The Cold War Turns HotKorean War & Vietnam War

Introduction

Whilst the Cold War had been without any conflict, throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s tensions and conflicts between the United States and the USSR became very heated. This resulted in the both sides being drawn into conflicts on foreign soil based on their similar ideological preferences.

Some of these major conflicts are:

1950-53: Korean War

1962: Cuban Missile Crisis

1965-73: Vietnam War

1960s-80s: In Central and South America the USA supported anti-communist regimes (eg. Pinochet in Chile). The USSR supported Communist rebels

1967-80s: Israel supported by the US government in Middle East conflict with Arabs. The USSR supported the Palestinians and Arab states.

1970s: Communist rebels in Angola helped by USSR and Cuba

1979-1990s: War in Afghanistan: the Afghan government supported by Soviet Forces in fight against US-back guerrilla fighters (the Taliban)

Korean War: 1950-53

Introduction

The Korean War was the time when the Cold War became a global conflict.

In 1945, Korea was freed from the Japanese. US troops stayed in Korea until 1946. The country was split in half at the 38th parallel:

North Korea (led by Kim Il Sung) was Communist

South Korea (led by Syngman Rhee) was capitalist

The two countries hated each other

“The Korean War was the first major armed clash between Free World and Communist forces, as the so-called Cold War turned hot.”

From a pamphlet by John J. McGrath of U.S. Army Centre

of Military History, (2003).

Did you know?Korea was split at the 38th parallel because, when they were discussing what to do with Korea, the Americans could only find a small-scale map.

What Caused the War? [DUCKS]President Truman was interested in the Far East:

Domino Theory:

Europe was not the only place where Communists were coming to power, it was happening in Asia as well.

China turned communist in 1949

Truman believed that if one country fell to communism, then others would follow, like a line of dominoes.

He worried that, if Korea fell, the Communists would capture Japan

Asia is where the communists conspirators have decided to make their global conquest. If we lose this war, the fall of Europe is inevitable. There is no choice but victory.

U.S. General MacArthur (1950)

What Caused the War? [DUCKS]

This map from an American magazine published 14th

November 1950 shows how much they feared the spread of

Communism in the far east.

Activity:

Study this image. Why was Korea so important for the Americans?

What caused the war? [DUCKS]

Undermine Communism

In April 1950, the American National Security Council issued a report (NSC 68) recommending that America abandon ‘containment’ and start ‘rolling back’ Communism.

Cold War

Truman realised the USA was in competition for world domination with the USSR. By supporting South Korea, America was able to fight Communism without directly attacking the USSR.

NSC-68

Top-secret report from the National Security Council

Delivered to the US government on 4th April 1950

The report is significant as it represents a shift in US strategic thinking.

NSC-68 suggested that if the United States continued to oppose the Soviet Union through economic and political means, then they would lose the Cold War.

The report suggested that the US should resort to military action and as such their military budgets should be expanded.

Less than two months after the release of NSC-68, the tensions in Korea escalated.

NSC-68Selected excerpts from NSC 68

(classified until 1975)

“In the broadest terms, the ability to perform these tasks requires a build-up of military strength by the United States and its allies to a point at which the combined strength will be superior…both initially and throughout a war, to the forces that can be brought to bear by the Soviet Union and its satellites…

It would probably involve:

2. A substantial increase in expenditures for military purposes adequate to meet the requirements…

3. A substantial increase in military assistance programs, designed to foster cooperative efforts, which will adequately and efficiently meet the requirements of our allies…

10. Reduction of Federal expenditures for purposes other than defence and foreign assistance, if necessary by the deferment of certain desirable programs.

11. Increased taxes…

The threat to the free world involved in the development of the Soviet Union’s atomic and other capabilities will rise steadily and rather rapidly. For the time being, the United States possesses a marked atomic superiority over the Soviet Union which, together with the potential capabilities of the United States and other free countries in other forces and weapons, inhibits aggressive Soviet action. This provides an opportunity for the United States, in cooperation with other free countries, launch a build-up of strength which will support a firm policy directed to the frustration of Kremlin design…”

What caused the war? [DUCKS]

Stalin, also, was involved in the Far East:

Kim Il Sung visited Stalin

In 1949, he persuaded Stalin that he could conquer South Korea.

Stalin did not think that America would dare to get involved, so he gave his agreement.

Stalin saw a chance to continue the Cold War and discomfort America, but ‘at arm’s length’ – without directly confronting the Americans.

Kim Il Sung also went to see Mao Zedong, the leader of China, to get his agreement.

Syngman Rhee

In 1950, Syngman Rhee boasted that he was going to attack North Korea.

It was a good enough excuse – the North Koreans invaded South Korea.

Kim Il Sung

Syngman Rhee

Image Analysis

This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low, from the Daily Herald (30 June 1950), shows Truman and the United Nations rushing

to Korea’s aid.

Even the reports to the UN were censored by [American] state and defence departments. I had no connection with the United Nations whatsoever.

General MacArthur’s memoirs

Q. During the Korean War, critics said that the USA simply pulled the strings of the UN like a puppet. How do the quote from General MacArthur above and the image from the previous slide support this view?

Image Analysis

This British cartoon shows a heroic Truman, leading an armed United Nations, rushing to defend Korea. The decisive military reaction of Truman and the UN over Korea is contrasted with the reference to the League of Nations, which died ‘of lack of exercise facing wanton aggression’ in the 1930s.

Low had been very critical of appeasement in the 1930s, and the message of the cartoon is that this reaction to Korea is better, and gives more hope for the future. Its bias is shown in its failure to mention the negatives – eg. Soviet absence from the UN, and the danger of nuclear war.

The Events of the War: 1950-53The war had FIVE phases:

Phase One: June – Sept 1950

On 25th June 1950, the North Koreans attacked. They were very successful. The North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) easily defeated the Republic of Korea’s army (the ROK’s). They captured most of South Korea.

The American’s were alarmed by this and on 27th June 1950 persuaded the United Nations to pass a resolution supporting South Korea.

The Americans sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean Army at Pusan.

The Events of the War: 1950-53Phase Two: Sept – Nov 1950

On 15th September, the American General MacArthur led a UN amphibious landing at Inchon (near Seoul) behind the NKPA. Out of the 300,000 UN troops, 260,000 were Americans

In danger of being cut off, the NKPA had to retreat. The Americans drove them back and recaptured South Korea. 125,000 NKPA prisoners were taken.

On 7th October 1950 MacArthur invaded North Korea. He advanced as far as the Chinese border. He boasted that the Americans would be ‘home by Christmas’.

The Events of the War: 1950-53Phase Three: Nov 1950 – Feb 1951

Now the Chinese were alarmed

On 25th November, 200,000 Chinese troops (‘People’s Volunteers’) attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons supplied by Russia, and a fanatical hatred of the Americans.

Then, on 31st December, half a million more Chinese troops entered the war and attacked the Americans. They drove the Americans back (using ‘human wave tactics’). They recaptured North Korea, and advanced into South Korea.

The Events of the War: 1950-53

Phase Four: Feb – March 1951

The Americans landed more troops. They used bombers.

The Chinese admitted to losing 390,000 men dead – UN sources put the figure at up to a million Chinese and half a million North Koreans dead. The Americans drove the Chinese back, but lost 54,000 American soldiers dead doing so.

MacArthur reached the 38th parallel in March 1951

The Events of the War: 1950-53

Phase Five: 1951 – 1953

Truman told MacArthur to stop.

MacArthur was sacked when he publically criticised Truman’s order.

In 1953, Eisenhower became American president. The Americans threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting.

The Chinese agreed to a truce, which was signed on 27 July 1953

It is estimated that 10 million people died in the war – as many as died in the First World War.

Vietnam War