Battle for Daejeon
At Daejeon Railway Station during the battle
| date | July 14, 1950 to July 21, 1950 |
|---|---|
| place | Daejeon South Korea |
| output | North Korea Tactical Victory US and South Korea Strategic Victory (Establishing the Busan Perimeter ) |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
 24th Infantry Division : 19th Infantry Regiment 21st Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Regiment Unorganized units Total: approx. 11,400  |
 3rd Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 105th Armored Division Total: 13,500–17,600 50 tanks |
| losses | |
|
922 dead |
unknown |
The Battle of Daejeon ( English Battle of Taejon) took place from 14 to 21 July 1950. It was one of the first battles of the Korean War between the United States Army and the armed forces of the People's Republic of North Korea ( Korean People's Army ). The primary aim was to defend the positions of the 24th Infantry Division (24th ID) in the vicinity of the city of Daejeon , which was an important transport hub. The regiments of the 24th ID had reached fierce fighting on the edge of their performance after two weeks.
The entire 24th ID was gathered around the city of Daejeon and held a line here along the Kum River to the eastern edge of the city. Handicapped by a lack of communications and equipment and insufficiently heavy weapons to effectively fight the attackers, the under-trained, poorly equipped and outnumbered US soldiers were pushed back from the river into the city after a while. Here a three-day house -to- house war developed , in which the defenders had to withdraw further and further, and which they were finally forced to break off. Although they could not hold the city, managed to stop the North Koreans so long, had been brought up reinforcements and the ( 7th Infantry Division , 25th Infantry Division , Cavalry Division 1st as well as other units of the Eighth Army ) further south at the Busan Perimeter a Could erect bolt position.
Without the delay in the North Korean attack movement at Daejeon, it remains doubtful whether the Busan perimeter could have been held. Major General William F. Dean , commander of the 24th Infantry Division, was captured during the fighting . He was the most senior officer the North Koreans captured during this war.
backgrounds
Outbreak of war
In response to the invasion of South Korea by its northern neighbor, the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea", the United Nations felt compelled to intervene and send troops. The main burden of the mission was borne by the United States , which soon after began to move the first units. US units in the Far East had been steadily reduced since the end of World War II , with the closest unit deployed being the weak 24th Infantry Division of the Eighth United States Army in Japan .
The division was understaffed and stocked with obsolete equipment from 1945 and earlier due to the cuts in the defense budget by Louis A. Johnson . Nevertheless, the division was moved to South Korea. Shortly before the start of the battle, massacres by the South Koreans of between 3,000 and 7,000 compatriots who had been suspected of left-wing political activities and were imprisoned took place in the area around Daejeon . These prisoners were shot by South Korean troops and buried in mass graves . An American photographer was able to partially document the event.
Task of the 24th Infantry Division
Task Force Smith, an advance division of the 24th Infantry Division , suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Osan on July 5th, the first meeting of the United States Army and the North Koreans. The survivors of the "Task Force Smith" retreated to Pyongtaek , where the Americans were beaten again. The 24th Infantry Division was pushed back by the North Koreans, which was also due to the shortage and poor equipment of the Americans. In addition, there was inexperience and sometimes indiscipline.
On July 12, the division commander, Major General William F. Dean, ordered the three regiments of his division, 19th Infantry Regiment, 21st Infantry Regiment and 34th Infantry Regiment, to retreat across the Kum River and establish a defensive position on the shoreline. All bridges had to be blown.
Daejeon, about 170 km south of Seoul and about 220 km northwest of Busan , was the headquarters of the 24th Infantry Division. Dean formed a line of defense in the east with the 34th Infantry Regiment and the 19th Infantry Regiment and held the ailing 21st Infantry Regiment in reserve . The Kum River surrounded the city extensively in the north and west, so that the line of defense was between 17 and 25 km from the city limits. In the south the city was surrounded by the Sobaek Mountains. Daejeon was an important rail hub for rail transport between Seoul and Taegu , and branch lines to the hinterland also went from here. The city was therefore of considerable strategic importance for both sides. The Americans had to try at all costs to slow the North Korean advance in order to enable the completion of the Pusan perimeter.
Participating combat units
US 24th Infantry Division
The 24th Infantry Division consisted of three infantry regiments , each of which had a military target of 3,000 men. However, this number of crews deviated from the actual number even before the fighting and continued to decrease in the first two weeks after arriving at the theater of war. The 21st Infantry Regiment only had 1,100 men, with losses of 1,433 men. The 34th Infantry Regiment only had 2020 men and the 19th Infantry Regiment 2276 men. Another 2007 men formed the divisional artillery of the 24th Infantry Division. The total number of combat troops in the division was 11,400 men. Each of the regiments had only two battalions instead of three .
A large number of the men had to be relieved from the fight because they were completely exhausted. The morale was low as the men suffered from constant lack of sleep. The high losses among the experienced officers made it necessary to transfer their tasks to inexperienced, younger officers and even to NCOs .
In addition to the human losses, there was a lack of equipment. Losses from previous battles reduced the divisional artillery to two battalions. Telecommunications equipment, weapons and ammunition were only available in limited quantities as large quantities had been lost or destroyed in previous battles. Most of the walkie-talkies were defective, batteries, field telephone cables, and field telephones were scarce - some companies only had one walkie-talkie per train. For this reason, the actions of the individual units were severely hindered. The division had no tanks, the assigned newer light M24 Chaffee and obsolete M4 Sherman were still in supply.
One of the few weapons that could effectively fight the North Korean T-34 tank was the 3.5 inch M20 Super Bazooka with M28A2 HEAT ammunition (High Explosive Anti Tank - shaped charge projectile ). But only a small number of these was available.
North Korean units
The North Korean plans called for three armored divisions to attack Deajeon from three sides. The 3rd Division was flanked from the north, the 4th Division was to cross the River Kum from the east and south and enclose the US troops in the city. Parts of the 105th Panzer Division were to be used for support. The 2nd Division was supposed to attack the American right flank from Chongju , but came too late to be deployed.
The North Koreans appeared in front of the city with the 3rd and 4th Divisions, supported by more than 50 tanks. Each of the North Korean divisions normally had 11,000 men, making them about twice as strong as the Americans. The morale of the North Koreans was not particularly high, however, as their equipment was no longer sufficient due to air strikes and constant wear and tear in combat. Political commissioners promised the troops recovery in Daejeon as soon as the city was taken.
The battle
First North Korean attack
On the morning of July 14th, soldiers of 3rd Battalion 34th IR discovered from the heights above the Kum River that T-34 tanks were crossing the river. They have already been shot at by these tanks from the opposite side of the river, but without any effect. On the morning of the same day, the North Korean infantry began to cross the river on boats. The American lines were fired at with mortars and artillery for fire support . Aided by the inadequate or non-existent communication between the US units, the attackers managed to overrun the positions. The 1st Battalion, further north, was also massively attacked and initially tried to repel the attackers with artillery fire, but eventually had to retreat to a containment position.
In the early afternoon, the second wave of the North Koreans, about 1,000 strong, crossed the river. They captured an advanced position of the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion command post was shot at with a captured machine gun . The telecommunications equipment and vehicles were destroyed by artillery bombardment and great human losses were caused. The survivors withdrew south on foot. In the meantime, a battery position just 200 meters away had been attacked by 100 opponents. This resulted in heavy casualties and the withdrawal of survivors. The B Battery was attacked by 400 North Koreans; here, however, a South Korean cavalry division intervened and was able to enable an orderly retreat. The 63rd Field Artillery Battalion lost all guns and 80 vehicles, many of them still operational.
In the evening the 1st Battalion of the 34th IR undertook a counter-attack to regain the lost positions and the lost material, but could not advance against the massive defensive fire and had to retreat again when it was dark. General Dean eventually requested an air strike to destroy this material. The Americans' northwest flank was now thrown back. The North Korean 4th Division began its crossing of the river, barely hindered by US air raids.
Second North Korean attack
Forced by the enemy breakthrough, the 34th Infantry Regiment had to go back south to Nonsan . The 2nd Battalion of the 19th Infantry Regiment was deployed to fill various loopholes left by the 34th IR with the support of South Korean troops. A heavy mass of North Korean troops was seen across the river. At 3:00 a.m. on July 16, the North Koreans began to strike massive fire with tanks, field guns and mortars on the positions of the 19th IR. The North Koreans began to cross the river on boats and then attack the positions of the C and E Company of the 1st Battalion. The entire battalion threatened to be overrun. The regimental commander ordered all available officers and men into the trenches and it was possible to repel the attack. During the sometimes chaotic battle, however, some of the attackers managed to penetrate the rear section of the front and attack the reserves and supplies there. With completely overstretched lines, the 19th IR was unable to hold the front line while repelling the attackers.
On the same evening the 2nd Battalion was ordered to attack, but was unable to achieve success due to heavy losses. On July 17th, the 19th IR was relieved and moved 20 km to the southwest to be brought back to combat strength there. Less than half of the 1st Battalion was left, and only two companies of the 2nd Battalion were still operational. All three regiments of the 24th Infantry Division were defeated and only had battalion strength. The 19th and 34th IR had lost 650 men in the fighting against the two North Korean divisions between July 13 and 16.
On July 18, the Army Commander of the Eighth Army, Lieutenant General Walton Walker General Dean, ordered Daejeon to be held until July 20 to allow the 1st Cavalry Division and the 25th Infantry Division to build a defensive bar north of the Naktong , to build the so-called "Busan Perimeter".
Encirclement of Daejeon
North Korean forces now advanced on Daejeon and entered the city on July 19 with tanks from the 105th Armored Division and infantry from the 3rd Division. The 3rd Division blocked the road between Daejeon and Okchon and cut off the 21st IR from all reserves. For this reason, the regiment was no longer able to continue the fight. Despite all the adversities, attempts were made to keep the road open during the fighting in order to allow escape.
As they penetrated the city, the North Koreans occupied key positions on buildings in order to use snipers . American counter-attacks set many of the wooden buildings on fire. The North Koreans made special efforts to take possession of American gun emplacements, food and ammunition stores. They had received information about this from agents in town.
Since the 24th Infantry Division had received orders to hold the city unconditionally, the 34th IR was ordered into the city. General Dean now began to evacuate important parts of the division including his headquarters by rail to Taegu .
At this point the first M24 Chaffee tanks of the A-Company 78th Tank Battalion arrived on the battlefield. Unimpressed by this, the enemy tanks attacked the Daejeon airfield and captured it. The last defenders on the Kum River were pushed back into the city. From that moment on, the city was locked in. For two days the 34th IR fought the North Koreans in house-to-house combat . The North Koreans infiltrated the city using soldiers disguised as farmers behind the American lines. The remaining American forces were pushed back street after street. Without walkie-talkies, they were unable to keep in touch with one another, which made it difficult to conduct the battle. General Dean personally appeared in the front line and knocked out an enemy tank with a hand grenade. Long columns of North Korean infantry marched towards the city from the south. The Americans were pushed back further and further with heavy losses and had to give up the roads that led into the city from the south, north and east. Attempts by the 24th Infantry Division to build up new defensive positions failed because of the North Korean superiority.
The fall of Daejeon
At the end of July 20, General Dean ordered the retreat of the 34th IR regimental staff. The other M24 tanks of the 1st Cavalry Division, which had arrived in the meantime, fought the North Korean roadblocks. Dean followed them with a small column. On the outskirts, the remnants of the 34th IR tried to leave the city in 50 vehicles. They were shot at with machine guns and mortars , whereupon many vehicles were destroyed and the soldiers tried to escape on foot. The jeep of General Dean was pushed there and could not get back. The crew managed to break away. Then the soldiers tried for 35 days to get through to their own strength. Eventually, General Dean was captured by the North Koreans wandering around the hills alone. His rank was neglected and he was threatened with torture if he did not cooperate; however, nothing of the kind took place, even if he did not reveal any information.
When the last soldier of the 34th IR left town, the 21st IR, which secured the road to Taegu, stayed behind. When this regiment also withdrew, the city finally remained in the hands of the North Koreans.
Effects
After the battle ended, the Americans recorded 922 dead, 228 wounded and nearly 2,400 missing - most from the 34th Infantry Regiment. There is evidence that the North Koreans shot some of the missing and prisoners of war immediately after the battle.
Although badly damaged, the 24th Infantry Division was able to carry out its mission and hold up the North Koreans until July 20, when the defense position of the Busan perimeter was completed. After three weeks of fighting, the division recorded almost 30% losses. On July 22nd, the 1st Cavalry Division replaced the 24th Infantry Division. She came under the command of Major General John H. Church as the actual division commander was missing.
The North Korean losses could not be determined, there were no radio messages between their units that the US reconnaissance could have intercepted. They lost 15 to 20 tanks to anti-tank and air strikes, prisoners said that 15 76-mm guns and six 122-mm mortars were lost and 200 artillerymen were killed or missing. The infantry suffered heavy losses, especially the 3rd Division. At the beginning of the fight it had an actual level of 60 to 80%, which had decreased to 50% after the fight. The total losses were estimated at between 1250 and 3300 men.
By the time the battle ended, the United States had already deployed enough forces to stand up to the attackers. For their self-sacrificing struggle, the 24th Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation . It was then placed in reserve and refreshed. The 19th RI was the first unit to be deployed on August 1st at the Busan Perimeter.
The first Medals of Honor were awarded in the Korean War for the Battle of Daejeon. Major General Dean was awarded in absentia for his work in the forefront (he was still in North Korean captivity, from which he was only released at the end of the war in September 1953.) The second medal went posthumously to Sergeant George D. Libby, the Tended to wounded soldiers in enemy artillery fire during the evacuation and was killed in the process. The military chaplain Herman G. Felhoelter was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross . He was shot - unarmed - on July 16 in the so-called Chaplain-Medic Massacre on a hill above the town of Tuman, together with 30 unarmed, seriously wounded US soldiers.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Appleman, 1998, p. 59.
- ↑ Varhola, 2000, p. 3.
- ↑ Hanley, Charles J .; Hyung-jin, Kim (July 10, 2010), Korea bloodbath probe ends; US escapes much blame, Associated Press, retrieved August 2, 2010
- ↑ Summers, 2001, p. 266.
- ↑ Alexander, 2003, p. 121.
- ↑ Fehrenbach, 2001, p. 88.
- ↑ Fehrenbach, 2001, p. 85.
- ↑ Alexander, 2003, p. 93.
- ↑ Summers, 2001, p. 269.
- ↑ Fehrenbach, 2001, p. 89.
- ↑ Millett, 2010, p. 191.
- ↑ Appleman, 1998, p. 131.
- ↑ Fehrenbach 2001 p. 94.
- ↑ Millett, 2010, p. 193.
- ↑ Ecker, 2004, p. 7.
- ↑ Millett, 2010, p. 193.
- ↑ Alexander, 2003, p. 104.
- ↑ Alexander, 2003, p. 107.
- ↑ Ecker, 2004, p. 6.
- ↑ Catchpole, 2001, p. 22.
- ↑ Varhola, 2000, p. 3.
- ↑ Millett, 2010, p. 194.
- ↑ Fehrenbach, 2001, p. 103.
- ↑ Varhola, 2000, p. 4.
- ↑ Ecker, 2004, p. 8.
- ↑ Fehrenbach, 2001, p. 100.
- ↑ Alexander, 2003, p. 105.
- ↑ Appleman, 1998, p. 143.
literature
- Alexander Bevin: Korea: The First War we Lost. Hippocrene Books 2003, ISBN 978-0781810197 .
- Roy E. Appleman: South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu: United States Army in the Korean War. Department of the Army , 1998, ISBN 978-0-16-001918-0 .
- Brian Catchpole: The Korean War. Robinson Publishing, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84119-413-4 .
- Richard E. Ecker: Battles of the Korean War: A Chronology, with Unit-by-Unit United States Casualty Figures & Medal of Honor Citations. McFarland & Company, 2004, ISBN 978-0-7864-1980-7 .
- TR Fehrenbach: This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History. Fiftieth Anniversary Potomac Book, 2001, ISBN 978-1-57488-334-3 .
- Carter Malkasian: The Korean War. Osprey Publishing , 2001, ISBN 978-1-84176-282-1 .
- Allan R. Millett: The War for Korea, 1950-1951: They Came from the North. University Press of Kansas, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7006-1709-8 .
- Harry G. Summers: Korean War Almanac. Replica Books, 2001, ISBN 978-0-7351-0209-5 .
- J. Michael: Varhola Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950-1953. Da Capo Press, 2000, ISBN 978-1-882810-44-4 .