1. Events and Ideas 4
World History
Unit 8

2. Essential Question:
Who started the Korean War, and how were people in Korea affected by the Cold War?
Explain why the Korean War was really a Cold War conflict. (consider all of the countries involved in the conflict)

3. The Cold War and Military Alliances
The United States forms additional military alliances to stop the Soviets and the spread of communism.
SEATO = prevent expansion East of the Soviet Union.
CENTO = prevent expansion South of the Soviet Union.
The U. S. had military alliances with 42 countries.
To stop Soviet aggression, U.S. forms additional military alliances:
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) is formed to prevent expansion East of the Soviet Union.
United States, Great Britain, France, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) is formed to prevent expansion South of the Soviet Union.
United States, Great Britain, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan.
By the mid-1950s, the United States had military alliances with 42 states (countries) around the world.
SEATO Symbol

4. China Goes Communist 1949: Chinese Communists take over China.
1950: China and USSR signed a treaty of friendship.
1905–1945: Korea was part of the Japanese Empire.
Soviets and Americans split Korea along the 38th parallel after WWII.
1949 – Chinese Communists take over China.
i. American fears about the spread of communism intensified.
1950 – China signs a treaty of friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union.
i. An agreement between the two largest communist states increased Cold War tensions.
ii. Many Americans believed that the Communists wanted to rule the world.
iii. Fears are reinforced when North Korea attacks South Korea.
1905 – 1945, Korea was part of the Japanese Empire.
i. When Japan surrendered in WWII, Soviet troops were in North Korea and American troops were South Korea.
ii. The Soviets and the Americans agreed that the 38th parallel would be the dividing line between the Soviet and American area of influence.
iii. Elections were to be held to later reunify Korea into a single state. With the coming of the Cold War, those elections were never held.
The Korean Peninsula

5. Invasion June – September 1950
June 25, 1950 – North Korea invades South Korea.
Southern capital of Seoul falls in three days.
United Nations condemned North Korea’s attack.
U.N. authorizes a “police action” against North Korea.
INVASION - June-September 1950
In the pre-dawn hours of June 25, 1950, North Korea sent an invasion force across the 38th parallel into South Korea. The Northern forces rapidly advanced southward against the ill-equipped defenders, taking the Southern capital Seoul three days after the invasion began. The United Nations condemned North Korea's attack. The Soviet Union, Pyongyang's mentor, was boycotting the U.N. Security Council at the time -- and was thus unable to veto the council's condemnation, which set up a U.N. force to help defend South Korea.
The United States led the U.N. force in the so-called "police action" against North Korea. But four U.S. divisions, rushed to the Korean peninsula to stop the Northern attack, could do little against a superior force. The U.N. forces were soon forced back to a perimeter around the southern port city of Pusan by early August.
MIG-15 being shot down.

6. Invasion June – September 1950
The U.S. leads U.N. force with only four divisions.
Little can be done against a superior force.
U.N. forced to Pusan by August of
INVASION - June-September 1950
In the pre-dawn hours of June 25, 1950, North Korea sent an invasion force across the 38th parallel into South Korea. The Northern forces rapidly advanced southward against the ill-equipped defenders, taking the Southern capital Seoul three days after the invasion began. The United Nations condemned North Korea's attack. The Soviet Union, Pyongyang's mentor, was boycotting the U.N. Security Council at the time -- and was thus unable to veto the council's condemnation, which set up a U.N. force to help defend South Korea.
The United States led the U.N. force in the so-called "police action" against North Korea. But four U.S. divisions, rushed to the Korean peninsula to stop the Northern attack, could do little against a superior force. The U.N. forces were soon forced back to a perimeter around the southern port city of Pusan by early August.
The Pusan Perimeter

7. UN Troops: South Korea 590,911 USA 480,000 Britain 63,000
Canada ,791 Australia ,000 Philippines ,000 Turkey ,455
The Netherlands 3,972
France ,421 New Zealand 1,389 Thailand ,294 Ethiopia ,271 Greece ,263 Colombia ,068 Belgium South Africa Luxembourg

8. Counterattack September – October 1950
U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur lands U.N. forces at Inchon on September 15th.
North Korean army in the south is now cut off.
Seoul was taken by the U.N. on September 26th.
WWII Sherman in use in Korea
COUNTERATTACK - September-October 1950
U.N. forces, under the command of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, landed at the port of Inchon near Seoul on September 15, The landing cut off much of the North Korean army, which was attempting to force a way into the Pusan Perimeter. U.N. forces, breaking out from Pusan and coming south from Inchon, were able to overwhelm the Northern troops in South Korea. Seoul was taken by U.N. forces on September 26.
U.N. forces moved north of the 38th parallel, capturing the Northern capital Pyongyang on October 19. Despite warnings from China that it would not accept the presence of U.N. troops in North Korea, MacArthur continued to move his forces northward -- with the announced intention of unifying the Korean peninsula. Some U.N. forces reached the Yalu River -- the border between North Korea and China -- on October 25.

10. US Marines storm ashore at Inchon

11. American forces land on Inchon harbor one day after the Battle of Inchon began.

13. Success, yet the War continued…
By October 1950,The United Nations troops drove the North Koreans back past the 38th parallel.
The American goal of saving South Korea's government had been achieved
Because of the success and the prospect of uniting all of Korea under the government of South Korea, the Americans - with UN approval - continued the advance into North Korea.

14. Counterattack September – October 1950
U.N. forces moved into North Korea north of the 38th parallel.
North Korean capital of Pyongyang is captured on October 19th.
China warned the U.S. not to enter North Korea. (Both are communist countries)
MacArthur announced his plans to unify the peninsula
COUNTERATTACK - September-October 1950
U.N. forces, under the command of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, landed at the port of Inchon near Seoul on September 15, The landing cut off much of the North Korean army, which was attempting to force a way into the Pusan Perimeter. U.N. forces, breaking out from Pusan and coming south from Inchon, were able to overwhelm the Northern troops in South Korea. Seoul was taken by U.N. forces on September 26.
U.N. forces moved north of the 38th parallel, capturing the Northern capital Pyongyang on October 19. Despite warnings from China that it would not accept the presence of U.N. troops in North Korea, MacArthur continued to move his forces northward -- with the announced intention of unifying the Korean peninsula. Some U.N. forces reached the Yalu River -- the border between North Korea and China -- on October 25.
MacArthur strikes back!

15. U.S. Air Force attacking railroads south of Wonsan on the eastern coast of North Korea

16. Chinese troops in southern Manchuria
October 1950, Mao Zedong fearing that the capitalists are getting too close to his border, enters the war .
Communist troops:
North Korean 260,000
Chinese 780,000
Soviet Union 26,000
Chinese troops in southern Manchuria
on the way to Korea in 1950.

17. Chinese Advance October 1950 – January 1951
November 25th – China attacks!
Chinese force is estimated to be between 130,000 and 300,000.
U.N. abandoned Pyongyang on December 4th.
20,000 U.S. Marines and Army Infantry fought their way out of the Changjin Reservoir.
CHINESE ADVANCE - October 1950-January 1951
In late October 1950, while China was issuing its warnings, a large Chinese force had already entered North Korea. U.N. forces began encountering Chinese troops at that time. On November 24, MacArthur announced what he believed would be the final offensive of the war, which he said would "restore peace and unity to Korea."
The next day, a Chinese force estimated at between 130,000 and 300,000 attacked the U.N. forces -- quickly pushing them southward in a disorderly retreat. The U.N. abandoned Pyongyang on December 4. Some 20,000 U.S. Marines and Army infantry fought their way out of a Chinese encirclement at the Changjin Reservoir.
The U.S. Navy evacuated tens of thousands of refugees and U.N. personnel from the ports of Hungnam and Wonsan. Communist forces invaded South Korea for the second time in the war on December 31, Seoul was recaptured on January 4, U.N. forces stopped the Chinese-North Korean advance about 30 miles south of Seoul and began a counteroffensive by month's end.
Korean war dead

18. The War during Winter was Bitter Cold

19. Chinese Advance October 1950 – January 1951
Seoul falls to Communist forces for the 2nd time on December 31st, 1950.
Seoul is recaptured by the U.N. on January 4, 1951.
U.N. stops Chinese advance 30 miles south of Seoul.
U.N. started to push north again by the end of January,
CHINESE ADVANCE - October 1950-January 1951
In late October 1950, while China was issuing its warnings, a large Chinese force had already entered North Korea. U.N. forces began encountering Chinese troops at that time. On November 24, MacArthur announced what he believed would be the final offensive of the war, which he said would "restore peace and unity to Korea.“
The next day, a Chinese force estimated at between 130,000 and 300,000 attacked the U.N. forces -- quickly pushing them southward in a disorderly retreat. The U.N. abandoned Pyongyang on December 4. Some 20,000 U.S. Marines and Army infantry fought their way out of a Chinese encirclement at the Changjin Reservoir. The U.S. Navy evacuated tens of thousands of refugees and U.N. personnel from the ports of Hungnam and Wonsan.
Communist forces invaded South Korea for the second time in the war on December 31, Seoul was recaptured on January 4, U.N. forces stopped the Chinese-North Korean advance about 30 miles south of Seoul and began a counteroffensive by month's end.
The Chinese enter the war.

20. Total troops in Korea:
1,139,518 U.N. Troops
1,066,000 Communist

21. Armistice January 1951 – July 1953
U.N. forces reoccupied Seoul in March 1951.
U.N. forces move slightly north of the 38th parallel.
April 1951 – MacArthur was relieved of command.
MacArthur had openly criticized the President in the press.
ARMISTICE - January 1951-July 1953
U.N. forces reoccupied Seoul in March From there they were able to advance slightly north of the 38th parallel. In April, MacArthur -- who had openly disagreed with President Truman over how to conduct the war -- was relieved of his command.
Truce talks began on July 10, By that time, the war had become static -- with neither side making any real advances. Disagreement over several issues, including the exchange of prisoners, delayed the signing of an armistice for another two years.
By the time the armistice was signed in 1953, U.N. casualties were estimated at more than 550, while North Korean and Chinese casualties were believed to be around 1.5 million. As part of the cease-fire, both sides agreed to withdraw 2 kilometers along the final battleground and establish a demilitarized zone along the armistice line -- a zone that still exists today.
U.S. dead returning home.

22. Armistice January 1951 – July 1953
War had become static – neither side could advance.
Armistice signed in 1953.
Definition: is an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.
U.N. casualties were estimated at 550,000.
North Korean and Chinese casualties were believed to be million.
ARMISTICE - January 1951-July 1953
U.N. forces reoccupied Seoul in March From there they were able to advance slightly north of the 38th parallel. In April, MacArthur -- who had openly disagreed with President Truman over how to conduct the war -- was relieved of his command.
Truce talks began on July 10, By that time, the war had become static -- with neither side making any real advances. Disagreement over several issues, including the exchange of prisoners, delayed the signing of an armistice for another two years.
By the time the armistice was signed in 1953, U.N. casualties were estimated at more than 550, while North Korean and Chinese casualties were believed to be around 1.5 million. As part of the cease-fire, both sides agreed to withdraw 2 kilometers along the final battleground and establish a demilitarized zone along the armistice line -- a zone that still exists today.
Armistice line back to the beginning

23. The Demilitarized Zone Today
UN soldiers guard the area by the 38th parallel
The DMZ as seen from the north

24. A US Army captain confers with South Korea Army counterparts, at Observation Post Ouellette, viewing North Korea, April 2008.

25. Current issue is North Korea’s nuclear development and testing

26. Vice President Pence Visits the Demilitarized zone and warns North Korea to stop Nuclear Missile testing

27. Korean War War fought to contain communism Objective met
54,000 United States sevicemen lives lost
The Korean War, page
End of WWII, Soviet and US forces disarmed Japanese troops in Korea.
i. Soviets provided an extensive military buildup of North Korean forces.
ii. Communist government was set up in the north with an American-backed government in the South.
The United Nations sent armed forces to South Korea to prevent a communist takeover.
i. June 25th, 1950: Ok by Stalin, North Korean forces invade South Korea, rapidly driving the poorly equipped South Korean forces.
ii. Truman saw the war in Korea as a test of containment policy and ordered US naval and air power into action.
iii. UN supported the action as the Soviets boycotted the UN.
US and UN forces fight a “back and forth” war with Korean and then Chinese forces.
i. From the “Pusan Perimeter” to the border of China and then back down to the 38th parallel, US and UN forces fought North Korean and then Chinese forces.

28. The Korean War produced many firsts:
It was the first war to have…

29. Racial Integrated Military Units

30. Air-to-Air Jet Combat

31. Helicopters used to Evacuate Wounded

32. Helicopters were used to Transport Troops to the Frontlines

33. Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) were Used

34. Essential Question:
Who started the Korean War, and how were people in Korea affected by the Cold War?
Explain why the Korean War was really a Cold War conflict. (consider all of the countries involved in the conflict)