TOPIC 1 Flashcards
Introduction
August 1949: the USSR exploded its first atomic bomb
- arms race over the Hydrogen bomb
1st October 1949: China became communist, after Mao Zedong won the 1945-9 Chinese Civil war
- Proclaimed the People’s Republic of China
- US felt it had lost China
Effect of introduction on US and USSR
US:
1. McCarthyism period 1947-54
Root out political opponents accused of anti-American activities
2. Resolution NSC-68
Proposed an increase in military strength
3. Long Memorandum: April 1950
Nationalist in Security Council – produced long memorandum
USA – invest more money in military to strengthen it
Apr 1950 – proposed
Sep 1950 – approved by Truman
Army became very important - USA involved in Korean War
USSR:
1. Greater confidence
2. Wanted to be equal to the US
3. Were happy communism was spreading
4. Were surprised by Mao Zedong’s win
5. 14th February 1950: Signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
Establishment of the People’s Republic of China, 1949
1945: Japan defeated in WW2
Chinese Civil War resumed: 1945-49
- Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek) vs Communists (led by Mao Zedong)
- Chiang expected win, so USA didn’t intervene and the USSR was uninterested in China + expected Nationalists win
1st Oct 1949 – Mao won war
- China became Communists
- Mao established the People’s Republic of China
US reaction
China was an important country for the USA ¬
- 550 million people
Regretted not intervening - Felt they had ‘lost China’
Failure of US policy of containment
Fear other dominoes fall (to Communists)
Promised to intervene – next Conflict
Blamed – American education
- Encouraged – study engineering, maths, science
Origins of the Korean War
Korea had been independent, but in 1910 it was annexed by Japan
August 1945: Japan surrendered in WW2 – It was stripped of its empire + Korea became independent
- Americans and Russians agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel – Americans with the North and Soviets with the South
The USSR promoted Kim Il Sung to be the communist leader of NK. Late July 1948: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The USA promoted Syngman Rhee, who is a pro-west Korean, to become the leader of SK. July 1948: the Republic of Korea (South)
Plans for the attack of the Korean War
Kim Il Sung, Communist leader, wanted to unite the 2 Koreas into one rule, his rule
- It was proposed in 1949, but Stalin said no, as he was distracted by events in Europe
- April 1950: Kim Il Sung travelled to the USSR and Stalin agreed. Stalin’s terms were:
o Wanted the war and attack to be successful quickly
o No American intervention – there were statements by the US in March 1949 which indicated that they didn’t see Korea as a part of their “defensive perimeter”
o No escalation into a major war
Soviet military advisors were sent to Korea to help plan the attack in June 1950 – the USSR helped NK
- Sent Soviet Mig fighter planes, T34 tanks, trucks, motorised vehicles
Why did Stalin agree to attack Korea in 1950, and not 1949
Stalin was feeling good
- August 1949: the Atomic Bomb
- October 1949: China became communist
o Kim Il Sung was keen and enthusiastic
o Stalin didn’t want to be seen to be holding back NK – feared Kim Il Sung might seek help from China, as it is a bigger neighbour of NK
Attack (Korean War)
25th June 1950: NK attacked SK through the 38th parallel
- SK troops stopped their counterparts at the pocket around Pusan
- US troops from Japan joined the SK army
25th June 1950: UN Security Council emergency session called
- A resolution was passed which called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of NK forces on SK
* It passed because the USSR was absent from the Security Council
* They were boycotting it, about the “China Seat” held by a Nationalist Chinese from Taiwan
29th June 1950: Truman ordered American troops in Japan into SK – Task Force Smith and then the US 8th Army. They held the line at the pocket around Pusan in July/August 1950
- 16 countries sent part of their armed forces to Korea
15th September 1950: General MacArthur planned for the Inchon landings – very risky
- It was a surprise attack that worked
- Air bombing raids and then boats with men landed
27th September: they liberated SK – UN forces decided to “roll back”. Truman accepted MacArthur to cross the 38th parallel
7th October: UN Security Council passed a new resolution and establish a united Democratic Korea
8th October: US forces crossed in a deliberate advance
They considered whether the USSR/China would get involved
- The USSR withdrew all of its staff + didn’t get involved
- China was only recently born as a communist state and was still in recovery from their civil war and war with Japan
Mao warned the US not to get near the Yalu border
- Guerilla attacks by Chinese on different occasions – 19th, 25th, 28th Oct – these frustrated the UN and US troops
- 24th November: full frontal attack
January 1951: the border was kept just below the 38th parallel
- The front was stabilised and war – later there was stalemate until July 1953
China got involved to defend itself from “roll back”
9th April 1951: MacArthur’s sacking
End of Korean War and negotiations
July 1951: start of negotiations – dragged on for 2 years due to the prisoners of war issue
- NK + China wanted all prisoners returned – the US and UN didn’t want them forcibly repatriated
- They were continuously fighting on the ground and in the air – considerable loss of life
27th July 1953: Armistice signed at Panmunjom
- Division of NK and SK
- Demilitarised zone between the two forces
- Level of armaments of each side was to be stabilised
Prisoners of War issue in Korean War
Chinese + NKns: 130,000 prisoners held by the USA – 22,604 weren’t sure if they wanted to return
- 137 decided to return home – the Chinese went to Taiwan (non-communist China), and the NKns went to SK
US and UN forces: over 12,000 prisoners – 349 prisoners decided not to return (324 Koreans, 1 Briton, 21 Americans)
The repatriation commission was created – made up of representatives from Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Poland and India
Casualties of Korean War
4 million were killed in total – 1.5 million military dead
- 34,000 Americans were killed
- 3 million Koreans were killed
- 500,000 Chinese were killed
- 3,000 UN forces were killed
Consequences of the Korean War on the US, USSR, China, Japan and Germany
- Impact on the US:
Success for containment and the rescuing of South Korea
Increase in military spending from 1950 to 1953 from $14.5 bn to $50 bn – number of men doubled
Failed to roll back communism or liberate North Korea - Impact on USSR:
The USSR’s role was to be cautious and offer minimal help
There was a misinterpretation of Stalin’s actions and believed he had acted to aggressively to expand communism - Impact on Japan:
During the war, it became a major source of supplies for the Americans
It was re-established as a responsible ally - Impact on Germany:
1954: allowed to enter NATO and re-arm
1955: Warsaw Pact was created - Impact on China:
- Sought to become a nuclear power
- It emerged as the key communist country in Asia
Eisenhower
Elected in November 1952
Republican and former general
Inherited the problem of IndoChina
East German Revolt (June 1953)
16th June: construction workers called for a general strike and communicated it through the American radio Station
17th: strike spread to East Berlin and East Germany
1954:
- The USSR stopped taking reparations from East Germany
- Past debts to the USSR were written off – helped economically
- Germany entered NATO in October and was allowed to remilitarise
April 1953: Ike spoke about his hopes
- Liberalism in Eastern Europe
- End to the Korean War
- Resolution about Austria
1955: East Germany became a founder member of the Warsaw Pact
January 1955: Khrushchev released 10,000 gulag prisoners
Austria
15th May 1955: Austrian State Treaty was signed by the US, USSR, GB and French Foreign Secretaries
- Austria: sovereign, independent and neutral in the Cold War
Khrushchev’s 20th Party congress Speech
25th February 1956:
- Denounced Stalin and his methods - which angered Mao as he was a Stalinist in his tactics
His foreign policy objectives were:
1. Reconciliation with Tito and Yugoslavia
2. “Different roads to socialism”
3. Peaceful coexistence with the West
4. New areas of interest in Africa and Asia
