For Westerners, Christmas Eve is a joyful and peaceful holiday, a day to reunite with family, enjoy food, exchange gifts, and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
But for Chinese, Christmas Eve may have another meaning, a day to remember history, remember the martyrs, be grateful and dedicated, and strengthen faith.
Because 73 years ago, on December 24, 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteers won an earth-shattering victory in the Changjin Lake area of the Korean Peninsula after fierce battles, defeated the United States led by the United **, reversed the situation of the Korean War, shook the world, and demonstrated the powerful strength and indomitable spirit of New China.
The Battle of Changjin Lake was the most representative and influential battle in the Korean War, and it was also the most glorious and heroic battle in the history of China.
It is not only a military victory, but also a political victory and a spiritual victory, which has had a far-reaching impact and enlightenment on the historical development of China and the world.
The Battle of Changjin Lake took place from November 26 to December 13, 1950, and was the eastern part of the second battle between China and the United States in the Korean War.
In the first battle, the Chinese People's Volunteers crossed the Yalu River on October 19, 1950, aided the Korean People's Army, launched a surprise attack on the US 8th Army and the 10th Army, forced the US army to retreat near the 38th parallel, broke the US army's "Christmas home" plan, and brought the Korean War back to a state of balance.
However, due to the superiority of the US army in air and firepower, as well as the logistical difficulties and command errors of the Volunteer Army, the first battle did not achieve the goal of completely annihilating the US army, and the US army still occupied most of the Korean Peninsula, especially the Changjin Lake area on the eastern front, threatening the flank and rear of the Volunteer Army.
Fighting in Liutanli
In order to consolidate the results of the first campaign, eliminate the remnants of the US army, and protect the flank of the Korean People's Army, the Chinese People's Volunteers decided to launch a second campaign, with the 9th Corps as the main force, to encircle and annihilate the eastern front of the US 10th Army.
The 10th Army of the U.S. Army is composed of the 1st Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army as the main combat units, with a total of about 30,000 people, distributed in a number of strongholds in the Changjin Lake area, of which the main force of the 1st Marine Division is stationed in Liutanli on the west bank of Changjin Lake, and the main force of the 7th Infantry Division of the Army is stationed in Xiajieyuli on the east bank of Changjin Lake.
The 9th Corps of the Volunteer Army, composed of the 20th, 27th, and 26th Armies, with a total of about 150,000 troops, launched attacks on the US troops from the east, west, and south directions, with the intention of dividing and encircling the US troops in the Changjin Lake area, and then annihilating them one by one.
On November 27, the 58th and 60th Divisions of the 20th Army of the Volunteer Army launched a night attack on the 5th and 7th Regiments of the US Marine Corps in Liutanli, trying to cut off the retreat of the US troops, but they were met with stubborn resistance from the US troops.
The U.S. military took advantage of air support and firepower to inflict a major loss on the Volunteer Army, forcing the Volunteer Army to temporarily retreat.
On the 28th, the 20th and 59th Divisions of the 89th Army of the Volunteer Army also joined the battle, trying to encircle the American troops from the south and north, but still could not break through the American defensive line.
On the 29th, the 20th and 58th Divisions of the 60th Army of the Volunteer Army launched a new attack, but they were repulsed by the American army.
On the 30th, the 20th and 59th Divisions of the 89th Army of the Volunteer Army were also forced to withdraw from the battle and turn to deal with the reinforcements of the American army.
The battle of Liutanli lasted for four days and four nights, and was the most fierce and bloody battle in the Battle of Changjin Lake, in which both sides paid a heavy price, but the American army still controlled Liutanli and kept the way out.
The war east of Changjin Lake
On November 28, the 79th and 81st Divisions of the 27th Army of the Volunteer Army launched an attack on the 17th Regiment and the 32nd Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division of the US Army east of Changjin Lake, trying to cut off the retreat of the US army, but met with stubborn resistance from the US army.
The U.S. military took advantage of air support and firepower to inflict a major loss on the Volunteer Army, forcing the Volunteer Army to temporarily retreat.
On the 29th, the 27th Division of the 80th Army of the Volunteer Army also joined the battle, trying to encircle the American troops from the south and north, but still could not break through the American defenses.
On the 30th, the 27th and 79th Divisions of the 81st Army of the Volunteer Army launched a new attack, but they were repelled by the American troops.
On December 1, the 27th Division of the 80th Army of the Volunteer Army was also forced to withdraw from the battle and switch to US reinforcements.
The battle east of Changjin Lake lasted four days and four nights, and was the most difficult and difficult battle in the Battle of Changjin Lake, with both sides paying a heavy price, but the American forces still controlled Xiajieyuli and kept the way back.
The war south of Changjin Lake
On November 28, the 76th and 77th Divisions of the 26th Army of the Volunteer Army launched an attack on the 31st Regiment and the 57th Field Artillery Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division of the US Army south of Changjin Lake, trying to cut off the retreat of the US army, but met with stubborn resistance from the US army.
The U.S. military took advantage of air support and firepower to inflict a major loss on the Volunteer Army, forcing the Volunteer Army to temporarily retreat.
On the 29th, the 26th Division of the 78th Army of the Volunteer Army also joined the battle, trying to encircle the American troops from the south and north, but still could not break through the American defenses.
On the 30th, the 26th and 77th Divisions of the 76th Army of the Volunteer Army launched a new attack, but they were repulsed by the American troops.
On December 1, the 26th Division of the 78th Army of the Volunteer Army was also forced to withdraw from the battle and switch to dealing with American reinforcements.
The battle south of Changjin Lake lasted four days and four nights, and was the most difficult and difficult battle in the Battle of Changjin Lake, with both sides paying a heavy price, but the American army still controlled the south bank of Changjin Lake and kept the way back.
Win big
On 1 December, General Smith, commander of the US 10th Army, decided to abandon the Changjin Lake area and retreat to Hutouli by the sea in order to evacuate by boat after learning that General Walker, commander of the US 8th Army, had given the order to retreat on all fronts.
General Smith ordered the 1st Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division of the Army to retreat from Liutan-ri and Xiajieyu-ri to Hutou-ri respectively, and at the same time sent air force and navy aircraft and ships to strike at the pursuing forces of the Volunteers.
The retreat of the American army was very difficult and dangerous, facing not only the pursuit and ambush of the volunteers, but also the bitter cold and hunger, as well as the destruction of roads and bridges.
The retreat of the U.S. army lasted 12 days, which was the most thrilling and heroic course in the Battle of Changjin Lake, both sides showed fearless courage and sacrifice, but the U.S. troops still successfully withdrew from the Changjin Lake area and escaped the encirclement of the volunteers.
The Battle of Changjin Lake was a thrilling battle, both sides paid a huge price and sacrifice, according to different statistics, the number of US troops in the Battle of Changjin Lake was between 10,000 and 1Of the 50,000, about 3,000 were killed, 7,000 were wounded, and 1,000 were missing or captured.
The U.S. military's losses in the Battle of Changjin Lake accounted for about 10% of the total U.S. losses in the Korean War, making it the heaviest battle in the Korean War.
The number of volunteers in the Battle of Changjin Lake was between 40,000 and 60,000, of which about 120,000 people died in battle, 280,000 were wounded in battle, and 10,000 were missing or captured.
The result of the Battle of Changjin Lake was that neither side achieved its goal. Instead of realizing the desire to "go home at Christmas" and the goal of "hitting the Yalu River in one go," the US military was forced to withdraw from most areas of the Korean Peninsula, losing the initiative in the war and falling into a passive defensive state.
Although the Volunteer Army won the victory in the Battle of Changjin Lake, it did not achieve the goals of "annihilating the US army" and "liberating the whole of Korea", but paid a heavy price, and then had to make strategic adjustments and rest.
The 73rd anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Changjin Lake to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea