mouth of the Yangtze, including 100,000 soldiers and 60,000 sailors on 3,500 (!) ships.

The flotilla's departure from Aiura Bay began on 05/22/1281; on June 9, the Mongols invaded Tsushima, subjugating it, and on 06/14/1281 they spread to Iki. The conquest of Ica only revealed main problem eastern army- lack of provisions not stored in proper quantities. It was decided, without waiting for the main forces to arrive, to move towards Kyushu and begin its conquest.
In the seven-year period between invasions, the Japanese put a lot of effort into strengthening their southern borders. The early warning system was improved, methods of quickly mobilizing troops and concentrating them at key points were being worked out - after all, the presidency from China brought news of Kublai’s preparations for a new campaign. In the Chikuzen region, the Mizuki water castle was rebuilt, once erected to prevent the landings of Chinese and Korean pirates. The number of samurai in Kyushu increased. by transferring them from other districts, for the sake of military preparations, other expenditure items were cut. A coastal stone wall was built along the most likely landing site of the invaders - Hakata Bay. Coastal defense flotillas were strengthened.

On June 21, the Mongolian fleet entered Hakata Bay. The landing of troops on the Siga Shoal, at one of the ends of the wall, to bypass it, turned into a multi-day, bloody battle. As a result, the Mongols managed to capture a piece of the coastline, but they did not have enough for more. Seeing this, the Japanese switched from defense to attack. They forced the Mongols to withdraw their troops to the ships and kept them in constant voltage, stinging with continuous raids on boats. The second attempt to land on the coast, made by the Mongols on June 30, also failed. They could only wait, crowded on their ships, for the arrival of the armada from the Yangtze. The epidemic that inevitably arose under such conditions claimed 3,000 lives, leaving the rest of the soldiers extremely weakened.

On August 12, both Mongol fleets finally united. After three days of preparation, the Mongol troops attacked again. The stubborn battle lasted until the evening. The samurai, masters of hand-to-hand combat, were opposed not only by poorly trained Chinese and Korean fighters, but also by veterans of Kublai Kublai’s army, who had gone through many years of campaigns with him in the Southern Song. However, in general, the Chinese showed unusually high skill in spear work, and this then sparked a new wave of bushi interest in spear work. On the other hand, the Japanese successfully used halberd-like weapons - nagamaki and naginata. When the Mongol horsemen tried to go around the wall, they were met by mounted Japanese warriors, who cut off the legs of the Mongol horses, and then finished off the horsemen who found themselves on the ground. The superiority of samurai swords over their Chinese and Korean counterparts, however, was negated by the numerical advantage of the conquerors. Slowly but surely the Japanese were being pushed back. The emperor and the clergy of the country bowed in prayer.

In the evening it turned out that the Mongol commanders, whose attention was riveted on the blood-stained beaches of Hakata, had completely lost sight of the weather conditions. And if the hurricane did not cause much damage to the samurai who retreated behind their defensive wall, the same cannot be said about their opponents. The Mongol fleet suffered horrific losses, only the Chinese fleet lost half of its hundred thousand crew. It was not difficult for the Japanese who emerged from behind the fortifications to scatter the enemy regiments. This ended the second intervention of Mongol troops in Japan.

The repulsion of the Mongol invasion went down in history as a national triumph, and the wind that scattered the ships of the invaders was immediately called “kamikaze” - the divine wind, which for many centuries became a symbol of the supernatural forces that defended Japan.
There is an opinion that two repeated defeats stopped the Mongols. However, it is not. Kublai decided to launch a third attack, but was thwarted by problems in Indochina and resistance from the peoples of Korea, South China and Vietnam.

In the fall of 1929, alarming reports began to appear in US newspapers about

sharp curtailment of production, extinguished blast furnaces and open-hearth furnaces, about

hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their jobs. The economic crisis that began in

United States, soon spread to England, Germany, France, Japan

and to other capitalist countries.

Under these conditions, the contradictions between

imperialist powers on Far East and in the Pacific basin

ocean. Here the struggle for sales markets, sources

raw materials and spheres of influence...

Still in full swing civil war V.I. Lenin predicted: “All powers

are in a state where they are preparing a new imperialist

war... Not today or tomorrow, America and Japan will rush at each other; England

captured so many colonies after the victory over Germany that never before

The imperialist powers will not put up with this."*

* V.I. Lenin. Full collection soch., vol. 40, p. 92.

Japanese imperialist circles have long dreamed of territorial

conquests and economic expansion. There have been increasing calls throughout the country for

conquest of world domination. This is what the chairman wrote in 1927

The Cabinet of Ministers in Japan, General Tanaka, in his memorandum to the Emperor:

"In order to conquer China, we must first conquer Manchuria and

Mongolia. In order to conquer the world, we must first conquer

states "did not object to the growth of our influence in Manchuria and

Mongolia, provided that we can protect the interests of international

trade and international investment. Political leaders told me this personally

leaders of England, France and Italy."

Japan's persistent desire for undivided dominion in China and

other countries of East and South-East Asia caused serious

concern of the main capitalist countries, and above all the USA and England.

However, their ruling circles were ready to satisfy the growing appetites

Japanese imperialists at the expense of China and the Soviet Union.

Anglo-American reactionary politicians became

make persistent attempts to keep Japan from aggression in the southern

direction and direct its aspirations to the north.

Confronting Japan with

The policy of “appeasement” of the aggressor pursued by the United States and England in

Far East, allowed imperialist Japan to prepare and

carry out the seizure of Manchuria in 1931, creating a springboard here for

further offensive against China, the Mongolian People's Republic and the Soviet Union.

In the immediate vicinity of the borders of these states, the Japanese began

build fortified areas, build airfields and military camps,

concentrate troops.

Almost immediately after the occupation of Manchuria on the borders of the Mongolian

of the People's Republic, soldiers began to appear with the cockade of the "rising

sun" on the bands of caps. There were also various

"travelers" and prospectors in civilian clothes with a military bearing. Where

secretly, and sometimes openly, they were engaged in topographical and

geodetic surveys of the area.

Then, on the borders of the Mongolian People's Republic, various

armed provocations. So the Japanese imperialists openly began

carry out their aggressive plans.

To disguise the predatory plans, the Japanese military put forward the idea

creation of "Great Mongolia", in which, under the auspices of the Land of the Rising Sun

all Mongol tribes from Tibet to Lake Baikal and from Xinjiang would unite

to Khingan. In implementing this plan, they at one time relied on

White Guard ataman Semenov.

Then the adventure failed completely. Mongol feudal lords led by

Bogdo-gegen (head of the Lamaist church), based on his interests,

preferred to come to terms with the Chinese militarists. At the end of 1919, under

under the pretext of protecting Mongolia from the revolutionary influence of Russia, the country was

The troops of the Chinese general Xu Shu-cheng were brought in. He demanded with an ultimatum

from the Bogdo-Gegen government's "voluntary" renunciation of the country's autonomy.

Mongolia became a province of China.

The situation of the people became even more difficult. Discontent grew among

separate groups of feudal lords and clergy, whose rights and privileges were

greatly reduced by the occupiers.

“Mongolia was given into slavery,” one of them writes about this period.

founders of the MPR X. Choibalsan, - everywhere, in the city and khudon (district. -

M.N.), in every locality and in every yurt, all men and women became

talk about it and grieve about it. Everyone started to worry and

seek ways to restore national independence. They With

they began to look with disgust at the lamas and secular feudal lords, before whom they had previously

bowed down."

In October 1920, a new Japanese protege appeared in Mongolia -

Baltic baron Ungern. He demagogically declared his desire

"liberate the Mongolian people from the yoke of the Chinese imperialists, restore

autonomy, to exalt the Lamaist religion." At first, the adventurer was supported

feudal lords and part of the deceived arats, who hated foreign oppressors. IN

In February 1921, the baron took the capital of Mongolia, the city of Urga, and restored

the power of Bogdo Gegen. The Chinese occupiers were driven out. Supported by

Japanese military Ungern began to prepare a campaign against Soviet Russia.

However, he quickly exposed himself in the eyes of the Mongolian people as Japanese

The struggle of the Arats against the rule of the Ungernovtsy in the country was led by

People's Party, created by the national hero of Mongolia D. Sukhbaatar and

his comrade-in-arms X. Choibalsan on the basis of revolutionary circles that arose under

influence of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Back in the summer of 1920

year, Mongolian revolutionaries sent a delegation to Moscow, which

met with V.I. Lenin. Analyzing the military situation of Mongolia, which played

the role of a buffer between two struggling worlds, Vladimir Ilyich said

to the delegates: "...the only the right way for every worker of this

The country is the struggle for state and economic independence.

“This struggle,” Lenin continued, “cannot be waged separately, it is necessary

a united organization of forces, a political and state organization."

The Mongol delegates imagined the future struggle only as

destruction of the Gamins (as the Mongols called the military Chinese). Vladimir Ilyich

explained in detail: “It’s not the Gamins in general that you should destroy, not with

In general, you have to fight the Chinese gamins, but with the corrupt Chinese

military and civilian politicians, with merchants and moneylenders... Chinese

the peasants and workers must be your allies... Yours

direct appeal to these forced masses, dressed in soldiers' uniforms

overcoat, will be understood by them as a manifestation of true friendship and brotherhood, and when

If you conduct this business correctly, you will not have enemies in their person, but

allies in the fight against a common enemy - the Chinese and Japanese imperialists."

Under the leadership of Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan, Mongolia begins

the first partisan detachments were created to fight the White Guards

Ungern's gangs, Chinese militarists and their feudal servants.

Mongolian People's Party. Her program was announced, she was elected

Central Committee, a decision was made to unite partisan detachments into

People's Army for armed struggle against foreign invaders

invaders. Sukhbaatar was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the People's Army, and

his deputy is H. Choibalsan.

party, working Arats and partisan detachments in Troitskosavsk there were

A Provisional People's Government was created, consisting of seven people. In the decision

meeting stated: “The purpose of the armed uprising people is,

firstly, the liberation of the homeland from the yoke of the Chinese militarists and its cleansing

from other invaders who invaded its territory, secondly, the creation

government capable of protecting interests and developing culture

Mongolian people."

the command of Sukhbaatar drove the Chinese occupiers out of the city of Maimachen

(now Altan-Bulak). This date is considered in the Mongolian People's Republic

day of the founding of the People's Revolutionary Army.

However, the People's Revolutionary Army has the strength to fight the White Guards

it was still not enough. Therefore, the Provisional People's Government of Mongolia 10

April 1921 addressed the fraternal Soviet people with a request for

providing military assistance in the fight against Ungern.

The Arats joyfully greeted the Soviet troops as they entered the land

Mongolia to fight together against a common enemy. Growing every day

the forces of the People's Army, and toiling cattle breeders flocked into it from all sides.

In June 1921, in the Troitskosavsk area, a persistent three-day

battle between Soviet-Mongolian troops and the gangs of Baron Ungern. First

The enemy's attack was taken by the People's Army units. Soldiers of the 35th came to their aid

Siberian Rifle Division led by K.A. Neumann and the 35th separate

cavalry regiment under the command of K.K. Rokossovsky.

Fighting shoulder to shoulder

shoulder, the Red Army soldiers and Cyrics defeated the enemy.

The wounded Ungern fled with

battlefields with the pitiful remnants of their army.

Rapidly moving forward, units of the Red Army and the Mongolian

Mongolia Urgu (now Ulaanbaatar).

the same day Sukhbaatar on behalf of the government in the central square

capital proclaimed the independence of Mongolia. This date has been every year since then

solemnly celebrated as the day of victory of the people's revolution, as a great

national holiday of the Mongolian people.

At the end of July, Ungern, having replenished his

thinned out gangs, decides to attack Soviet Russia a second time. However, even on

Mongol partisans captured by scouts of the 35th Cavalry

However, fighting with individual gangs still continued.

In September 1921

year, a combined Soviet-Mongolian detachment under the command of the Siberian

partisans K.K. Baikalov and Khas-Bator numbering about three hundred people in

area of ​​Lake Tolbo-Nur was surrounded by three and a half thousand

White Guards of General Bakich. Forty-four days, Red Army soldiers and cyrics

courageously repulsed enemy attacks. In the end they were rescued by the 185th

rifle regiment of the Red Army.

The Arats faced many difficult tasks. There were still gangs roaming the country

White Guards, in some places the reactionary feudal lords raised their heads. There were a lot

economic difficulties.

Considering the importance in these conditions of the fraternal commonwealth of the two peoples, late autumn

In 1921, a Mongolian delegation was sent to Moscow. IN

its members included the commander-in-chief of the People's Revolutionary Army, leader

V.I. Lenin. Vladimir Ilyich had a long conversation with Sukhbaatar and others

envoys of the Mongolian people about the future of the country, about Mongolia's path to

socialism, the importance of friendship and mutual assistance between Soviet and Mongolian

peoples. Many of V.I. Lenin’s advice later formed the basis

programs of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.

As a result of the negotiations, an agreement was signed to establish friendly relations between Soviet Russia

and Mongolia. Canceled

all the predatory treaties imposed on Mongolia by the tsarist government. This

was the first equal treaty in the history of Mongolia.

He started

political, economic and cultural cooperation between two fraternal

peoples Speaking about the future path of development of Mongolia, Lenin pointed out that

backward countries, with the help of the victorious proletariat, can realize

transition to socialism, bypassing the capitalist stage of development.

However, the White Guards, supported by militarists from Tokyo, and local

feudal lords interfered with peaceful construction. Only by mid-1922

joint actions of the Soviet-Mongolian troops destroyed the main

White Guard gangs on the territory of Mongolia. For courage and heroism,

demonstrated in the joint struggle, the leaders of the Mongolian People's Army

Sukhbaatar, Choibalsan, Khatanbaatar Maksarzhav were awarded the Soviet

government with the Order of the Red Banner.

non-capitalist path of development. In accordance with Lenin's position

the congress recognized the achievement of socialism in Mongolia as practically feasible,

bypassing the capitalist stage of development.

In November 1924, the first Great Council in the history of Mongolia was convened in Urga.

people's khural - a congress of representatives of the people as the supreme body

state power. The People's Great Khural adopted the constitution

Mongolian People's Republic.

The first years of the young Mongol people's state were difficult.

The Japanese imperialists, with the help of their proxies, organized

various provocations. From time to time the reactionary feudal lords raised their heads

and Lamaist clergy. Therefore, at the request of the People's Revolutionary

government units of the Red Army remained in Mongolia until 1925. When

the need for their presence had passed, Soviet troops were recalled to

The joint struggle of the Red Army soldiers and the Cyrics bound them with inextricable bonds

friendship of soldiers of two revolutionary armies, always ready to help

each other in difficult times. Workers of the Mongolian People's Republic

gave the soldiers a warm farewell. In a message sent

People's Revolutionary Government to the leaders of the Soviet state,

said: “The people and government of our republic firmly believe in helping

Union and the Red Army, if, more than aspirations, conditions similar to those

those observed in 1921."

After the defeat of the White Guards, Japanese and Chinese interventionists, and

also, internal counter-revolution opened up in the life of the Mongolian people

new page. With the help of the Soviet Union, the first successes were achieved in

economic and cultural construction. Started to create our own

industry, cities began to grow in the steppes, a decisive

the fight against illiteracy and centuries-old backwardness.

The period of relative calm did not last long - only a few

years. In the early thirties, the Mongolian People's Republic began to

dark clouds are gathering, threatening the peaceful creative work of the arats. TO

The hands of the Japanese imperialists once again reached out to the free country...

In the face of an increased threat from Japan, at the request of

In 1934, a gentleman's agreement was concluded providing:

"mutual support by all measures in the prevention and prevention

threats from military attack." This agreement reduced the threat of attack

Japan, but provocations at the borders continued. One of these clashes

occurred in 1935 in the Khalkhin-Sume region.

The invaders were repulsed

a large group of Japanese and Manchus, supported by tanks and aircraft, tried

invade the territory of the Mongolian People's Republic.

The provocation began at dawn, when the Bulun-Deresu outpost was opened

hurricane fire two Japanese batteries. Then two tanks moved into the attack. U

The border guards had only one gun. His commander Tsigmit was the first

set fire to an enemy vehicle with a shell. Another tank froze from the second shot...

Commander Gongor with a handful of border guards held back the onslaught of the Japanese

companies until reinforcements arrive. Cyric fought until the last bullet

Ulzijoe preferred death from his knife to captivity.

The big surprise for the Japanese aggressors was the swift strike,

caused by the young air force of the MPR. R-5Sh attack aircraft,

which were conducted by Mongolian pilots trained in Soviet aviation

schools, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy...

supported by twelve tanks and three aircraft, crossed the Mongolian border

People's Republic and attacked the Adyk-Dolon border outpost.

The heroic border guards repelled the enemy’s onslaught for four hours until it arrived

help. Despite their numerical superiority, the Japanese cowardly fled from the Mongolian

land, leaving on it a hundred dead, two destroyed tanks and a lot of weapons. In that

Mongolian armored vehicles took part in the battle.

Riddled with armor-piercing

shells, they attacked the enemy five times, inflicting huge

losses. One armored vehicle was hit behind enemy lines. When it's over

cartridges, her crew went into hand-to-hand combat against a platoon of Japanese...

Japan's aggressive actions seemed to practically confirm

repeated statements by various leading figures from Tokyo against

MPR. So, in 1936, the chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, General Itagaki

stated that Mongolia is "...the flank of the defense of the Siberian railway

roads... Therefore, the goal of the army should be to spread

Japanese-Manchu domination of Outer Mongolia by any means necessary,

available..."

One of the pillars of the Japanese

imperialism, Hadekaze, who stated: “According to the unanimous opinion of the military

experts, Japan's attack on the USSR through Outer Mongolia will

more successful than through Manchuria."

Accumulation of forces of Japanese invaders on the border of the Mongolian People's Republic

Protocol on mutual assistance between the USSR and the Mongolian People's Republic.

In mid-1937, it became known in Ulaanbaatar that in September

The Japanese military is going to attack the Mongolian People's Republic. In this regard, the government

The Mongolian People's Republic turned to the Soviet Union with a request for

military assistance. At the beginning of September, the first Soviet tank and

Motorized units entered the territory of the Mongolian People's Republic. So the plans were thwarted

Japanese imperialists, who hoped through an armed invasion of large

military forces with aircraft and tanks, supported by internal

counter-revolutionary forces, occupy the country and put in power

puppet government consisting of feudal lords and clergy.

The Japanese General Staff hoped to quickly defeat the relatively

the small Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army. Now

had to meet with the combined Soviet-Mongolian forces. TO

The Kwantung Army was not ready for such an operation, and the invasion plan was temporarily

postponed.

Back in July 1937, the Japanese aggressors, having provoked an incident under

Beijing started a war against the Chinese people.

After the first successes,

despite the large number of troops sent to the continent and significant

superiority in military technology, results of military operations of the Japanese army

were insignificant.

The restrained position of the Western powers towards Japanese aggression in

China was largely explained by the fact that the reactionary circles of these countries hoped

for a big war with the Soviet Union and the Mongolian People's Republic.

So, in August 1937, during negotiations in Paris with the American

Ambassador W. Bullitt, French Foreign Minister I. Delbos stated:

“The Japanese attack is ultimately directed not against China, but against the USSR.

The Japanese want to seize the railway from Tianjin to Beiping and Kalgan,

to prepare an attack against the Trans-Siberian Railway in the area

Lake Baikal and against Inner and Outer Mongolia."

Japanese generals' plans for an "easy military walk" across

China has failed miserably. By the summer of 1938 it became clear that

it is impossible to conquer a people fighting for freedom. In Tokyo they started persistently

look for a way out of this situation. It was necessary by any means

England and the USA, as well as Hitler's Germany.

The most aggressive circles of the Japanese military suggested allowing

problem through an armed attack on the Soviet Union. However, sober

too weak for serious engagement with Soviet military forces

in the Far East. Therefore, it was decided to organize a limited conflict

in the area of ​​Lake Khasan, in the very south of Far Eastern Primorye.

The choice of this place was dictated not only by political, but also purely

military reasons. So, if you were lucky, you could capture important

tactically, the hills dominating the area to the west of the lake,

from which it is possible to control a large area of ​​Soviet land south of

Posyet Bay and monitor the distant approaches to Vladivostok.

When planning the location of the provocation, the Japanese generals also counted on

unpreparedness of the area for defense, absence of large Soviet forces here

troops and the difficulty of their rapid concentration due to limited road

The Soviet government withdraws border guards from the heights of Bezymyannaya and

Zaozernaya, located west of Lake Khasan. The Japanese representative was

maps were presented, from which it was clear that these heights were located at

stated that if the demand of the imperial government is not met

satisfied, then "Japan will have to come to the conclusion that it is necessary

use of force."

groups invaded Soviet territory and attacked eleven

Soviet border guards at Bezymyannaya Height. After a stubborn battle, with the help

an approaching Soviet rifle company and a reserve group of border guards,

infantry division, after artillery preparation, again attacked Zaozernaya

and Nameless. Under pressure from superior enemy forces, Soviet border guards

were forced to retreat.

Western imperialist circles showed the closest interest in

events on the Soviet-Manchurian border. Spreading slander against the USSR,

reaction print Western Europe and America deliberately distorted events,

publishing reports about the “capture” of Japanese

territory, about battles, “colossal losses” Soviet troops. Some

bourgeois newspapers began openly advising Japan to expand its military

actions against the USSR by ending or limiting the war in China.

By presenting wishful thinking as reality, the American newspaper New York

case to limit its activities in Central China and the present

The Japanese-Russian incident could automatically result in an undeclared war."

By order of the commander of the Far Eastern Front, Marshal of the Soviet

V.K. Blucher's Union brought the 32nd and 40th Rifle Infantry to the conflict area

divisions, 2nd mechanized brigade.

During the two-day battles, the Japanese were pushed back, but it was not possible to knock them out from the heights

managed. Having regrouped, after strong artillery preparation, the 96th

and the 95th Infantry Regiments of the 32nd Infantry Division and parts of the 118th Infantry

end of the day all Soviet territory was completely cleared of Japanese

invaders.

Having received a decisive rebuff, the Japanese aggressors were forced to request

negotiation. The next day, military operations at Lake Khasan took place

discontinued.

The defeat at Khasan was not only the first military defeat of the Japanese

imperial army, but also the first blow to the armed forces of the aggressive

triangle Berlin - Rome - Tokyo, which has so far achieved victories

thanks to the connivance of the Western powers.

It is no coincidence that the English magazine The Economist wrote: “Japan has received

a proper lesson that will have a beneficial effect both on the Far Eastern

situation, and on the European one." The French newspaper "Oror" indicated: "This

The lesson is valid not only for the Far East. In Europe, the politics of bluff

may also be doomed to failure. To do this, it is enough not to allow

intimidate yourself."

The fighting in the Lake Khasan area demonstrated to the whole world the strength and

the power of the Soviet Union. His armed forces thwarted treacherous

plans of the US and British imperialists, who were counting on armed

clash between the USSR and Japan. Fighting showed complete superiority

The Red Army, especially in aviation, tanks and artillery, over the Japanese

armed forces, considered the most powerful in the capitalist

world. “The defeat suffered by the Japanese troops in these battles,” admitted

Japanese officer General Staff Tanaka Ryunti testifying

International Military Tribunal in Tokyo in 1946 - made seriously

think about the readiness of the Japanese army for a big war."

Thus, the attempt of the Japanese imperialists to strike a victorious blow at

The Soviet Union to demonstrate its military power to the whole world,

to intimidate the ruling circles of the USA, England and Kuomintang China with this, to increase

its actions in Hitler's Germany and fascist Italy suffered complete

In September 1938, Hitler, Prime Minister of England Chamberlain,

Prime Minister of France Daladier and leader of fascist Italy Mussolini in

Munich signed an agreement under which Czechoslovakia was extradited to

the destruction of Nazi Germany. Ruling circles Western states betrayed

Czechoslovakia and sacrificed it, trying to direct Hitler's

aggression against the Soviet Union.

The Munich Agreement and the policy of condoning aggression immediately

also affected Japan's foreign policy. The samurai raised their heads even higher and

headed for the conclusion of a military bloc with Nazi Germany.

At the same time, Japanese offensive operations in China expanded.

Provocations continued on the Soviet Far Eastern borders.

(based on Chinese dynastic histories)

Like most states and peoples of Eurasia in the 13th century, Japan did not escape the Mongol invasion. The island position of the country, separated from the Eurasian continent by sea, did not stop the aggressive impulse of the Mongols, who undertook in 1274 and 1281. two large-scale invasions of the Japanese Islands, where for the first time they carried out not the usual land military operation with highly maneuverable cavalry formations, but a naval one, which would have been impossible without relying on the potential of the countries they conquered with maritime traditions, which included China and Korea. Also recruited were immigrants from the Muslim countries of the Persian Gulf who served the Mongols in the Far East. A striking example is the head of the Mongol customs from Quanzhou, who ensured the victory of the Mongols at sea over the Chinese Song Empire, a Muslim - Arab or Iranian Pu Shougeng (4, p. 47). The Italian and Venetian Marco Polo, close to the great Mongol Khan Kublai, was privy to the details of the campaign against Japan. People from “Xiyu”, i.e. from the countries lying to the west of China, including the mentioned Europeans, Arabs and Iranians, as well as Turks - Karluks, Kanglys, Kipchaks, Uyghurs, classified by a number of researchers as Turks - Jalairs and Naimans, the so-called “Semu” (translated from Chinese - “color-eyed”, as the Chinese called natives of Central and Western Asia and Europe who were racially different from them), made up a noticeable part of the warriors of the grandson of Genghis Khan - the great Mongol Khan and the first emperor of China from the Yuan dynasty Kublai, with whose name the attempt is associated conquest of Japan by the Mongols. At first, Kublai Khan hoped to subjugate Japan diplomatically, using for this purpose the cultural and geographical proximity to this country of the Korean state subordinate to the Mongols, whose representatives were better familiar with the morals, customs and language of the Japanese than other Yuan subjects. In addition, the Korean rulers had their own grievances against the Japanese, who, even before the subjugation of Korea to the Mongols, carried out pirate attacks on the Korean coast from the islands of Kyushu, Tsushima and Iki (11, p.99; 2, pp.103-104). They stopped only in 1263, after the Mongol Yuan authorities took tough military measures against Japanese pirates - Waco . The Koreans acted as guides and translators, and sometimes the Korean ruler himself played the role of mediator in Mongol-Japanese relations. In 1266, the Mongol ambassador, accompanied by the Korean Ham Pug, arrived in Japan and demanded a personal meeting with the Japanese emperor. He was refused and the Mongolian embassy was not allowed into the Japanese capital of Kyoto. But Kublai Khan's letter to the Japanese emperor was handed over to the addressee. In this letter, the Mongol ruler demanded that envoys be immediately sent to him with tribute and that he recognize himself as a vassal. Otherwise, Kublai Khan threatened Japan with war. The Japanese Emperor Kameyama, on the advice of those close to him, chose the tactic of stalling for time, delaying the Mongolian embassy for six months, but without giving any answer (6, p. 78). Simultaneously with Kublai Khan's letter, the Korean ruler also sent a message to the Japanese emperor, advising him to quickly return to his homeland the ambassador of the most powerful Mongolian Great Khan in the universe and submit to the Mongols. But it also had no effect. Then Kublai Khan, without interrupting diplomatic contacts, began to prepare for the military seizure of the Japanese islands. In 1268, the second Mongol embassy, ​​which included their Korean subjects, reached the shores of Japan, where it was received just as unkindly as the first. The reasons for the Japanese delay in responding should be sought not only in the behavior of the Japanese emperor and his entourage. The fact is that the real power in the country at that time was in the hands of the bakufu - the military government led by the military ruler Hojo Tokimune, who bore the title "shogun", and the emperor only carried out representative functions, i.e. reigned, but did not rule. The imperial court was in Kyoto, and the shogun's headquarters was in Kamakura, and this circumstance, if an agreed decision was required, also did not contribute to a quick response, especially since the delaying tactics were beneficial to the Japanese side, which was trying to gain time and delay the fatal hour of the Mongol invasion. Shogun Hojo Tokimune was a decisive and firm politician who did not want to submit to the Mongols. Its support was the military class of samurai. The response to Kublai Khan’s second letter to the Japanese Emperor, where the latter was called “the sovereign of a small country,” was again the expulsion of the embassy and demonstrative silence. After this there were two more Yuan embassies to the Japanese court in 1271 and 1272. with similar results, although not before the Koreans had secretly warned the Japanese about the Mongols' military preparations against Japan. Chao Liangpi, an emissary of Kublai Khan, who visited the Japanese island of Kyushu in 1272, conveyed an ultimatum to the Japanese to respond to their master’s letter in two months. Upon his return, Chao Liangpi presented Kublai Khan with a report on Japan, its customs, practices and the state of its defense. By this time, the Mongols had won a major victory over the Chinese troops of the Song Dynasty near Xiangyang, and part of the Yuan troops was allocated for a campaign against Japan (11, p. 101-102). A special department was created and officials were appointed who were entrusted with the responsibility for organizing the campaign against Japan, as evidenced by “Yuan-shi” (“History of the Yuan Dynasty”), a Chinese source of the 14th century: “A certain (official - A.K.) Pengfei, in the department for political administration, put forward a proposal to conquer Japan and in his report addressed to the emperor (Khubilai) advised that Hanqing (Khudutimur, Karluk and head of the Yuan border guard, previously a military adviser to Kublai. - A.K.) assign Lanzhong(senior secretary) in the department for the conquest of the East (i.e. Japan - A.K.). The emperor allegedly said: “Pengfei, although a southerner (i.e., a Chinese from the south, who were the largest and most powerless group of the population in the Yuan Empire - A.K.), but we know his abilities. For now, let’s listen to him…” (9, tsz. 122, p. 27379). The first Japanese campaign was for the Mongols an auxiliary operation to conquer southern China and most likely set the task not of conquering Japan, but of depriving the Song troops of supplies from Japanese merchant ships. At the same time, Marco Polo speaks about other reasons that determined the Mongol invasion of the Japanese Islands: “(Japan - A.K.) is a rich island and its wealth cannot be counted. When the Great Khan Kublai (Kublai - A.K.), who now reigns, told about these riches, because of them he wanted to take possession of this island” (3, p. 156). To successfully invade the Japanese islands, on the orders of Kublai Khan, the Koreans built transport sea vessels. In November 1274, a naval expedition consisting of 7 thousand Korean sailors and 21 thousand landing soldiers - Mongols, Turks, Chinese, Jurchens, Koreans, Khitans, Muslims - Iranians and Arabs, moved to the Japanese shores. There were 6 thousand Koreans from the landing force, and the lion's share fell on the Chinese and Jurchens, but they mostly served the Mongols in auxiliary units, although units of the Yuan Imperial Guard, formed from the Chinese, also took part in the campaign (11, p. 44-47). The striking force of the landing force was a small number of Mongolian and Turkic warriors, who were distinguished by their high combat efficiency, veterans of many battles in China and Central Asia, who acted in this unusual naval expedition for them in the role of original “marines” and fought not only in the usual cavalry, but also on foot. At the same time, the Mongols had, albeit limited, experience in combat operations on water, although these were mainly battles on rivers or at sea near the coast. These include, for example, the seizure of Taiwan, battles on the Yangtze, Yellow River, and previously on the Amu Darya, Caspian Sea and Volga. But such a large-scale naval operation as a campaign against Japan, far from supply bases on the coast of the continent subject to the Mongols, in fact, on the ocean expanses, was carried out by the heirs of Genghis Khan for the first time in the history of their, as a rule, victorious campaigns. History has left amazing examples of the appearance of naval commanders, unique admirals of the Yuan Empire among representatives of nomadic peoples, people from the steppe depths of Asia, in particular the Mongol Hindu, Jalair Alahan, the Naiman Kudukas and Nanjiatai, the Turks - the Karluk Karatai, the Kangly Yesudai and Yesudar, the “supreme” temnik of the Kipchak Baitimura (Botemura in Chinese - A.K.), veterans of battles against the Song and hostile to the Yuan throne of the Chingizids in Central Asia, who participated in Mongol campaigns to Japan. “Yuan-shi” testifies in this regard: “Nanjiatai... had strategic thinking... Defeated the Song troops during the crossing of the Yangtze... Received the title of “great commander” and the post darugachi(provincial governor - A.K.), participated in the capture of Taiwan... He rose to the rank of temnik (commander of a 10,000-strong military contingent - A.K.)…Received a golden tiger paizu on his belt (a special award for military valor - A.K.). Participated in the campaign against Japan" (9, tsz. 133, p. 27514). “Alahan, when the great army (of the Mongols) surrounded Xiangyang and Fancheng, blocked these cities from the south. Fancheng was destroyed, and Xiangyang surrendered... Alahan rose to the post of “supreme” temnik... participated in the Japanese campaign...” (9, tsz.129, p.27445-27446). “...Kudukas died in the Japanese campaign...” (9, tsz. 123, p. 27394). "Khalunay (Karatai - A.K.) participated in the campaign of the government army (Mongols) against Japan, but was stopped by a hurricane and the ships (entrusted under his command) (were forced) to return…” (9, ts. 132, p. 27481). “Yesudai received orders to participate in the campaign against Japan. He was awarded a bow and arrows, the title of “a great commander with distant plans,” and the position of temnik (for valor in the Japanese campaign)” (9, ts. 134, p. 27502). “Yesudar commanded a hundred warships in Jianghuai (between the Yellow River and the Yangtze - A.K.) and participated in the campaign against Japan, to the east. He returned from the campaign, having retained his troops, and as a reward, by decree (of the emperor), he received into the possession of 100 peasant households” (9, tsz. 133, p. 27490). The artillerymen of the Yuan pre-fire guns were Muslims, Iranians or Arabs, as well as Chinese. By this time, the Mongolian throwing artillery already had iron powder shells, which were successfully used in various military campaigns. 300 large ships and from 400 to 500 small ships landed Yuan troops on the coast of the islands of Tsushima, Iki and Kyushu. If on Tsushima and Iki Japanese resistance was crushed by the first attack, then on Kyushu a fierce battle broke out. Although the Japanese knew in advance that the Mongols were preparing to invade, they failed to properly organize the defense of the islands, and this despite the fact that the invasion force did not have an overwhelming numerical advantage. But superiority in military training and combat experience, both at the level of military leaders and ordinary soldiers, clearly had an effect. In addition, the defenders of the islands were attacked by the full power of “Muslim” and Chinese throwing weapons, new items of the most advanced military equipment of that time, which the Japanese did not have. They resisted bravely, but the enemy suddenly began to throw iron powder shells in the shape of balls and the size of a hand ball, called in Chinese te pao and in Japanese "teppo". Several thousand of these shells exploded when thrown with a terrible roar that shook the surrounding area. According to eyewitnesses, Japanese soldiers, who had never encountered such weapons and were frightened by the terrible roar of explosions, fled in panic, covering the battlefield with corpses (7, p. 196). Already after the first wave of the Yuan landing on the eastern coast of Kyushu in Hakata Bay, the Japanese defense faltered. By the end of the first day of the battle, the Japanese suffered serious losses in manpower and combat equipment, and only the twilight of the night saved them from complete defeat. Salvation came unexpectedly. A natural disaster saved the Japanese; a hurricane and storm sank most of the ships of the Yuan squadron, its crews and troops. 13 thousand Yuan soldiers and sailors died. The Mongols were forced to retreat.

In 1275, Kublai Khan sent another embassy led by Tu Shichun and Huo Wenchu ​​to Japan, but the Japanese, inspired by the victory, executed the Yuan ambassadors, thereby insulting the Mongol ruler. And for the Mongol rulers there was no greater humiliation than the execution of their ambassadors. Of course, Kublai Khan could not leave such actions without retribution. But he was able to begin preparing a new campaign against Japan only after the Mongol victory over the Song Empire in 1279, when he captured all of China. All this time, Hojo Tokimune, the main organizer of the defense of Japan, did not sit idly by. On Kyushu, in the direction of the proposed invasion, the forces of the samurai and the sources of their supply of weapons, military equipment and food were concentrated. In five years, a stone fortification wall was built from the coastal city of Hakozaki through Hakata to Imatsu. Mobile units of Japanese troops were created, which would allow their military leaders, if necessary, to quickly transfer soldiers to areas where there was a threat of enemy landings.

In 1280, for a new campaign against Japan, Kublai Khan began to form part of the invasion and create for this material base. The year before, another embassy was sent to the Japanese, but the shogun accused the ambassadors of espionage and beheaded them. The second case of reprisal by the Japanese Mongolian ambassadors was a demonstrative challenge to Kublai Khan. War became inevitable, and in the spring of 1280 a plan for an invasion of the islands was in operational development. At the head of the invasion forces, Kublai Khan appointed three military leaders - the Mongol Hindu, the Chinese Fang Wenhu and the Korean Hong Tagu. Under the command of Hindu and Fan Wenhu there were 100 thousand landing troops and auxiliary units serving them, Hong Tagu led the ships. Additionally, the Korean ruler provided 10 thousand soldiers, 15 thousand sailors, 900 small ships and food for the campaign. At the Quanzhou and Guangzhou shipyards, under the leadership of Pu Shougeng, another 50 ships were built for the invasion force. A significant role was given to stone throwers and catapults, throwing “te-pao”, crossbows and other throwing weapons. Fang Wenhu requested additional cavalry and craftsmen from Khubilai to make throwing weapons. Not immediately, but by January 1281, permission followed from the imperial palace. Fang Wenhu received the necessary artillery masters, and ordered the throwing guns to be installed on warships as they were manufactured and brought into combat readiness. By 1281, Kublai Khan's troops were ready to rush to the Japanese Islands. Yuan troops moved by sea to Japan on 4,400 ships from two directions - 40 thousand soldiers on Korean ships from northern China, and 100 thousand from Quanzhou, from the south (11, p.103, 207-212). Two squadrons with troops on board were supposed to connect at the island of Iki as the first target of attack. Perhaps due to inconsistency, or perhaps due to rivalry between the commanders of the two squadrons, according to Marco Polo, already at the first stage the operation began to drag on. Although the Mongols “captured many plains and villages, but did not yet have time to take cities and castles... such a misfortune happened to them, there was envy among them, and one did not want to help the other...” (3, pp. 156-157). The northern squadron was the first to approach Iki and, without waiting for the Yuan forces to approach from the south, captured it by June 10, 1281. When attacking Iki, the Yuan troops, as in the previous expedition, used “fire” shells “te-pao”, from the explosions of which Japanese military leader Seni Suke was killed. Within two weeks, the forces of the northern squadron captured the northern part of Kyushu and landed in the Manakata area north of the wall built by the Japanese to repel an attack from the sea. The southern squadron deviated from course and landed troops in the south of Kyushu, intending to advance with its forces to the north of the island to join forces with parts of the northern squadron. Having encountered unexpectedly strong resistance from the Japanese, the Yuan troops threw “te-pao” shells, the nature of which was captured on his canvases by a 13th-century Japanese artist who participated in all campaigns against the Mongols. Takezaki Suenaga (7, p. 196).

The Mongols at this time undoubtedly possessed the most advanced military equipment in the world, borrowed from almost all countries of Asia and Europe. Their bows were twice as long-range as the Japanese Yumi bows, although the latter were superior in size; light blades and armor allowed the Mongols and Turks to maneuver better in battle. Their tactics of mounted attacks had been perfected to the smallest detail in countless campaigns of conquest, and it was the turn of the Japanese to experience their effectiveness. And if the Mongol commanders did not consider it reasonable in a particular situation to fight on horseback, then the army dismounted as necessary and, tying the reins of the horses to their belts, fired a rain of arrows at the enemies, and made their way with blows from spears. The crossbowmen and spearmen of the Yuan Imperial Guard - the Chinese and Jurchens - inflicted considerable damage on the samurai squads. A real shock to the Japanese samurai, accustomed to a certain military ceremony, was the complete disregard of the Mongols for these ceremonies. Indeed, imagine the feelings of the samurai, the original knights of Japan, in battles with the warriors of Kublai Khan. Accustomed to the fact that in internecine Japanese battles the samurai himself chose a worthy opponent before the battle, exchanged greetings and corresponding refined insults, and then, according to all the rules of the code of samurai honor, began the battle, the Japanese in the first clashes were lost in front of a new unpredictable enemy. The Mongols were by no means inclined, like the samurai, to resort to the help of servants and squires, to turn the battlefield into continuous “pair tournaments” with the elimination of participants and where it was not customary to attack from behind without first calling out the victim, and even the severed head of the enemy for demonstration to the overlord, put on public display was not just a barbaric custom, but the most reliable evidence of personal participation in a fight with an equal. The Mongols adhered to the principle of winning at any cost. The Mongols and Turks attacked the proud “busi” with lava, and their Jurchen and Chinese allies marched in ranks of “spear” attacks, having previously rained down on the Japanese gunpowder and stone shells from catapults and stone throwers, and clouds of arrows from bows and crossbows. It is known that they also took anonymous “trophies”, indicating only the number of victims, namely the ears of enemies (1, pp. 182-183). For the first time, the Japanese encountered not only hitherto unfamiliar stone-throwing and flame-throwing weapons, which destroyed and burned most of their coastal fortifications, but also a new war tactics for them, which consisted of the interaction of all units of the army - infantry, cavalry, stone-throwing and flame-throwing weapons, combat ships, a unified command, despite all the inconsistency between the commanders of the two Yuan squadrons (5, p. 15).

By the end of the second month of fighting, the Japanese warriors were already exhausted, fighting with their last strength against an enemy many times superior to them both in manpower and military equipment, and in the level of military art, when from August 15 to 16, a hurricane typical of late summer hit the coast of Kyushu in East Asia. Marco Polo testifies on this matter: “... blew strong wind from the north, and then began to tell the army that they should leave, otherwise all the ships would be broken, they boarded the ships and went out to sea, they had not sailed even four miles when they washed up on a small island, those who managed to land were saved, and others died here same" (3, p. 156). Korean sailors tried to save the ships by escaping the hurricane into the open sea, but their efforts were in vain. A third of the 40 thousand warriors of the northern squadron died, and more than half of the 100 thousand southern squadron died. Those who remained in Japan died or were captured by the Japanese (11, p. 211-212). Marco Polo tells about their fate: “About 30 thousand people landed on the island, and even they thought that they had died and were very sad; they themselves could not leave, and the surviving ships were leaving for their homeland. And those ships sailed until they returned to their place... Those 30 thousand soldiers who landed on the island considered themselves dead, because they did not know how to get out of there.” Cut off by sea from the main supply bases on the mainland and abandoned to their fate by the Yuan authorities, the soldiers held the line against the Japanese to the last limits of their physical capabilities, without losing hope of help from the continent. “They... were very sad and did not know what to do... The king of the large island and his subjects (the Japanese) heard that the army was scattered and defeated, and who escaped, on the small island, as soon as the sea calmed down, they boarded their ships, straight sailed to a small island, landed on the shore in order to capture everyone who was there.” Next, Marco Polo tells a story, which is not confirmed by other sources, about how these 30 thousand Yuan warriors captured the ships on which the Japanese approached the island, and landed on another island near the Japanese capital, suddenly took possession of it and took up a perimeter defense. For seven months they held the capital, trying to notify Kublai Khan about this, but, “saving their lives, they all surrendered” (3, p. 157) to the Japanese. It is difficult to say how probable these events described by Marco Polo were, but his message, in any case, should be kept in mind.

According to the Japanese, the hurricane was not an accident; it was sent by the gods to save Japan. For Kublai Khan, who had never previously suffered such crushing defeats, the collapse of the Japanese campaign was a shock. And, nevertheless, he did not abandon the hope of taking revenge for the defeat and consulted with his comrades, as reported by the Yuan-shi: “On next year(after the campaign against Japan - A.K.), on the second moon (in February) Khalunai (Karatai) returned to settle in Qingyuan. He left his post Yuanshuai(commander - A.K.)… Arrived at the court (of the emperor). Emperor (Khubilai - A.K.) asked him about Japanese affairs. Khalunai answered this question in great detail...” (9, tsz. 132, p. 27481) In 1283, Kublai Khan ordered merchants in southern China to build ships for the third campaign against Japan, from the Yuan capital of Khanbalik (on the site of modern Beijing) A large group of military equipment specialists who knew how to make “Muslim” throwing weapons left for the Korean coast. Among this group, one of the first Yuan shi the Chinese Zhang Lin, a master who knew how to make “Muslim” stone throwers, was mentioned. In 1285, the Jurchens from northern China were mobilized to build 200 ships, and the Mongol commander Atahai received a reinforcement of 10 thousand soldiers and 50 shooters from “Muslim” throwing guns for a future landing in Japan. The Koreans were ordered to prepare supplies of rice for the planned campaign (7, p. 224). At the same time, there was apparently no unity among the ruling Yuan elite regarding a new invasion of the Japanese Islands. So, in Xin Yuan-shi (« New story Yuan) says: “A large army was ready to march on Japan. Commander (of forces) to conquer the East (i.e. Japan. - A.K.) a certain Duermishi (Uyghur Turmish), due to disagreements and disputes with Atahai and others (military leaders), refused to participate in this campaign...” (8, tsz. 136). In 1286, heeding the advice of his entourage, Kublai Khan canceled the campaign. The department for organizing the campaign against Japan was abolished, as reported by the Yuan-shi: “The Department for the Conquest of the East was abolished, and Hanqing (Khudutimura, head of the department - A.K.), returned to (the previous position)” (9, tsz. 122, p. 27379).

The unsuccessful campaigns against Japan dispelled the myth of the invincibility of the Mongols in East Asia. The onslaught of the multi-tribal Yuan army, led by the Mongols, also crashed against the resistance of the Japanese defenders, who cannot be denied courage when they resisted the enemy armada for two months, which was many times superior to the Japanese in numbers and combat experience, in terms of equipment with the latest military equipment for that time, and in strength elements - hurricanes or kamikazes - the “sacred winds” of Japanese legends that sank most of the Yuan fleet of Kublai Khan and his landing force. On the coast of Hakata Bay, where Khubilai’s troops landed, two prayer stones from his ships, sunk by the “sacred wind,” have been preserved to this day as symbols of that harsh era.

The Mongol attempts to conquer Japan devastated the islands of Tsushima, Iki, and the northern coast of Kyushu, forcing many of their inhabitants to leave these places, and also led to the rupture of traditional Japanese-Korean relations for almost half a century. Japan, previously no stranger to “recluseness,” now became isolated in isolation from the outside world and its connections with China and Korea, as well as with most of Eurasia, where they dominated Mongol khans, were of a random nature.

Thus, Japan turned out to be one of the few countries that managed to defend its independence from the Mongol conquerors who held it in the 13th century. "the helm of the world." The Japanese victory over the Mongols was the result not only of geographical factors and natural disasters, but also of the Japanese determination to fight to the end against superior enemy forces in seemingly hopeless circumstances.

Literature
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Art. publ.: Society and state in China: XXXLII scientific conference: To the 100th anniversary of the birth of L.I. Duman / Institute of Oriental Studies; comp. and resp. ed. S.I. Blumchen. - M.: Vost. lit., 2007. - 352 p. - ISBN 5-02-018544-2 (in the region). pp. 61-70.

Protective wall in Hakata

The capture plan was to launch a coordinated attack with a combined fleet. The Chinese fleet was delayed due to difficulties with provisions and manning the huge number of soldiers. The Korean fleet set sail, but suffered a crushing defeat at Tsushima and returned back. In the summer, the combined fleet took Iki and moved towards Kyushu, stopping at passing islands. The minor skirmishes that took place were called the Battle of Koan (弘安の役) or the Second Battle of Hakata. The Mongol forces were driven back to the ships. Although the Mongols outnumbered the Japanese many times over, the coast was well fortified, so defense was not particularly difficult. In addition, the famous typhoon Kamikaze For two days he destroyed the shores of Kyushu and destroyed the Mongol fleet to an even greater extent.

Today it is believed that the destruction of the Mongol fleet was provoked by another factor. Most of the ships were hastily built punts. According to the Koryo-sa chronicle, Song ships were too expensive and were very slow, so the shipyards built traditional Korean flat-bottomed ships. Ships of this type (unlike ocean-going keel ships, which are more difficult to capsize) are difficult to use on the open sea, and they were abandoned to the hurricane. There is an opinion that the Koreans deliberately built bad ships to take revenge on the invaders.

Meaning

Samurai beating a Mongol invader

From a military perspective, the failed invasions were the first instances of samurai being used for national defense rather than in civil strife. The second such occasion was the Japanese takeover of Korea. This is also the first time that samurai forgot about their internal affairs and fought in the name of Japan. The invaders showed the Japanese new methods of fighting, which were completely different from the duels of the samurai. This is mentioned in Hachiman Gudokun: