Korean War

Korean Police ActionWAR

J. Marshall 2009

1950-1953

Outline

• Background• Crisis• Bipolar World• Ground War• Air War• Peace Talks

Background to the Korean War• Korea had been colonized by the

Russians and after 1905, by the Japanese.• At Yalta, Stalin promised to attack Japan

w/i 3 months of VE Day. The Soviets invaded August 9 – Japan surrendered August 15.

• After the surrender, the Soviets occupied Korea’s north and the USA occupied the south.

• A plebiscite was to determine the country’s future.

The Red Army accepted the surrender of the Japanese in Manchuria, August, 1945.

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Political Timeline

• Sep 9, 45: USA accepts surrender in Korea• Nov 14, 47: UN resolution to remove

troops after elections• April 8, 48: Truman orders US troops out• Aug 15, 48: Republic of Korea created in

popular elections Syngman Rhee, president

• Sep 9, 48: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea claims all of Korea

• Jun 25, 1950: North invades South.

June 25, 1950

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

June 25, 1950

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

UN Security Council Resolution 84• July 7, 1950• To repel attack and restore peace and security• Unified command under USA• UN flag to be used• Regular report to the Council

In Favour Abstained AbsentUSA Egypt USSRUK India

R of China Yugoslavia

FranceCuba

Ecuador

Norway

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Bipolar World: Proxy War?NORTH SOUTH

780,ooo 590,ooo

260,ooo 480,ooo

26,ooo 63,ooo

27,ooo

42,ooo (13 Nations)

These numbers represent total participants by nation; not all were deployed at the same time – Canadians, for example, were sent on one-year rotations.

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Action and Counter-Action

① The North Koreans invaded and almost drove the South into the sea at PUSAN.

② The UN (USA) landed at INCHON and drove almost to the Chinese border at the YALU River.

③ The Chinese invaded and drove the UN back to the 38TH PARALLEL.

④ STALEMATE and STATIC WAR with looooonnngg peace talks at PANMUNJOM.

⑤ Armistice with DMZ, but still at war today.

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

General Douglas MacArthurHero of the Pacific Theatre

Military chief in occupied Japan

Leads daring Inchon invasion

Wanted to cross the Yalu and attack PRC in Manchuria

Truman told him to back-off.

MacArthur often ignored his superiors (Truman).

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Kapyong

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Kapyong

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

MacArthur is FIRED!

MacArthur is FIRED!

MacArthur is FIRED!

MacArthur is FIRED!

MacArthur is FIRED!

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Round 3 = STATIC WAR

Patrolling

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

COLD

2 Nations with very different stories

• Canada 4th largest @ 27,000 participants– 516 killed– 1042 wounded

• Turkey 7th largest @ 5,455 participants– 721 killed– 2111 wounded

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

= 6% casualty rate

= 52% casualty rate

Refugees

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

THE AIR WARNew Technology:1. Jet Fighters (prop driven airplanes still used)2. Helicopters (very limited size/load capacity)

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

MiG vs Sabre

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

MiG Alley: aerial dogfightsThe USAF won 10:1.

This is attributed to training NOT superior aircraft.

The USSR had pilots flying in Korea but NEVER admitted it.

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Canada sent no jet fighter squadrons to Korea because none had yet been created – 22 Canadian fighter pilots flew on exchange with the USAF.

Sikorsky H191. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Bell 47

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

Bell 47

Negotiations

• The war turned into a stalemate• The Chinese continued to have regular

“harassing” attacks• The UN forces held their ground and patrolled

to deny the Chinese strategic advantage in the valleys.

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

July 27, 1953: Armistice signed at Panmunjom

Armisti

ce but not P

eace…

even today!

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

1. Background 2. Crisis 3. Bipolar World 4. Ground War 5. Air War 6. Peace Talks

END