• By 1946, only + Czechoslovakia non-Communist in E. Europe.
• Greek govt (backed by British troops) fighting civil war vs Communists.
◦ Controlled E. European economies for USSR’s benefit.
What caused it?
1. Truman
• Domino theory: China turned Communist (1949). Truman feared if Korea fell, Japan would follow.
• Undermine Communism: NSC-68 (1950) urged ‘ROLLBACK’ not just containment.
• Cold War: USA fought Communism indirectly by supporting South Korea (SK).
2. Stalin
• Kim Il Sung convinced Stalin (March 1949) he could conquer SK. Stalin agreed, thinking US wouldn’t intervene.
• Mao Zedong also approved invasion.
3. Syngman Rhee
• In 1950, Rhee boasted about attacking NK. NK used this as excuse to invade.
The Events of the War, 1950–53
I June–Sept 1950
• 25 June: NKPA attacked & overran SK forces (ROKs).
• 27 June: UN passed RESOLUTION 83; US sent troops to Pusan.
II Sept–Nov 1950
• 15 Sept: MACARTHUR’s UN amphibious landing at INCHON. NKPA retreated; 125k prisoners taken.
• 7 Oct: US invaded NK, reaching Chinese border. MacArthur claimed ‘home by Christmas’.
III Nov 1950–Feb 1951
• 25 Nov: 200k Chinese troops (‘PEOPLE’S VOLUNTEERS’) attacked w. Soviet-supplied weapons.
• 31 Dec: 500k more Chinese joined; used fanatical ‘HUMAN WAVE tactics’ → US driven back into SK.
IV Feb–March 1951
• US bombed; Chinese lost 150k (Western est. nearly 1m). NK lost 500k. US lost 35k (China claimed 390k).
• March: MacArthur reached 38th parallel.
V March 1951–1953
• Truman halted advance; SACKED MacArthur for publicly criticising him.
• Jan 1953: Eisenhower threatened the ATOMIC BOMB → China agreed to truce (signed 27 July 1953).
• Est. 1.2m battle deaths; civilian deaths 2–4m.
Korea & the Escalation of Tension
Proxy War
• US intervention vs Communism → Vietnam & Cuba.
• USSR armed NK & China; Soviet pilots flew disguised as Chinese.
US-China Hostility & Sino-Soviet Tensions
• War globalized Cold War; US refused to recognize Communist China.
• USSR supported China, but China resented limited Soviet help.
Military Blocs
• US expanded NATO (Greece, Turkey, W. Germany, 1955) → USSR responded w. Warsaw Pact (1955).
Arms Race
• NSC-68 → huge US military spending.
• USSR expanded Red Army (2.8m in 1950 → 5.8m in 1955).
• US nuclear threats (1953) → USSR tested H-bomb (1955).
Cold War Intensified
• ∵ Korea almost nuclear war → Eisenhower’s ‘NEW LOOK’ foreign policy (1953) → espionage, deterrence (nukes, NATO).
Korea Divided
• Stalemate → Korea remained split at 38th parallel, w. US & USSR military presence.
• Border clashes → ongoing East-West tensions in Asia.
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