On the 25th June the fragile peace in Korea was shattered when North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, invading South Korea and ultimately leading to a conflict that would span three years and cost an estimated 2.5 million lives. Korea had been liberated from Japanese control in 1945 by Soviet troops who moved down into the north of the country and US troops who landed in the south. After this the country was divided along the 38th parallel of latitude until the country could be reunited following new elections. There were arguments, however, over which sort of government should shape the future of Korea: the USSR, as a communist state, sought a government that would be sympathetic to communism, while the USA wished for a regime that
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In 1949 the Soviet Union tested their first atomic bomb which brought an end to the US ' dominance over the weapon. The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan were in effect in Europe following concerns that certain countries in Europe would fall to communism. In addition to this, events in Asia were beginning to concern the US as well, in particular the fall of China to Mao Zedong 's Communist party. Mao quickly allied himself with the Soviet Union after the revolution and a treaty was signed between the two countries in 1950. Truman faced backlash at home for this, with Republicans claiming he had "lost" China by not sending enough support to the Chinese …show more content…
They sent aid to North Korea, including both medical aid and military aid. They equipped both the North Korean and Chinese armies with weapons such as the PPSh-41, a type of Soviet submachine gun, and T-34/85 tanks which were of great importance during the first attacks as no US armour or anti-tank rockets could penetrate their armour. The Soviets also aided the Chinese air force when the war took to the skies. To begin with they did not actively engage in any air warfare, simply supplied them with Soviet MiG 15 fighter planes and trained Chinese pilots, however Stalin quickly grew frustrated with the quality and lack of Chinese pilots and decided to send Soviet pilots to join them in April 1951. These Soviet pilots were dressed in Chinese uniforms and flew planes with either Chinese or North Korean
In 1949 the Soviet Union tested their first atomic bomb which brought an end to the US ' dominance over the weapon. The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan were in effect in Europe following concerns that certain countries in Europe would fall to communism. In addition to this, events in Asia were beginning to concern the US as well, in particular the fall of China to Mao Zedong 's Communist party. Mao quickly allied himself with the Soviet Union after the revolution and a treaty was signed between the two countries in 1950. Truman faced backlash at home for this, with Republicans claiming he had "lost" China by not sending enough support to the Chinese …show more content…
They sent aid to North Korea, including both medical aid and military aid. They equipped both the North Korean and Chinese armies with weapons such as the PPSh-41, a type of Soviet submachine gun, and T-34/85 tanks which were of great importance during the first attacks as no US armour or anti-tank rockets could penetrate their armour. The Soviets also aided the Chinese air force when the war took to the skies. To begin with they did not actively engage in any air warfare, simply supplied them with Soviet MiG 15 fighter planes and trained Chinese pilots, however Stalin quickly grew frustrated with the quality and lack of Chinese pilots and decided to send Soviet pilots to join them in April 1951. These Soviet pilots were dressed in Chinese uniforms and flew planes with either Chinese or North Korean