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The Korean War
The Korean war was the first war fought where stemming the wave of communism was the main goal of the west. South Korea, hesitantly backed by the United States, and North Korea, backed by the Soviets and China, would be the first of many wars between communism and western ideology fought all around the world. It was a bloody war, with around 5 million casualties, and with little in the way of gains for either side. -
North Korean forces cross the border
Communist North Korean forces begin their offensive into South Korea with overwhelming force. US foreign policy at this time dictated that there was no choice but to enter the war as a threat from communism somewhere was a threat from communism everywhere. -
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North Korean Offensive
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Battle of Osan
The battle of Osan was the first direct contact between US military forces and North Korean forces. The US were badly outnumbered by nearly 10 to 1 and were poorly equipped. Although they held out for 3 hours heroically the battle proved how woefully underprepared US forces were for the coming war. Picture credit: @18airbornecorps twitter -
Pusan (now Busan) Perimeter
By August 1950, just a month into the war the North Korean forces had backed the US and South Korean forces into a tiny corner of land. Picture: ThoughtCo.com -
Inchon Landing
An aggressive amphibious assault is proposed by UN commander general Douglas MacArthur 150 miles behind enemy lines. The X Corps are wildly successful and liberate Seoul (the capital of South Korea) within 10 days.
Pic: Marine Corps Association -
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United Nations Offensive
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Yalu River
Having pushed the North Korean forces all the way back to near the Chinese border and decimating them, UN forces near the Yalu river, near China. Chinese forces begin to pour into North Korea. Starting the 3rd stage of the Korean War.
Pic: Historica Wiki -
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Chinese Offensive
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Chinese Forces recapture Seoul
By January 1951 Chinese forces have pushed UN forces all the way back below the 38th parallel and recapture Seoul again. By, January 24th, 1951 Communist forces have regained much of South Korea again. Pic: thestrategybridge.org -
Seoul is recaptured by Un forces
Seoul is recaptured by UN forces for a second time. Following this capture the war entered a stage of stalemate as fighting settled into a region around the 38th parallel. No more major offensives were successful by either side. Pic: historyonthenet.com -
General MacArthur relieved
General MacArthur is relieved by Truman as the leader of the UN forces. He was relieved for insubordination as he believed in all-out war and that anything less than outright victory was a loss. Truman believed in a limited war and not throwing everything into the war. -
Peace Talks begin
Truce talks begin between the UN and the communists. This does not mark the end of the fighting though, as the war would continue for another two years whilst peace talks stalled. -
Armistice signed
After 2 years of talks an armistice is finally signed between the UN (represented by the United States), North Korea, and China. Notably, nobody from South Korea ever signed the armistice. Since the armistice was signed there has not been any formal peace treaty so, technically, Korea is still at war to this day. All told over 5 million people died (about half of them civilians) and the border change from pre-war Korea was negligible. Pic: unc.mil (UN command)
