the korean war

Question 1

In the 1940’s what country was embroiled in civil war

Answer 1

China

Question 2

Who were the nationalists and communists lead by in the Chinese civil war

Answer 2

Nationalists: Led by Chiang Kai-shek
Communists: Led by Mao Zedong

Question 3

What side in the Chinese civil war did the USA support

Answer 3

the nationalists, the US gave Chaing Kai-shek millions of dollars, but the communists won the war.

Question 4

Mao Zedong quotes on serving the people

Answer 4

Our duty is to hold ourselves responsible to the people. Every word, every act and every policy must conform to the people’s interests, and if mistakes occur, they must be corrected - that is what being responsible to the people means

Question 5

Quotes from Mao Zedong on socialism

Answer 5

“The socialist system will eventually replace the capitalist system; this is an objective law independent of man’s will. However much the reactionaries try to hold back the wheel of history, eventually revolution will take place and will inevitably triumph”

Question 6

quotes from Mao Zedong on class struggle

Answer 6

“Our stand is that of the proletariat and of the masses.”

Question 7

What happened to Chaing Kai-shek when China became communist

Answer 7

Him and his forces fled to Taiwan

Question 8

when had Korea became a unified country

Answer 8

Since the 7th century

Question 9

who occupied the Korean Peninsula during the 19th century - WW2

Answer 9

Japan occupied the Korean Peninsula which lasted until the end of WW2
At the close of WW2 both the Soviet Union and the United States occupied the Korean Peninsula

Question 10

what were the plans of USA and USSR

Answer 10

Initially, it was the intention of both sides to establish a stable and unified Korea in order to withdraw their military forces from the area.

However, neither the Soviet Union or the U.S. wanted the peninsula to fall into the other’s hand.

This set the stage for the Korean War

Question 11

How was Korea divided

Answer 11

it was divided at the 38th parallel of latitude
North Korea was communist and supported by the Soviets
South Korea was democratic and supported by the US

Question 12

When did North Korea invade South Korea?

Answer 12

June, 1950

Stalin had sent the North Korean leader Kim Il Sung a telegram of support, saying he would help him re-unify Korea.

Question 13

how did South Korea react to being invaded

Answer 13

They appealed to the UN for help, the UN set a deadline for North Korea to withdraw. When nothing happened they sent in military forces to help the south

Question 14

What military force did the UN send to help the South Koreans

Answer 14

The UN sent an international force of 21 nations to Korea in order to push the North Koreans out of South Korea

Question 15

Who lead the UN force, and who was the main country involved

Answer 15

US General Douglas MacArthur led the UN force, approximately 80% of which were US soldiers.

Question 16

What happened in the Pusan Perimeter

Answer 16

the North Koreans had pushed the U.N. forces to the southeast corner of the peninsula, where they dug in around the port of Pusan. MacArthur told Walker, “There will be no Dunkirk in this command. To retire to Pusan will be unacceptable.” Gen. Walker gave the “stand or die” order, and over the next six weeks a desperate, bloody struggle ensued as the North Koreans threw everything they had at American and South Korean forces in an effort to gain complete control over Korea.

Question 17

how did Mac Arthur change the course of the war overnight

Answer 17

overnight by ordering, over nearly unanimous objections: an amphibious invasion at the port of Inchon, near Seoul. The Americans quickly gained control of Inchon, recaptured Seoul within days, and cut the North Korean supply lines. American and South Korean forces broke out of the Pusan Perimeter and chased the retreating enemy north.

Question 18

When did South Korean forces cross the Korean Wall into North Korea

Answer 18

October 1st

Question 19

What happened in the Chinese counterattack

Answer 19

The Chinese army, which had been massing north of the Yalu River after secretly slipping into North Korea, struck with considerable force. After suffering setbacks, the U.N. forces stabilized their lines by November 5, only to watch the Chinese withdraw northward as quickly as they had struck

Question 20

What drastic call did MacArthur make after learning of the Chinese being involved in the war

Answer 20

MacArthur was now worried enough to press Washington for greater latitude in taking the fight into China. He nevertheless launched a great offensive toward the end of November, which he optimistically hoped would end the war in Korea and “get the boys home by Christmas.” It proved a terrible miscalculation.

Question 21

What happened in the second Chinese strike (November 25)

Answer 21

Roughly 300,000 Chinese troops overwhelmed the U.N. forces. On November 28, MacArthur informed the Joint Chiefs, “We face an entirely new war.”
MacArthur’s men fought courageously and skilfully just to avoid annihilation, as they were pushed back down the peninsula. Seoul was recaptured by the Communists. The U.N. retreat ended about 70 miles below Seoul

Question 22

the stalemate of the Korean War (Jan 15 1952)

Answer 22

General Ridgway led the U.N. in a slow advance northward. Inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans, the U.N. re-recaptured Seoul for the final time on March 15. Then they had patrols crossing the 38th parallel on March 31. A stalemate ensued which lasted for another two years

Question 23

When did the Korean War end

Answer 23

Not until nearly two million more had died did the Korean War end, when an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

Question 24

How many soldiers died in the Korean War

Answer 24

1.2 million soldiers died on both sides

Question 25

When did Stalin die

Answer 25

March, 1953