The Korean War:
Canada in Korea
Two Prizes Coming Out of the Conflict
1) Political Control of Korea
2) Power in East Asia
Two Periods in the Korean War
1) Maneuver
2) Attrition
- constantly bombarding the enemy
- Pounding on them until they wear out
Maneuver
- Period of 6 months
- North Korea invading South Korea
- June 25, 1950
Attrition
- 1951-1953 marked by constant bombardment on the enemy
Canada's Involvement
- Aug. 7, 1950
- Cdn govn't authorized the recruitment
of the Cdn Special Forces
- Cda first sent three destroyers and an air
transport squadron to South Korea
- Then they sent the Infantry
- Next 2 and a half yrs - Cdn infantry, air, and naval forces played a key role
Canada's Sea Efforts
- Eight ships of the Royal Cdn Navy joined
United Nations and Republic of Korea.
- Nov. 20, 1950 - Jan. 1951.....
- United Nations land forces suffered
reserves
- Canadian ships remained on duties
along west coast
RCN Casualties
- Oct. 1952 ....... RCN suffered first and only
battle casualties
Treaty
- 3,621 officers of the RCN served in Korea
by the time the Armistice agreement was
signed
- July 27, 1953 ....... Korea Armistice
Agreement was signed at Panmunjom
- ended three year period of fighting
- 26,791 Cdns served
- 7,000 served in the space between the
cease fire and the end of 1955
- Of the 490,000 fatal and non-fatal
casualties, 1,558 were Cdn
Canada's contribution, exceeded only
by the US and Great Britain, demonstrated
Canada's willingness to uphold the UN's ideals
and to take up arms in support of peace and
freedom.
Thoughts Against That Statement
- Not typical way for Cda to uphold peace and freedom. This
looks like what the US would do to uphold freedom.
- They are using force to bring peace
- They usually only use force when fired upon
- ie... peacekeeping in Cyprus
- Recent Events
- Afghanistan: Peacemaking
Revised Thesis
Canada's contribution showed our willingness to use force to ensure that there is peace and freedom.
Discussion Question
Do you believe that Canada's involvement
in the Korean War showed that we are willing to uphold peace and freedom OR that we are willing to use force to bring peace and freedom?
Numbers
Date of War
- 1950 - 1953: Major War on the Korean Peninsula