Notes
The Korean War, 1950-53
- Korea originally divided at end of WWII between USA and Russia along the 38th parallel
- War between north and south Korea
- Often seen as a de-facto war between USA and its western allies and China and Russia and other Communist states.
- War see-saws back and forth
- Turning point at Inchon Landings
- Chinese send almost a million troops to support the north
- United Nations led by Gen. MacCarthur
Summary
First time United Nations was actually used in combat (16 countries participated under the UN). United Nations pushed communist Koreans all the way to their north border. In a night, the Chinese sent a million troops trying to protect the communist Korean country, and pushed the UN all the way back to South Karea. North and South Karea divided by the 38th parallel.
Quote
"In my generation, this was not the first occasion when the strong had attacked the weak….Communism was acting in Korea just as Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese had acted ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores." - Harry S Truman
subjunctive question
How much stronger would North Korea be if they had won the Korean War?