The Korean War is rightly called by many historians the “forgotten war”, although it was one of the first acts of struggle between two great superpowers – the USSR and the USA, an important episode of the “Cold War”. This designation specifically reflects the relatively low level of international public awareness and interest in this conflict compared to other major conflicts such as World War II or the Vietnam War.

Although it involved troops from 17 UN member states fighting against North Korea and “Chinese volunteers” and the battles were on an epic scale, it did not receive adequate media coverage.

Perhaps because television was not as advanced as it was later during the Vietnam conflict, or perhaps because unlike other conflicts that ended in peace treaties or other agreements that led to a clear end , the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953, and technical martial law remained.

The lack of a final resolution may contribute to a sense that this war is not yet fully over and thus has not received the same attention as other conflicts.

We will try to bring to life one of the most dramatic battles of this war – the Battle of Lake Chosin (Basin). It was the only moment in the war when the Americans, supported by their allies, found themselves in real trouble, in danger of being surrounded and cut off from retreating to bases in the south.

To understand how it got to this point, we need to analyze the strategic situation as well as the historical context of the first year of the war,

The Battle of the Chosin Basin in Historical Context

Korea belonged to the Japanese from 1910 until their total defeat in 1945. At the end of the Second World War, the south of the Korean peninsula was occupied by the Americans, and the north by the Soviet Union, the division was made along the 38th parallel of degrees.

The socialist state, the Democratic Republic of Korea, was established in the north under the totalitarian communist rule of Kim Il Sung, while the capitalist state, the Republic of Korea, was established in the south under the autocratic rule of Lee Seung Man.

Both governments of the two new Korean states claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all of Korea, and neither recognized the border as permanent, setting the stage for future conflict.

The war will begin in June 1950, when the North Korean army invades the South. Using Soviet equipment, but also with the element of surprise on their side, the Communists advance deep into the south.

It should be noted that at that time there were very few American soldiers stationed in Korea, and those brought in at the last moment from Japan were not ready for battle, and equipment was also damaged. Thus, the communist troops advanced to the extreme south of the peninsula, pushing the defenders into the so-called “Pusan ​​Perimeter”.

Taking advantage of the UN mandate, the Americans will successfully land in the north, in Inchon, under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, the supreme commander of the troops in Korea.

After this move, the US Army takes the initiative and cuts North Korea’s supply lines, forcing it to retreat with heavy casualties. Using the momentum gained, MacArthur advances north, and American troops reach the Yalu River, which marked the border with Communist China.

In mid-October, a huge number of Chinese troops crossed the border and unexpectedly attacked the advancing American troops. The surprise is complete, and the Allied forces are routed and begin a disorderly retreat south.

Korean War – US Marine Corps December 3, 1950

Conducting the Battle of Chosin Basin

Choshin is a Japanese place name, and the Americans adopted it because they were using Japanese maps from World War II. Chosin Basin is an artificial lake located in the northeast of the Korean Peninsula.

The battle took place along the 126-kilometer road connecting the lake with the port city of Hangnam, where American troops could evacuate. The terrain is mountainous, and the approach of winter has led to very low temperatures, with days reaching -30 degrees Celsius.

In the Chosin Lake area, about 25,000 soldiers, mostly Americans, were surrounded by 12 Chinese divisions totaling more than 120,000 people. Chinese troops were not properly equipped to fight in arctic temperatures, many fighters wore summer uniforms.

The Chinese also had serious logistical problems, the troops lacked heavy weapons and food. On the other hand, the situation was not rosy for the Americans either, the cold affected them equally, and part of the weapons became unusable due to the temperatures.

From the first day of the battle, November 27, the Chinese units exerted enormous pressure on the Americans surrounded in the area of ​​the cities of Sinhung-ni and Hagaru-ri. Benefiting only marginally from the contribution of artillery and completely lacking in aviation, the Chinese launched attack after attack using human wave tactics. The testimony of American veterans is convincing in this regard, showing that the only advantage the Chinese had was sheer numbers. Attacking American positions head-on with infantry, the Chinese suffered colossal losses.

On November 30, MacArthur ordered to break through the encirclement and retreat to the south. To achieve this objective, the Americans had to cross the Toktong Pass, controlled by the Chinese, who used the rocky heights bordering the pass as strategic positions.

At the same time, Battle Group Faith, named after its commander, Colonel George J. Faith, is being formed east of Lake Chosin. Made up of the remnants of the 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments, it had the strength of a battalion. His role in the conduct of the battle was important, as he held back a large number of Chinese troops, greatly facilitating the retreat of their comrades to the port of Hungnam.

Using significant air support (F4U Corsair fighters flew an impressive 209 missions in just a few days), as well as capable commanders such as General Edward Almond or the legendary Colonel Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, American forces were able to break the encirclement and retreat south to beginning of December

“Several Chosin” or What this battle meant for the Korean War

“Chosin Couple” is the term used to refer to veterans of the United States Marine Corps who fought in the Battle of the Chosin Basin during the Korean War. These veterans are considered a special group because of their courage and sacrifice under extreme conditions and enemy pressure during this battle.

The battle is still studied in academia today, cited as an example of retreat in the face of overwhelming forces. With the withdrawal complete, the Americans and UN allies regrouped and halted the Chinese advance, and three more years of war of attrition ensued until an armistice was signed in 1953.

Many experts believe that if the communist forces had been defeated and forced the Americans to surrender, the course of the war would have been completely different. The US government would likely lose public support for sending troops to Korea, and other UN countries that had troops on the peninsula would no doubt follow suit.

Of course, it cannot be said that Chosin was an American victory, given that it was technically a retreat. However, the fact that the American forces, despite their clear numerical superiority, were able to prevent the Communists from achieving their goals is still celebrated in the United States as a victory.

At the same time, the Chinese forces, poorly equipped and with disastrous logistics, suffered huge losses, the exact number of which the Chinese authorities do not make public even today. There are also voices that say that without the success of this withdrawal, South Korea would not exist today, as the entire peninsula is communist under the Pyongyang regime.

Sources:

– Roy Appleman, East of Chosin: Trap and Escape in Korea, 1950

-Martin Russ, Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea, 1950

– Tucker, Spencer K.; Kim, Jinwoong; Nichols, Michael R.; Pierpaoli, Paul G. Jr.; Zehr, Norman R., Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History

-Patrick O’Donnell, Give Me Tomorrow: The Greatest Untold Story of the Korean War

Bruce Cummings, The Korean War: A History

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