Russo-Turkish War

Years

1877-8

Outcome

Turkey loses to Russia

Brief causes

Russia’s ambition to regain regional dominance lost in the Crimean War, wanting to keep a navy in the Black Sea/establish warm water ports, Pan-Slavism, weakening control over its Balkan territories

Sum up the territorial/political outcomes

Territorial gains in Treaty of San Stefano - but Congress of Berlin undermines Treaty of S.S. and Britain and Austria-Hungary end up gaining land too.

Treaty of San Stefano and Congress of Berlin - year

1878

Treaty of San Stefano - territorial

Between Russia and Turkey - territorial gains:

• South Bessarabia

• Parts of Caucasus

But treaty did not go through - conditions of it worried A-H and Br

Congress of Berlin - territorial

Russia did still gain South Bessarabia and parts of Caucasus, but Britain and Austria-Hungary gain too, e.g. Herzegovina

Military

• Good for effects of Milyutin’s military reforms - engineering section of army shone, crucial to the successful crossing of the Danube and the capture of Plevna

• Navy also successful in using steam-powered vessels to destroy the Turkish fleet

• Heavy losses however

• And Russia eventually wins in 1878 → Turkey agrees to an armistice

Diplomacy

• Concessions to Br and A-H at Berlin - loss of world status - overridden by bigger peace conference, inferring Russia was not that strong?

• Serbians felt betrayed by Russians allowing A-H to take Austria

Social - how many died

30,000 - less than all of the other conflicts but still significant

Social - unrest and Pan-Slavism

• Pan-Slavic supporters saw concessions to Austria-Hungary and Britain (Britain also took over administration of Cyprus to strengthen its interests/influence in the Balkans) as unacceptable, as amounting to a loss of world status

• Annoys Russian nationalists

• Unrest after this - contributes to 1884 assassination?

• Pan-Slavic sentiment in Russia however, etc. for Serbia

Economic - indemnity (positive)

Treaty of S-S Turkey forced to pay war indemnity to Russia – did get this - over 1.4 billion rubles, which is clearly a lot of money

Economic - cost of war and dire economic consequences

Devalue rouble – war cost about 1b roubles, sig. loss of value of rouble during the period, economic crisis, affected neighbouring regions e.g. Finland (then part of Russian Empire)

Economic - general

• Lots of men lost - out of work

• Reveals industrial progress

• New land