Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Chosin Reservoir, in present-day Changjin County, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea
What happened
About 30,000 United Nations troops, mostly U.S. Marines and soldiers under General Oliver P. Smith and General Edward Almond, were surrounded by about 120,000 Chinese troops under General Song Shilun. In late 1950 United Nations forces pushed deep into North Korea, hoping to end the Korean War by Christmas, but China entered the war. Near the Chosin Reservoir, Chinese forces surrounded the UN troops in temperatures as low as minus 38 °C, so cold that weapons and medicine froze. The UN troops fought their way out along a single mountain road to the port of Hungnam.
Why it matters
Result: See § Aftermath. Leader: Douglas MacArthur / Edward Almond. Why it matters: Both sides claim victory: the UN forces escaped largely intact, but China drove them from northeast Korea. The battle ended UN hopes of a complete victory in the Korean War.
What came next
In December 1950 a fleet of 193 ships evacuated the UN troops and many Korean civilians from Hungnam. Survivors became known as the 'Chosin Few'.
Did you know?
At Funchilin Pass the retreating UN column had to cross a gap where the Chinese had blown a bridge, and engineers rebuilt it with sections dropped from the air.
Timeline
- Autumn 1950UN forces advance deep into North Korea.
- 27 November 1950Chinese forces attack and surround UN troops at the reservoir.
- 13 December 1950The fighting withdrawal ends.
- 15-24 December 1950Soldiers and civilians are evacuated from Hungnam.