The Korean War: Liberation of Seoul (September 1950)

Figure 1.-- Seoul was virtually leveled, first when the Communists invaded from the North across the 38th Parallel then a few months later when the Americans liberated the city from the West (Inchon). And it would change hnds two side more. Here are survivors in the devestated city after the Americans dove out the Communists. The press caption read, "Aftermath of war in Seoul: A city slowly digging out from the ravges of war is the outh Korean capital, Seoul. With the U.N. firces steadily pushing forward, and now reported to be occupying Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, Seoul civilians are beginning to rebuild their city trying to go back to a normal life, acompanying pictures depict their pathetic efforts in Seoul today." The photograph has a newspaper stamp, October 21, 1950.

Operation Chromite (the Inchon landings) commenced (september 15, 1950). A major objective was the the South Korean capital Seoul locared east of the port. This would require some hard fighting as North Korean units in the area were not the disorganized units retreating from the south around Pusan. The well-armed NKPA 78th Independent Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Brigade, numbering some 7,000 men, stood and fought it out. [Hoyt, p. 98.] The NKPA launched a T-34 tank attack, which the Americans trapped and destroyed, and an ineffective Yak bombing run on the Incheon harbor. The primary NKPA effort was to contain the Inchon beachead so that forces in the south could withdraw to the north. General MaxArthur placed a priority on retaking Seoul, but this was not the best move if the NKPA was to be cut off in the south. For whatever reason, Seol became a priority. Some historians report that MacArthur felt that he was honor bound by promises made to South Korean officials to retake the capital as quickly as possible. The first units of U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division landed at Incheon (September 16). Major General Edward Almond, the X Corps commander, wanted to organize the division as quickly as possible to cut off as much as the NKPA in the south as possible. The 32nd Infantry Regiment landed at Incheon (September 18). The 2nd Battalion of the 32nd Regiment relieve a U.S. Marine battalion occupying positions on the right flank of beachhead south of Seoul. The 31st Infantry Regiment also landed at Incheon. With his Division ashore, responsibility for the zone south of Seoul highway passed passed to Gen. Almond (September 19). Heavy fighting with NKPA units occured on the southern outskirts of Seoul. At the time the Incheon landings began, the NKPA had only one understrength division in the city itself. The bulk of the NKPA forces in the area were south of Seoul, reflecting the fact that until the landings, the U.N. forces were in the south arond Pusan. General MacArthur personally conducted the assualt in Seoul, carried out by the 1st Marine Regiment. Gen. Almond was given control of Operation Chromite. The Marines entered Seoul (September 17). The NKPA rushed reinforcenents into the city and had begun to fortify it. The result was desperate house-to-house fighting. Gen. Almond declared the city liberated (September 25). The Marines were still engaged house-to-house combat and taking casualties. The city was left a file of rubble. The War had become a brutal one. Communist forces as they moved south had executed those thoughtto be connected with the South Korean Government. After the battle, South Korean Police executed civilians, including whole families, who were believed to be Communist sympathizers--the Goyang Geumjeong Cave Massacre and Namyangju Massacre. [Hanley and Chang]

Inchon Landings (September 15)

General MacArthur from Japan conceived of an amphibious invasion at Inchon to cut off the North Korean Army largely committed in the south arond the Pusan Peninsula. The Petagon and Presidenbt Truman were very skeptical about MacArthur's plan. MacArthur insisted and his prestige the carried the day. The North Koreans did not think there was any danger of a U.S. invasion. The American invading force faced a seawall and a huge tidal problem. A force of 70,000 Marines and U.S. Army Soldiers landed at Inchon (September 15). It is difficult to understand how such a substantial force could hvevben surepticiously assembled. Operation Chromite (the Inchon landings) commenced (september 15, 1950). Inchon was a port city. The major objective was to cut off the retreating North Korean Army withdrawing from positions around the Pusan Peninsula in the far south of the peninsula. The other important objective was liberating the South Korean capital Seoul locared east of the port. Posssion of Seoul caught the North Koreans between two strong forces. The Inchon landings also caught the Soviets by surprise. Stalin ordered General H.M. Zakharov to Korea (September 18). He advised Kim Il-sung to immediately halt the Pusan offensive and to redeploy his forces north to defend Seoul. Stalin did not have the Chinese briefed on North Korean troop numbers or their operational plans. We are unsure about the contacts between North Korea and China at this time. His assessment was that th North Koreans should only attempt to reduce the Inchon Briidgehead if they had reserves of 100,000 men. Otherwise they should withdraw to the north, Tough fighting around Seoul followed.

North Korean Resistance Around Inchon

Liberating Seoul would require some hard fighting as North Korean units in the area were not the disorganized units retreating from the south around Pusan. The well-armed NKPA 78th Independent Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Brigade werevwell armmed and discilined. They numbered some 7,000 men who stood and fought it out with the Americans. [Hoyt, p. 98.] The NKPA launched a T-34 tank attack, which the Americans trapped and destroyed, and an ineffective Yak bombing run on the Inchon harbor. The primary NKPA effort was to contain the Incheon beachead so that forces in the south could withdraw to the safety of the north.

American Priority

General MaxArthur placed a priority on retaking Seoul. The Korea rail and road network radiated from Soul. Thus possession of Seoul waa amajor step in cutting of NKPA in the south, which meant the bulk of the North Korean fArmy and much of its hevy equipment. Seoul thus became a makjor priority. Some historians report that MacArthur felt that he was honor bound by promises made to South Korean officials to retake the capital as quickly as possible. In this regard, it was similr to the Philippines in the Korean War.

American Units

The first units of U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division landed at Inchon (September 16). Major General Edward Almond, the X Corps ommander, wanted to organize the division as quickly as possible to cut off as much as the NKPA in the south as possible. The 32nd Infantry Regiment landed at Inchon (September 18). The 2nd Battalion of the 32nd Regiment relieve a U.S. Marine battalion occupying positions on the right flank of beachhead south of Seoul. The 31st Infantry Regiment also landed at Inchon. With his Division ashore, responsibility for the zone south of Seoul highway passed passed to Gen. Almond (September 19).

Fight for Seoul (Septembr 17-25)

Heavy fighting with NKPA units occured on the southern outskirts of Seoul. At the time the Inchon landings began, the NKPA had only one understrength division in the city itself. The bulk of the NKPA forces in the area were south of Seoul attempting to crack the Pusan Perimiter. This also was where the U.N. forces were located, hanging onto the Pusan Perimiter. General MacArthur personally conducted the assualt in Seoul, carried out by the 1st Marine Regiment. Gen. Almond was given control of Operation Chromite. The Marines entered Seoul (September 17). While trying to wihdraw in forces north, the North Koreans decided to make a fight for Seoul, at least to assist forces in the south escape north. The North Korean forces available to put up a fight in Seoul were limited. The NKPA moved limited available reinforcenents into the city and attempted to fortify it. There was, however, little time and Kim Il-Sung was reluctant to give up the fight around Pusn where he thought vicory was near. As a result, th NKPR did not immediately disengage in the south nd begin a retrat north. NKPR units driven back from Inchon poured into Seoul. In all about 20,000 NKPR toops made a fight for the capital. [Malkasian, p. 27.] The result was desperate house-to-house fighting and extensive America artillery and air support leveled areas where the NKPR fidhters attemted to resist. Air support included both high-explosives nd napalm. The Marines began the liberation of Seoul. Major-Feneral O.P. Smith commanded the Marine Division. He launched a two-pronged assault from the north and southwest. The norther proong largely cut off NKPR reinforcement and supply. The Marines took the Kimpo Airfield (September 18). Gen. Almomd decided to commit the 7th U.S. Divisions 32nd regiment which attacked from the southeast. Several days of bitter hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Civilians had little tome to flee and heir were heavy casualties. Although surroundedand outgunned, the NKPR soldiers fought 'fanatically'. Suiside squads rushed amercan tanks. Gen. Almond declared the city liberated (September 25). The American and U.S. flags were raised over the batter capitol. [Malkasian, p. 27.] The Marines, however, still had to engage NKPR holdouts in house-to-house combat and taking casualties into early-October. There had been some damage with the initial North Koream invasion (June 1950). That was nothing like what occurred during the Second Battle for Seoul. The city as a result was left a smoldering pile of rubble.

Attrocities

The War had become a brutal one. Communist forces as they moved south had executed those thoughtto be connected with the South Korean Government. After the battle, South Korean Police executed civilians, including whole families, who were believed to be Communist sympathizers--the Goyang Geumjeong Cave Massacre and Namyangju Massacre. [Hanley and Chang]

Sources

Hanley, Charles J. and Jae-Soon Chang. "Children 'executed' in 1950 South Korean killings," San Diego Union-Tribune (December 6, 2008).

Hoyt, Edwin P. On To The Yalu (New York: Stein and Day, 1984).

Malkasian, Carter. The Korean War 1950-1953.

Created: 1:58 AM 11/17/2014
Last updated: 2:45 PM 10/20/2015