Eruption of the Korean War and the Progression of Battles
Look into the Korean War through a couple of importanat national archives and records
Soldiers Aiming (1950) by The Bureau of Public InformationNational Archives of Korea
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950 and ended unofficially on July 27, 1953, having lasted 3 years, 1 month and 2 days. The war devastated 80% of the landmass of the Korean Peninsula, from the Nakdonggang River down in the south to the Yalu River up in the north.
Soldiers in Truck (1950) by The Bureau of Public InformationNational Archives of Korea
It was not only domestic warfare on the Korean Peninsula but also international warfare involving over 20 countries, and footage of the war remains vivid in the national records.
Soldiers in an Operational Meeting (1950) by The Bureau of Public InformationNational Archives of Korea
Eruption of war and the progression of battles
Operation orders, operation maps and confidential police documents that were issued immediately upon the outbreak of the war provide a vital clue to the pressing circumstances surrounding the war.
Operation Order No. 31 of the 6th Infantry Division Operation Order No. 31 of the 6th Infantry Division 1National Archives of Korea
Operation Order No. 31 of the 6th Infantry Division
This is a document issued by the 6th Infantry Division headquarters on June 25, 1950 when the war broke out.
Operation Order No. 31 of the 6th Infantry Division Operation Order No. 31 of the 6th Infantry Division (1950) by Ministry of National DefenseNational Archives of Korea
Issued right after the outbreak of hostilities, the operation order contains details about surprise attacks from the Korean People's Army in Munsan, Uijeongbu, Chuncheon, Hongcheon and other areas along the East Coast…
...as well as information about combat orders, transportation, logistics involving live ammunition, securing of communication networks, etc. in areas where regiments under the 6th Infantry Division were mobilized.
On June 25, it reads "The enemy spoke over the radio broadcast at 5am on 25, while attempting a full-fledged ambush through the 2nd Division of the Korean People's Army in Chuncheon and Gapyeong, and the 12th Division around Jaeun-li. The two divisions, headed by tanks, attempted a full-scale raid across the 38th parallel. At 7am, approximately 20 tanks and 30 armored vehicles appeared at Highland No. 275."
Progress Map of Division Operations (1950) by Ministry of National DefenseNational Archives of Korea
Progress map of operation orders No. 31 of the 6th Division
This is a map including details of the hostilities right after the outbreak of the war until March 1952.
For signs marked on the map, please refer to the description in the legend
①Green line: 1st withdrawal (route)
②Green dotted line: 2nd withdrawal (route)
③Brown line: 3rd withdrawal (route)
④Black line: 1st advance (route)
⑤Blue line: 2nd advance (route)
⑥Yellow line: 3rd advance (route)
⑦Red line: the route of the enemy
⑧ X ?: points of engagement and distribution
The progress map of operation orders indicates the progress in battles and engagements of the 6th Division, tracing the combat of the 6th, 7th, 2nd and 19th Regiment under the 6th Division along the 'green line,' and the Korean people's Army's locations along the 'red line.'
The Battle of Chosan on October 26, 1950 is marked at the top end of the map. At the time, the war entered a whole new phase with the surprise Chinese intervention. China committed a large number of troops to advance south, but the 6th Division occupied Chosan near Yalu River, led by the 7th Regiment as referenced on the map.
In the initial stage of war, the majority of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces failed to defend the 38th parallel due to sudden attacks from the Korean People's Army, but the 6th Division deterred the Korean People' Army in combats in Chuncheon and Hongcheon.
In addition to the course of the battles, the right-hand side of the map shows the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers that engaged with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and the location of their combat using charts.
The bottom left of the map specifies statistical records of battles that took place from June 25, 1950 to August 7, 1952 on a chart. The size and weaponry of the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers, against whom the 2nd, 7th, 19th Regiments and the headquarters of the 6th Division fought, are described on the chart.
Chian Ilbo No. 126 Chian Ilbo No. 126 (1951) by The Ministry of InteriorNational Archives of Korea
Chian Ilbo No. 126
This is a confidential police record revealing the grave circumstances surrounding the Korean War.
Chian Ilbo No. 126 Chian Ilbo No. 126 6National Archives of Korea
Chian Ilbo was maintained by the Emergency Guard General Headquarters of the Security Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and it highlighted actions by North Korean partisans and countermeasures taken by the police at the rear.
Chian Ilbo No. 126 Chian Ilbo No. 126 2National Archives of Korea
Chian Ilbo was distributed to 30 places including the chief of the Public Security Bureau and Security Divison under the Ministry of the Interior, the security commander of the Seoul Metropolitan Area and 10 other areas, the commander of the Taebaeksan District, the Prime Minister's Office, the Director of Operations, the MP, and the Air Force headquarters.
This is a police confidential document. Access to the document was strictly limited.
Chian Ilbo No. 126 Chian Ilbo No. 126 4National Archives of Korea
It consists of charts, graphs and maps about operations by regional police officers and the status of North Korean partisans.
The bottom of Chian Ilbo indicates the number of engagements, outcomes of combats and casualties by region (Gyeongsang / Jeolla Province and around railway lines) in statistical charts.
Chian Ilbo No. 126 Chian Ilbo No. 126 3National Archives of Korea
This is Chian Ilbo's 126th issue for February 19, 1951.
Chian Ilbo No. 126 Chian Ilbo No. 126 4National Archives of Korea
It also unveils the state of battles reported on February 7 to 18 by police stations in Gyeongsangnamdo, Gyeongsangbukdo, Jeollanamdo and Jeollabukdo Provinces as well as Railroad Police Units, with details about the appearances of North Korean forces and the course of engagements and battles by time and place.
Gochang Police Station in Jeollabukdo Province reported on the 13th that, "We dispatched units to repel 20 communist guerillas who were reportedly planning to infiltrate Unsan-li, Asan-myeon."
Find out the national archives that depict the life of Korean War refugees here and the Korean armistice agreement here.
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