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North Korean troops invaded South Korea in June of 1950.
The war that followed was not just a local clash between
nations, but an international conflict of ideologies.
As this newsreel shows, the invasion heightened tensions
already elevated during the Cold War. |
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The North Korean army swept powerfully through most of
South Korea during the first month of the war. In fact,
the earliest U.S. troops at the front struggled to hold
any ground at all. |
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While soldiers and South Korean civilians tried to cope
following early battles, the United Nations made plans
to provide more support. Supplies were prepared and new
volunteers signed up to join the fight. |
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The U.S., U.K. and Commonwealth countries provided many
of the United Nations soldiers in Korea. Raw footage
from the ground war includes combined efforts by British
and American troops. (no audio) |
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Under General Douglas
MacArthur's leadership, the tide began to turn in Korea.
U.S. Marines arrived at Inchon in a dramatic landing
reminiscent of D-Day. From there United Nations forces
would regain ground and even press into North Korea -
until China joined the fight. |
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Winter made a desperate
situation even worse for troops trapped in the Chosin
Reservoir. Soldiers battled both weather and enemy
forces in the effort to escape. |
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The commander of the U.N.
forces was respected by millions around the world, in
part because of his role on the Pacific front during
World War II. But some feared the general would disobey
his commander-in-chief when their opinions differed.
Truman removed MacArthur from command and replaced him
with General Matthew Ridgway. |
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President Truman's order
for MacArthur to step down was greeted with mixed
reactions from the public. Here, Truman explains his
decision and several Americans voice their views. |
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Soldiers on the front
certainly missed the comforts of home. But some came up
with creative ways to enjoy simple pleasures, such as
this hot shower. |
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The United Service
Organization (USO) sent many entertainers abroad to
lighten the spirits of American troops. Marilyn Monroe
received a very hearty welcome when she visited Korea
(though her visit came in 1954, after the war ended). |
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The momentum of the ground
war changed several times, but United States pilots
tended to dominate the air. These scenes demonstrate the
strength of the U.S. Air Force - though that strength
alone would not bring about victory for U.N. forces. |
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In 1951, Soviet U.N.
delegate Jacob Malik proposed an armistice in Korea.
Over the next two years, the parties involved tried to
hammer out details to make a truce palatable to all.
Meanwhile, war raged on. |
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On July 27, 1953, an
armistice brought an uneasy peace. Prisoners of war
could return to freedom. But years of captivity,
deprivation and sometimes torture had taken an enormous
toll on many POW's. The wounds would be difficult to
heal - as would the rift between the two Koreas. |
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