Topic 1 - Establishing Communist Rule - The Korean War Flashcards
(23 cards)
What was the background with Korea pre WW2 and post WW2?
Korea was a Japanese colony pre WW2 - it was then divided between the USSR and the US post WW2 - led to installing of NK and SK govs
What prompted the North’s invasion of the South?
Soviets greatly supported the North with military supplies and would push them to invade the South
When did the invasion of Korea begin?
Oct 1950 when ROK (SK) forces were pushed back to Busan
When did the UN Sec Council recommend assistance to the ROK?
June 1950
When did Truman receive Congressional approval for military action?
August 1950
What was the impact of US involvement by the end of 1950?
By the end of 1950 DPRK forces had been pushed back to the Chinese border
When did Chinese leaders first discuss intervention with the Korean War?
Mao and Zhou Enlai first discussed intervention in the conflict in July 1950
When did Mao want Chinese troops ready for action?
August 1950
Who did Mao appoint in charge of the Chinese Expeditionary Force?
Peng Dehuai
What campaign did Mao sacrifice to invade Korea?
Korean forces were sent North from Taiwan after abandoning the upcoming invasion
What was Mao’s quote in October 1950?
In October 1950 Mao ordered that the PLA “resist the attacks of US imperialism”
How many troops did the PLA send when they initially invaded and what was the result
250,000 PLA troops pushed the UN forces back to the 38th parallel by April 1951
What direct support did the Soviets contribute to the effort?
Nothing - the war effort was stalled due to a lack of air support as Stalin refused to provide Soviet planes before the Chinese invaded
How many fatalities did the PLA suffer
PLA would ultimately suffer 400,000 military fatalities (Mao’s son also killed)
How much of China’s earnings was spent on the conflict?
Roughly 1/3 of Chinese gov annual earnings spent on the conflict – totalling to about 10 billion RMB
How was the war used at home by Mao?
Conflict very important at home in China - mass meetings formed around denouncing the US and SK - its would also unite the nation after years of brutal civil war and division
What was the name of the campaign organised around the conflict and what did it do?
The ‘Resist America, Aid Korea’ campaign was started to drum up support for the conflict and subtly purge enemies of Mao
How many counter-revolutionary and official executions were there in the first half of 1951?
- 2.5 million counterrevolutionary executions
- 135,000 official executions
What was the war’s impact on propaganda and the CCP’s leadership?
The war saw anti-capitalist propaganda being spread country wide and was used to further show the CCP’s effective leadership
What happened to nationalist feelings during the war?
During the war there was increased national unity
What was the impact of Western involvement on attitudes in China?
American involvement in the Korean War made people remember Western colonialism in China and its horrors before and during the Civil War
What was the impact of the war on China’s international reputation?
China’s international reputation was increased as it pushed back America during the war
What was the impact of the war on the CCP’s control?
The ‘Resist America, Aid Korea’ campaign allowed to CCP to gain more control of the business sector and suppress more of Mao’s political opponents
