On June 25, 1950, the Korean Peninsula was filled with gunsmoke. A war broke out that engulfed the entire peninsula. The United Nations Army, the Chinese Volunteers, and the Korean People's Army fought fiercely on this land. No one could have imagined that this war would last for three years and cause such heavy casualties. Let's step into those smoky years and uncover the little-known stories behind the war.
[The Battle of Blood and Fire: The Story Behind the Korean War Casualties]
Is war a numbers game? No kidding!
After the outbreak of the Korean War, countries sent elite troops to the war. The U.S. military sent several divisions, and the South Korean army also invested a lot of troops. But war is never a simple comparison of numbers. Behind every casualty figure, there is a fresh life, a broken family.
The 1st Cavalry Division of the US Army is known as the "First Team" and can be described as the trump card of aces. This unit has made great achievements in World War II, and it is naturally full of confidence to participate in this war. Who knew that as soon as he landed, he ran into hard stubble. They were caught off guard by the stubborn resistance of the volunteers. After a fierce battle, the 1st Cavalry Division suffered more than 16,000 casualties and was almost disabled.
You think that's the end of it? The 2nd Division of the US Army suffered even worse! This unit was surrounded by the 9th Corps of the Volunteer Army in the Battle of Changjin Lake and suffered heavy losses. In the end, they had to blow up the equipment and retreat overnight. After this battle, the 2nd Division suffered nearly 25,000 casualties and almost completely wiped out.
Don't think that only the Army suffers, the 1st Marine Division of the United States has also planted a big heel. This unit, known as the "soul of battle," can be described as a sand on the Korean battlefield. During the entire war, the 1st Marine Division suffered more than 30,000 casualties, the largest number of U.S. troops participating in the war.
[Small countries have great wisdom: those unknown "United Nations forces"]
Ever heard of Turkey Brigade? This unit is a dark horse on the Korean battlefield.
In November 1950, Turkey sent a brigade to the war. Although this force was small in number, it was extremely brave. During the fighting in the Kunchuan area, the Turkey brigade stubbornly resisted the attack of the volunteers, and was once surrounded and did not surrender. In the end, although there were heavy casualties, he earned the reputation of "brave Turkey".
Let's talk about the Australia camp. This unit from the southern hemisphere really didn't take the volunteer army seriously at first. In an encounter, the Australian army took the initiative to ask for bayonets with the volunteers. As a result, it didn't matter if the fight was made, and the two sides were inseparable. In the end, although the Australian army won narrowly, it also paid a heavy price. From then on, no enemy army dared to fight with the volunteers with bayonets.
There was also a Greece battalion, although small in number, but it also stirred up a storm on the battlefield. In one battle in 1951, the Greece battalion and the volunteer army engaged in fierce confrontation. The two sides come and go, and the fight is inseparable. In the end, although the Greece battalion retreated, it also made a deep impression on the volunteers.
[Little Soldiers Make Great Contributions: Little-Known Battlefield Heroes]
War is never just a game for generals, and the heroic performance of ordinary soldiers can also change the tide of battle.
There is such a United States GI named Ultraman Joseph ·. In November 1950, during the Battle of Changjin Lake, his unit was surrounded by volunteers. During the retreat, Ultraman discovers that a seriously injured comrade is unable to move. He didn't say a word, picked up his comrades and left.
You know, the temperature had dropped to more than minus 30 degrees Celsius. Ultraman waded through mountains and rivers along the way, and almost froze several times. But he never gave up and finally managed to break through. This feat not only saved the lives of his comrades, but also greatly boosted the morale of the troops.
Let's talk about the Volunteer Army. There was a soldier named Yang Gensi who made great achievements in the Battle of Shangganling. At that time, the artillery fire of the American army covered the entire position. Yang Gensi led his comrades to resist stubbornly and repelled the enemy's attacks again and again.
At the most critical moment, Yang Gensi picked up the explosive bag and rushed towards the enemy group. He traded his life for a precious respite on the battlefield and bought time for the follow-up counterattack. Such heroic deeds abound on the battlefield.
[Beyond the War: A Little-Known Vignette]
The war is brutal, but the light of humanity remains.
With such a Belgium battalion, their experience is quite legendary. During one battle, four Belgium soldiers voluntarily surrendered to the volunteers. This is unique in the entire United Nations Army.
The four soldiers later explained that they were tired of needless killings and hoped that the war would end as soon as possible. Although their actions caused an uproar at the time, they also reflected the brutality of the war from the side.
There was also an Ethiopian battalion, which claimed to have never lost a battle in the entire war. They participated in 253 battles, each time they were able to get out in full. This unit from Africa, with its tenacious will and superb tactics, wrote a legend on the Korean battlefield.
Of course, there are also some funny scenes in the war. Once, an American patrol encountered a group of volunteers. Neither side had any weapons, so they were stoned. This "stone battle" lasted for more than half an hour, and finally ended with both sides being exhausted and out of breath.
More than 70 years have passed since the Korean War. The smoke of gunfire has long since dissipated, but the pain left by that period of history remains.
Looking back now, the war took a heavy toll on all sides. The U.S. military lost nearly 140,000 people, and the South Korean army lost nearly 400,000 people. The casualties of the Chinese volunteers were also as high as one million. Behind these cold numbers are countless broken families and wounds that will never heal.
War is never a good solution to problems. It will only bring more hatred and suffering. Today, the Korean Peninsula is still divided, and this is perhaps the greatest regret of that war.
History has taught us a profound lesson. Peace is not easy to come by, and we should cherish the peaceful life we live in now. Only when the peoples of all countries live in friendship and understand each other can we avoid a recurrence of the tragedy. Let us work together to contribute to world peace. #头条首发大赛#