The Armed Forces in the Korean War
Who was involved?
Over six million soldiers, sailors and airmen fought on both sides in the Korean War...
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More than three million of these were communists from North Korea, China and Russia. Opposing them were almost three million from South Korea and from 21 United Nations (UN) countries including Australia.
Not all of the six million were present at one time. The war began with only 200,000 North Koreans fighting 100,000 South Korean personnel. With the arrival of the UN, and later the Chinese armies, there were a million combatants present one year after the war began. By war’s end there were more than two million ranged along the ceasefire line – 1,100,000 UN and South Koreans facing 1,200,000 North Koreans and Chinese. The Soviet Union’s contribution was always small and included medical units from the Soviets’ allies Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.
Portrait of Lieutenant Song Sang Seob of the Republic of Korea Army, detailed to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment as an interpreter. Korean troops were attached to each of the Commonwealth units and they were called Korean Augmentation Troops, Commonwealth (KATCOM). Artist Ivor Hele. Red conte crayon, carbon pencil on paper, 3 May 1952. [AWM ART40407] ... Enlarge the portrait of Lieutenant Song
There is a constant flow of personnel in and out of armed forces. Newly trained arrivals are needed to replace losses from battle and sickness. Also personnel often serve a period in the theatre of war and then return home to rest, and are replaced by new troops. The Chinese army for instance, was never stronger than 900,000 at any one time, yet 2,200,000 Chinese served in Korea. The personnel of UN army and air units usually served for one year and were then replaced. This does not mean the unit itself always left the country. The Royal Australian Air Force’s 77 Squadron served in Korea throughout the war but its members were replaced several times over in the course of the conflict. Ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) served from six months to a year in Korean waters before returning to Australia. In this way nine RAN ships served there, but not more than two at a time. Of the 17,000 Australians who fought in the Korean War, there were never more than 4000 present at any moment.
The very increase in the size of the armed forces contributed to the stalemate of the last two years of the war. In the early manoeuvre phase the armies were too small to hold a strong line across the 250-kilometre wide peninsula so an enemy attack leading to a breakthrough was often possible. Later armies of more than a million on each side found the line could be strongly held all along its length, and a breakthrough became impossible or too expensive in lives.
Teaching and learning activities for the classroom
RAN in the Korean War: battle brainstorm
Royal Australian Navy HMAS Murchison shelling North Korean positions on the Han River Estuary, near the mouth of the Yesong River, Korea, 1951. Artist Ken McFadyen, 1970. [AWM ART40820] ... Enlarge the painting of the HMAS Murchison
- There are several things happening at once in Ken McFadyen’s painting. Look at the painting for exactly a minute and try to remember everything you can see there. Then turn the painting over and, numbering each point, quickly write down a list of all that you can recall.
Compare your lists to see who has remembered the most. - Now listen to the veteran Maxwell Veale’s story about the same incident on the Australian veteran’s accounts page. How does Veale add to your knowledge of the painting?
- Look at the painting again and answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
- Can you see any message in the painting that the artist wants to convey to you the viewer?
- Decide what feature of the painting stands out more than the rest. Why do you think it stands out most?
- The artist was not in the Korean War but he was in the Vietnam War. He painted this soon after he returned from Vietnam. Does this tell you anything more about the painting?
- The painting's title is HMAS Murchison shelling North Korean positions on the Han River Estuary, near the mouth of the Yesong River, Korea. Think of a new title for the painting and explain why yours is better.
Links:
Armed Forces: Royal Australian Navy in the Korean War
China intervenes in the Korean War: HMAS Murchison on the Han River
The Australian veterans' accounts: Maxwell Veale's story of the HMAS Murchison
