Battle of Imjin River
The Battle of Imjin River, fought in April 1951, was a significant military engagement during the Korean War, involving United Nations forces and Chinese Communist troops. Following an unsuccessful attempt to hold Seoul, Chinese forces, led by General Peng Dehuai, aimed to recapture the South Korean capital through a second offensive. The British Twenty-ninth Brigade Group, which included a Belgian infantry battalion, defended the area north of the Imjin River against approximately 27,000 Chinese soldiers. Despite severe ammunition and resource shortages, the British and Belgian troops managed to inflict heavy casualties on the attacking forces, with estimates of 11,000 Chinese casualties compared to around 1,000 on the UN side. This battle is noted for the bravery exhibited by the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, who fought fiercely for two days before being overwhelmed. For their valor, British officers were awarded the Victoria Cross, and the engagement ultimately contributed to a shift in the conflict, leading to a withdrawal of communist forces and discussions for a cease-fire by mid-May. The Battle of Imjin River stands as a testament to the complexities of warfare and the sacrifices made by soldiers during this turbulent period in history.
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Battle of Imjin River
Type of action: Land battle in the Korean War
Date: April 22-30, 1951
Location: Along the Imjin River, north of Seoul, Korea
Combatants: United Nations (U.N.) forces, mostly U.S. and British vs. Chinese forces
Commanders: United Nation, Lieutenant General James Van Fleet (1892–1992); Chinese, General Peng Dehuai (1898–1974)
Result: Communist offensive failed to take Seoul, and the Chinese army failed to cut the main supply line to U.S. First Corps
Having failed to maintain their hold on Seoul during the first offensive of 1951 (January through March), Chinese Communist forces, under General Peng Dehuai, launched a second offensive in April against the United Nations forces, under Lieutenant General James Van Fleet. The main goal of the Chinese Sixty-third Army, about 27,000 strong, had been to recapture the South Korean capital. The British Twenty-ninth Brigade Group, including a Belgian infantry battalion, held the ground north of the Imjin River. Only 63 men from the Belgian battalion reached safety, the unit having run out of ammunition, food, and water. Although the brigade group was forced to fall back, they inflicted such heavy casualties on the Chinese army that it was no longer capable of recapturing Seoul. Chinese casualties were estimated at 11,000; U.N. casualties at about 1,000. The fighting resulted in a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and the awarding of Victoria Crosses to Lieutenant Colonel J. P. Carne and Lieutenant P. K. E. Curtis.
Significance
By mid-May, communist forces were forced to withdraw to the north, and by July 1, they had agreed to discuss a possible cease-fire.
Bibliography
Knox, Donald. The Korean War: Uncertain Victory. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.
Korea: The Unknown War. Documentary. Thames Television, 1990.
Sandler, Stanley, ed. The Korean War: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland, 1995.
Toland, John. In Mortal Combat: Korea, 1950–1953. New York: Quill, 1991.
Whiting, Charles. Battleground Korea: The British in the Korean War. London: Sutton, 1999.