Few armies of the 20th century suffered such a rapid reversal of fortune as the United Nations Command (UNC) when China intervened in the Korean War...
By October 1950, the UNC had largely recovered from its defeats in the first 2 months of the war.
The UNC had all but destroyed the North Korean army (KPA) and was pursuing it deep into its homeland. Advanced UNC elements were dispersed and overconfident as they neared the Yalu River.
In October 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) secretly moved across the Yalu into the central mountains of North Korea. In the first of 5 offensives, the Chinese halted the UNC advance.
Then in December, the CPV drove the UNC out of North Korea, inflicting several severe defeats. At the Chosin Reservoir, the United States (US) Marines were almost overwhelmed. The UNC on the east coast was cut off and evacuated by sea at Hungnam and Wonsan.
On this cigarette packet, two Chinese soldiers strike a typically martial pose above a caricature of General Douglas MacArthur. The packet, along with a wallet and other items, was given to Private Donald Wilson of 2RAR by a dying Chinese female soldier in early 1953.(AWM REL31328)
In later attacks, the Chinese recaptured Seoul. By the time the CPV halted in January 1951, exhausted, they had driven the UNC 400 km south, right down the peninsula to 70 km beyond Seoul.
The UNC recovered and advanced north again.
In April, the Chinese launched the final 'Fifth Phase' of their offensive.
The 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) played a vital part in halting the Chinese advance on Seoul at Kapyong. In a final brief period of open war in October 1951, during Operation Commando, 3RAR took the key height of Maryang San from the CPV.
While the North Koreans increased weaponry to their communist allies, with the Chinese intervention, China became militarily and politically the main enemy of the UNC in Korea. The effect of the intervention was to recover most of North Korea and maintain Kim Il-sung's communist government there. Both sides now saw they could not win the war outright and began two years of peace talks while the war continued.
Ivor Hele, Hill 317 (1952, oil on canvas, 104.7 x 119.9 cm, AWM ART40314)
United Nations forced to retreat south
The Chinese military in Korea were known as the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV)...
Between October 1950 and May 1951 the CPV launched five offensives against United Nations Command (UNC) forces. The 'First Phase' offensive began on 25 October 1950 when 180,000 previously undetected CPV launched a surprise attack from the mountains of central North Korea. The CPV isolated and destroyed many ROK units and inflicted heavy losses on US units. The US 8th Army retreated with CPV troops in close pursuit. Having achieved their objective, stopping the UNC advance into North Korea, the CPV halted their first offensive on 5 November.
By 27 November the recovered UNC forces began their 'Home by Christmas' offensive. The CPV stuck back the next day with its 'Second Phase' attack, destroying the ROK 7th Division and breaking through the ROK 6th Division. On 29 November the Turkish Brigade was overrun at Samso-Ri. The CPV 20th and 27th Armies attempted to annihilate two regiments of the 1st US Marine Division at Chosin Reservoir but failed to do so. Despite success on the battlefield, the CPV had suffered 150,000 casualties since October, and on 2 December called off their attack.
On 31 December the CPV crossed the Imjin River with 120,000 men to begin the 'Third Phase' offensive. Shaken ROK units retreated, exposing the US 8th Army's lines of communication. The US ordered a general retreat.
By 5 January 1951, Seoul, Kimpo airfield and Inchon had fallen to the CPV and the North Koreans. Having advanced 128 km and worn down by their exertions, the CPV once more halted their advance on 5 January.
Three weeks later, UNC forces counterattacked. The CPV responded with the 'Fourth Phase' of its offensive. Despite being understrength and poorly supplied, the CPV initially inflicted significant losses on ROK and US units but was later forced to retreat. The CPV troops abandoned Seoul and retired beyond the 38th parallel into North Korea to rest and await reinforcements from China.
On 22 April 1951, the CPV made its final bid for outright victory in Korea.
The 'Fifth Phase' offensive, involving 3 CPV Army Groups, aimed to reoccupy Seoul. Forced by UNC tactics into costly frontal assaults, the CPV pushed on until heavy fighting at Kapyong, in which the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) distinguished itself, stopped the advance.
Shifting the attack to the east coast, the CPV struck ROK units but failed to destroy them.
The US 2nd Infantry and 1st Marine Divisions then brought the Chinese offensive to a standstill. Stalemated after 50 days and nights of fighting, with 85,000 casualties, the exhausted CPV halted their 5th offensive on 21 May 1951.
The war of manoeuvre had ended.
Watch our strategic map sequence of the Korean War.
Educational activity
Imagine that you are a veteran of the Battle of Kapyong. You have been asked to come to the class to tell them about your experiences. You decide to bring some of your mementos from the battle. You will show them to the students and tell them something about each one.
Think about what an old soldier would keep in his box of war souvenirs. Which ones would he think the students would be interested in? He might bring his war service medals, the diary he kept in 1951, an old photograph of his best mate, a mud-stained map, a letter from his mother or a button from his uniform.
Make some mementos with cardboard, paper, coloured pencils, glue and whatever else you can think of.
You should talk to the class for 3 minutes. Think about how an older war veteran might talk. Start by telling the students who you are and where you come from. Then share your strongest memory of the Battle of Kapyong. Then, one at a time, show the class your mementos. Make up a very short story about each one.
After you finish, ask if anyone has questions, and try to answer them as a war veteran might.