1 00:00:07,969 --> 00:00:10,830 On the banks of this river in korea. 2 00:00:10,830 --> 00:00:12,169 In nineteen fifty one. 3 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:20,789 America,britain and the united nations allies were locked in a battle with tens of thousands of communist troops. 4 00:00:26,289 --> 00:00:34,390 What moved the allies to cross the world to fight here in korea only five years off the bloodshed of the second world war. 5 00:00:34,390 --> 00:00:37,920 Which they drive to stop communism spreading further. 6 00:00:39,710 --> 00:00:47,770 I have been revealing the dramatic reversals in military fortunes of the days of the capitalist west and the communist east. 7 00:00:50,549 --> 00:00:59,250 I'm telling the story of how event in korea nearly spiralled out of control,raising the spectre of nuclear war. 8 00:01:02,090 --> 00:01:10,180 The korean war was waged by men from twenty four different countries around the world,and then divided by ideology. 9 00:01:10,180 --> 00:01:17,349 But also,by the way,they fought,on one hand,massive firepower on the other.overwhelming numbers. 10 00:01:20,349 --> 00:01:26,319 I'll be telling the story of what it was like for the ground troops when these two very different armies clashed. 11 00:01:28,769 --> 00:01:35,459 I'm describing the brutal fighting often wage an extreme conditions across the entire korean peninsula. 12 00:01:36,189 --> 00:01:46,319 This is the story of a largely forgotten conflict,and the battle that took place here on the imjin river during the communist spring offensive of nineteen fifty one. 13 00:01:46,780 --> 00:01:50,780 A battle that was to be a turning point in the war for career. 14 00:02:13,689 --> 00:02:16,379 I'm on a journey that perhaps the world's. 15 00:02:16,379 --> 00:02:20,659 Reduced border,the bold,arbitrary north and south korea. 16 00:02:23,409 --> 00:02:32,819 Right now,i'm about to the south korean side of the four kilometer wide security zone that straddles the entire length of the body. 17 00:02:36,129 --> 00:02:45,610 This zone is effectively a no go area.police by troops from the united nations,marked out by miles of bob 1fences. 18 00:02:45,669 --> 00:02:48,139 And defended with land mines. 19 00:02:52,250 --> 00:02:56,009 At the border itself,there are no fences or gates. 20 00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:07,500 Here,the quarter is simply marked by this block of concrete just four inches high,yet absolutely no one is allowed to step across. 21 00:03:11,289 --> 00:03:15,969 Guarding the border on the south side stand the soldiers of the south korean army. 22 00:03:17,870 --> 00:03:21,210 Immediately opposite,the men of the north korean army. 23 00:03:30,810 --> 00:03:33,810 The only place along the entire border. 24 00:03:33,810 --> 00:03:41,740 That the two sides are in direct communication is of bebop,where a few huts literally straddle the border. 25 00:03:43,009 --> 00:03:52,430 Strictly speaking,standing here,i'm in south korean territory,but if i step beyond this table here,in theory i'm inside north korea. 26 00:03:52,430 --> 00:04:00,889 Although,practically speaking,the mysterious country of north korea lies beyond that guarded and locked door over there. 27 00:04:05,849 --> 00:04:14,060 So how come such a bizarre situation exists yet?well the fact is that north and south korea are still officially at war. 28 00:04:14,060 --> 00:04:16,360 And have been for more than half a century. 29 00:04:16,689 --> 00:04:22,259 Before the second world war,the entire korean peninsula was under the control of japan. 30 00:04:22,689 --> 00:04:30,779 When japan was defeated,the victors divided the country along this line of latitude.here,the thirty eighth parallel. 31 00:04:31,209 --> 00:04:38,769 The soviet union sponsored a communist regime up here in the north,under criminal song in his capital,pyongyang. 32 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:47,220 And the americans put sigma,fiercely rightwing nationalist in control of south korea in his capital. 33 00:04:49,389 --> 00:04:54,790 Sing mr.,i wanted to govern,not just south korea,but the entire peninsula. 34 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:59,730 He wanted the unite north and south,under a capitalist regime. 35 00:05:04,319 --> 00:05:12,139 In the north,his opposite number and bitter enemy,camille's son also wanted the unify the korean peninsula. 36 00:05:12,189 --> 00:05:15,040 But under the banner of communism. 37 00:05:19,310 --> 00:05:26,050 Each man had his dream of unifying korea under his room,but neither of them did much.budget. 38 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:36,050 Until just after four air on the twenty fifth of june nineteen fifty,when,without any warning,north korea invaded the south. 39 00:05:37,610 --> 00:05:43,990 Within hours,a hundred and thirty thousand men of the north korean army were pouring across the border. 40 00:05:44,779 --> 00:05:52,000 The north korean army caught the south koreans utterly unprepared,the south koreans could barely muster a fighting force. 41 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,220 Outgunned and overwhelmed by enemy tanks,the ill equipped army were rapidly. 42 00:06:03,220 --> 00:06:04,339 Thirdly,forced back. 43 00:06:07,790 --> 00:06:13,660 Even though we fired a gun at them,the tanks were not damaged at all,we could not destroy them. 44 00:06:14,759 --> 00:06:18,089 We in the panic,we couldn't resist the enemy. 45 00:06:18,439 --> 00:06:19,709 It was terrifying. 46 00:06:23,620 --> 00:06:30,399 In just forty eight hours,the communist soldiers were poised to attack the south korean capital.soul. 47 00:06:41,889 --> 00:06:42,920 So. 48 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:48,860 The jewel in the crown of south korea and the north korean armies attack 8was swift and certain. 49 00:06:56,379 --> 00:07:00,519 The communist burst through these narrow streets,meeting little resistance. 50 00:07:00,519 --> 00:07:02,000 As they took control. 51 00:07:06,339 --> 00:07:09,300 The north korean troops swamped the city. 52 00:07:10,529 --> 00:07:17,629 And by june,the twenty eighth,just three days after the invasion,communist flags were flying over. 53 00:07:25,189 --> 00:07:28,399 But the north koreans didn't stop here.and soul. 54 00:07:28,399 --> 00:07:33,379 They pushed on southwards,aiming to take the whole peninsula in the name of communism. 55 00:07:40,550 --> 00:07:44,069 They cross rivers.they traversed mountains. 56 00:07:44,069 --> 00:07:48,110 And they defeated the week south korean army at every encounter. 57 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,189 For the north koreans,it was beginning to look like a walk. 58 00:08:07,949 --> 00:08:12,339 The west and its allies feared the loss seizure of south korea. 59 00:08:12,339 --> 00:08:16,339 Would be another dangerous advance of communism throughout the world. 60 00:08:19,639 --> 00:08:23,120 And the west was determined to do something about it. 61 00:08:27,819 --> 00:08:35,879 The americans took the lead in persuading the united nations go to the defense of south korea.now the soviet union could have vetoed this proposal. 62 00:08:35,879 --> 00:08:36,789 They went that. 63 00:08:37,129 --> 00:08:40,679 In the soviet union's absence,the vote was passed. 64 00:08:41,389 --> 00:08:45,929 For the first time,the united nations was going to war. 65 00:08:48,820 --> 00:08:55,590 Twenty one nations from around the world,including britain,would send men and equipment.took career. 66 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,059 But there would be no doubt as to who would be in charge. 67 00:09:04,129 --> 00:09:09,070 America,by far the biggest single force,was in command. 68 00:09:10,870 --> 00:09:18,190 Devising and korea was no longer a small skirmish of far flung country is a dragged in a superpower. 69 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,720 Within days,allied troops began to flood into south korea. 70 00:09:34,279 --> 00:09:37,919 American troops for the first of the un.forces to arrive in korea. 71 00:09:37,919 --> 00:09:40,879 Shipped in from their bases in nearby japan. 72 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,570 And they enter care through korea's southernmost port. 73 00:09:55,100 --> 00:10:03,830 When they landed,they faced a desperate situation and it was getting worse,because by now,the south korean army had almost totally collapsed. 74 00:10:03,830 --> 00:10:06,700 Under the advance of the north korean steamroller. 75 00:10:11,549 --> 00:10:15,860 But the american troops will actually powerless to improve matters. 76 00:10:17,429 --> 00:10:23,220 Because these were not the same battle hardened,well equipped men that have been victorious in the second world war. 77 00:10:25,990 --> 00:10:28,289 We had equipment left over from world war two. 78 00:10:28,620 --> 00:10:32,710 Most of which had been unaware,unpleasant,it was from unserviceable to nonexistent. 79 00:10:33,950 --> 00:10:36,149 We will have very poor shape for everything. 80 00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:41,090 We were not ready to find war that's along in the short of it. 81 00:10:57,789 --> 00:10:58,600 Just. 82 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:04,970 Weeks off,the setting foot on korean soil,the american land forces faced a terrible humiliation. 83 00:11:08,299 --> 00:11:16,139 By now,the north koreans controlled nearly the whole of the korean peninsula,and this meant the american troops and their south korean allies. 84 00:11:16,139 --> 00:11:21,580 Were packed into an increasingly tight corner,an area that became known as the pusan perimeter. 85 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:32,480 This was a tiny pocket of land just fifty miles by fifty miles around the port of pusan,in the southernmost tip of the peninsula. 86 00:11:33,830 --> 00:11:36,850 Everywhere else was in north korean. 87 00:11:40,879 --> 00:11:47,539 United nations forces were surrounded and in danger of being pushed out of korea all together. 88 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,909 What was needed to rescue united nations forces from disaster. 89 00:12:04,940 --> 00:12:14,909 Was a bold stroke from a decisive leader.and that's exactly what they got from the man in charge,the american general douglas macarthur. 90 00:12:17,039 --> 00:12:21,169 Macarthur was one of those commandos who was larger than life. 91 00:12:21,539 --> 00:12:32,019 He was america's most decorated officer in the first world war,and he relished the fame he'd won,leading the defeat of japan in the second world war. 92 00:12:34,710 --> 00:12:40,129 Now,the korean war gave the aging general a chance of yet another triumph. 93 00:12:43,429 --> 00:12:52,450 Mcarthur knew that he was to push camille songs,coming,assume back into north korea,you'd have to come up with a much more ambitious strategy. 94 00:12:52,450 --> 00:12:55,440 The simply battling it out on the person.burton. 95 00:12:57,950 --> 00:13:06,669 In world war two,mcarthur's greatest victories had been achieved through amphibious landings,sending troops in by sea. 96 00:13:06,669 --> 00:13:08,990 To attack behind enemy lines. 97 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:15,629 Such landings carry grave risks that macarthur was convinced he had mastered the technique. 98 00:13:19,090 --> 00:13:26,659 Malfa not proposed to use the same strategy in korea,with a bold attempt to take the pressure off his forces. 99 00:13:26,659 --> 00:13:29,679 Trapped in this household in the southeast of the peninsula. 100 00:13:30,129 --> 00:13:41,129 He would deliver an amphibious hammer blow,not down here,around percent,but a hundred and fifty miles behind enemy lines to the northwest,at the port city of incheon. 101 00:13:41,250 --> 00:13:52,139 If he could seize in chong,his troops could move on to sell a mere twenty miles inland and north koreans off from behind and force simplified on two fronts. 102 00:13:52,139 --> 00:13:53,659 Here and here. 103 00:13:54,009 --> 00:13:57,559 The north koreans will be surrounded and crushed. 104 00:13:57,889 --> 00:14:02,070 But the landing at inchon would be a high risk exercise. 105 00:14:03,940 --> 00:14:13,309 Bahamas said it was placed at the end of a treacherous passage called flying fish channel,where the tide raced in and out twice a day. 106 00:14:13,669 --> 00:14:22,049 When the tide fell by much eleven metres long,thirty six feet,vast mud flats were exposed,making an approach impossible. 107 00:14:22,950 --> 00:14:31,370 Even when the tide was in,the city was protected by high seawalls and a fortified island of the mozilla harbour named,well,me down. 108 00:14:35,090 --> 00:14:47,100 Macarthur's plan,code named operation chromite,was to assemble a vast naval thoughts carrying seventy thousand u s troops who had braved the dangerous tides of incheon harbor. 109 00:14:47,100 --> 00:14:48,470 And land on the beaches. 110 00:14:51,669 --> 00:14:59,850 The marines would first have to take the key beach at well meadow code named green beach,which is only possible during the short. 111 00:14:59,850 --> 00:15:01,539 When the tide was high. 112 00:15:02,139 --> 00:15:13,009 Once the other had been silenced on rome,then the rest of the landing force would have to wait a whole twelve out of the time to rise again before they could solve red beach to the north of. 113 00:15:13,519 --> 00:15:15,419 And blue beach.lusk. 114 00:15:20,769 --> 00:15:28,450 Set for mid september nineteen fifty.operation crime might was to be the largest amphibious landing since d day. 115 00:15:28,950 --> 00:15:38,610 Many maz's colleagues told his plan near impossible,one of them said,we drop a list of every natural and geographic handicap. 116 00:15:38,610 --> 00:15:40,409 And inform animal. 117 00:15:41,970 --> 00:15:47,850 But gather himself privately admitted his operation chromite was risky. 118 00:15:51,210 --> 00:15:57,690 It was going to be a tough assignment for the crack u s marines hand-picked to carry out the operation. 119 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,129 Like,yes,no,there's one like free to speak. 120 00:16:06,340 --> 00:16:09,960 The marine success clung on,meticulous planning. 121 00:16:10,389 --> 00:16:20,649 But when i went to visit the british royal marines,old h.m.s.albion,i found out just how many factors can throw the best plan.of course. 122 00:16:20,649 --> 00:16:32,610 There's the weather,there's the tide that has an impact the estate,because the americans didn't.chong had real problems of the tides,very high tides,just a twelve hour gap between them.how important is it to get the times absolutely right? 123 00:16:32,610 --> 00:16:45,360 Well,if we get it wrong,then we're going to end up either getting caught on sandbars offshore.the absolutely.and if it is too high,then of course she may be actually slamming into the seawall. 124 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:50,350 Equally difficult to get people off.so timing is absolutely crucial. 125 00:16:52,460 --> 00:17:01,879 Now,when you're landing craft to run away,and you're on that landing craft,your guys,how critical to you is the covering fire that's coming down on the enemy. 126 00:17:01,879 --> 00:17:11,930 As you go to the beach,the absolutely fundamental that's that's why i'll destroys our figures.have a big guns on the front.that's what,therefore is to buy us that time.to get a. 127 00:17:11,930 --> 00:17:24,009 But this will be a mattress.supreme concern for the lads that are now on the landing craft and steaming into the beach like it,like being able to land a craft on their way into a beach. 128 00:17:24,009 --> 00:17:34,819 There will be guys that are utterly disorientated,they won't have a clue if they're an exactly the right position,what they're going to see when they get off,get off the landing craft. 129 00:17:34,819 --> 00:17:45,789 Given with that some will have been sick,some will be dizzy,some will be confused and frightened.a hugely frightened one of the crew of the landing craft,who's working up on deck. 130 00:17:45,789 --> 00:17:59,210 That will be shouting five hundred meters to go four hundred meters to go,and then counting them down.and of course they get to one hundred meters to go.they all stand up the doors,get get pushed open,and then they just stood there waiting for the right to drop. 131 00:17:59,589 --> 00:18:02,319 Hit the beach ramp,goes down.and then the. 132 00:18:03,329 --> 00:18:13,230 A u s marines waiting off the coast of incheon were about to go through exactly the same experience as everyone for the amphibious landing drew near. 133 00:18:17,329 --> 00:18:24,039 At around six am on the fifteenth of september,the actual landing part of the operations swung into action. 134 00:18:24,039 --> 00:18:26,900 Under the cover of allied naval gunfire. 135 00:18:27,349 --> 00:18:33,299 Six british and american destroyers had already steamed in the within a mile of the city. 136 00:18:34,589 --> 00:18:41,299 And then gives some of their guns,could find at point blank range,on boomtown and the entire in jan area. 137 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:52,039 For two days in shown that been bombed by aircraft,dropping napalm on the north korean defenses. 138 00:18:52,369 --> 00:18:54,170 And founded by warships. 139 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:11,299 Now,they get more covering. 140 00:19:11,299 --> 00:19:18,970 The landing craft used the high tide to sweep in from the sea and land on world widows green beach. 141 00:19:21,589 --> 00:19:28,829 Through the chaos caused by the supporting fire wave after wave of landing craft headed for green beach. 142 00:19:30,259 --> 00:19:40,799 Smoke was boiling out of incheon,the entire beach area simply disappeared in an enormous cloud of dust and smoke,with only the occasional glitter rocket burst showing through. 143 00:19:45,650 --> 00:19:47,710 It was just awesome. 144 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:58,400 But as the first wave of marines approached green beach,they're faced with the daunting task. 145 00:20:00,759 --> 00:20:06,099 Scaling the 32foot high,defensive seawalls under enemy fire. 146 00:20:27,039 --> 00:20:27,890 Well. 147 00:20:28,269 --> 00:20:37,890 This is green beach on walmart do today not quite the same site that would have greeted the first wave of u s marines as they clambered up the sea wall. 148 00:20:47,660 --> 00:20:49,240 With the second wave of. 149 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:56,150 Just four minutes behind,they quickly advanced inland,the landscape blackened and blasted by the covering fire. 150 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:07,710 The marines swept over the island,meeting limited resistance and suffering few casualties. 151 00:21:10,460 --> 00:21:16,549 In just two hours,the marines commander radioed the waiting fleet.romeo secured. 152 00:21:20,269 --> 00:21:22,960 Face,one of their mission had been accomplished. 153 00:21:31,630 --> 00:21:34,109 The marines,the battle had only just. 154 00:21:34,109 --> 00:21:34,700 Begun. 155 00:21:35,430 --> 00:21:42,069 As this tide retreated,that took with it the landing craft,their vital lifeline to the allied ships out there. 156 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:49,759 They had to dig in for the next twelve hours.they had done enviable task of defending the island against a possible counterattack. 157 00:21:51,750 --> 00:22:01,890 It was vital the marines held their ground only if they retained control of this crucial island,could further waves of landing craft,moved safely on to insure itself. 158 00:22:06,150 --> 00:22:09,349 They waited hour of the hour for the tide to turn. 159 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,900 Waiting to defend against any north korean counterattack. 160 00:22:18,009 --> 00:22:20,549 But the big attack never came. 161 00:22:21,829 --> 00:22:31,240 Only at half past five did the tide come back in,and conditions were again favorable for the next phase of the american landings.further up the channel. 162 00:22:33,319 --> 00:22:36,460 Red beach felt the marines,with little resistance. 163 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:41,210 But there was still one more beach to capture. 164 00:22:48,809 --> 00:22:52,230 Almost simultaneously,the marines assaulted here.at. 165 00:22:52,230 --> 00:22:54,950 Beach,about a mile south of in. 166 00:22:55,759 --> 00:22:59,640 But things on blue beach didn't go quite as smoothly. 167 00:23:05,190 --> 00:23:11,599 Out to see twenty five separate assault waves and formed,but as they approached the shore,many of them were swept. 168 00:23:11,599 --> 00:23:14,170 Wildly off course,by the strong currents. 169 00:23:17,650 --> 00:23:24,859 The assault on blue beach was in disarray,landing craft the risk of capsizing men in danger of drowning. 170 00:23:28,990 --> 00:23:35,059 Those who did make it through found the beach choked with smoke from the earlier naval bombardment. 171 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,509 The actual landing conditions were terrible. 172 00:23:39,839 --> 00:23:44,859 The city was on fire,and the rain was mixing with the smoke and fire of the bombardment. 173 00:23:45,210 --> 00:23:47,609 So it is very difficult finding the beach. 174 00:23:49,420 --> 00:23:52,750 Some units got mixed up,landing on the wrong beaches. 175 00:23:53,509 --> 00:23:55,690 We just had to get it all sorted. 176 00:23:57,109 --> 00:24:01,970 Despite the problems,there was no serious opposition to stop the allied advance. 177 00:24:04,380 --> 00:24:08,009 They managed to push on through incheon and further inland. 178 00:24:11,220 --> 00:24:19,069 Their journey took them eastwards,liberating village after village,rapidly crushing what little north korean resistance they met. 179 00:24:22,130 --> 00:24:26,859 Their bold attack behind enemy lines had been a resounding success. 180 00:24:30,150 --> 00:24:37,740 In just eleven days,the men of the united nations army had reached their target and recaptured the south korean capital. 181 00:24:37,740 --> 00:24:38,450 So. 182 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,210 The war in korea was taking a whole new turn. 183 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:59,210 By now,the allied forces,hidden down inside the pusan perimeter. 184 00:24:59,210 --> 00:25:02,769 Had been reinforced with fresh battle ready troops. 185 00:25:04,579 --> 00:25:10,359 They broke out and thrust north to join those who would recapture the soul. 186 00:25:21,329 --> 00:25:26,279 The united nations forces could not attack the north korean troops from two directions. 187 00:25:26,279 --> 00:25:30,529 Kimmel's songs,zombie was effectively surrounding,and quickly collapsed. 188 00:25:32,579 --> 00:25:41,220 Within just two weeks,the allies of bush,the crumbling north korean army,back over the thirty eighth parallel. 189 00:25:41,220 --> 00:25:43,000 Back into the bull's career. 190 00:25:43,569 --> 00:25:45,970 It was an incredible turnaround. 191 00:25:53,670 --> 00:25:56,769 The two careers were now back,where they began. 192 00:25:57,059 --> 00:26:00,170 Divided by the thirty eighth,parallel. 193 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,819 The question for the un.allies was what to do next? 194 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,339 The united nations could have ended the wall,right?that. 195 00:26:15,670 --> 00:26:18,640 But macarthur wanted to press on. 196 00:26:19,380 --> 00:26:26,390 He didn't just want to kick communism out of south korea,but crashed in north korea as well. 197 00:26:27,619 --> 00:26:36,069 He said the north should pay the penalty of invading the south.he urged the united nations to take the wall across the border. 198 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:47,609 At the end of september nineteen fifty,mccarthy got his way. 199 00:26:47,970 --> 00:26:54,509 He was given the go ahead to cross the thirty eighth parallel and pushing into north korean. 200 00:26:54,980 --> 00:27:01,940 The un army were no longer repelling an invasion,they had themselves become the invaders. 201 00:27:10,420 --> 00:27:13,619 The allied invasion of both career began very well. 202 00:27:13,619 --> 00:27:23,619 Along with the seventh,the main body of the united nations force drove northwards,and within a month they overrun the communist capital,pyongyang. 203 00:27:23,619 --> 00:27:27,890 Still,they pressed on,scattering in the north koreans who oppose them. 204 00:27:28,910 --> 00:27:38,750 The united nations forces were now within reach of fulfilling macarthur's vision of a total victory over communism and the united anti-communist career. 205 00:27:40,180 --> 00:27:46,970 Word went around that macarthur had even promised his troops would be home by christmas in a month's time. 206 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,339 But every step,his men took north. 207 00:27:52,670 --> 00:27:55,930 Threatened to awaken a sleeping dragon. 208 00:27:58,779 --> 00:28:03,509 Macarthur's troops were now fast approaching the yalu river. 209 00:28:03,839 --> 00:28:08,259 The border between north korea and communist china. 210 00:28:23,740 --> 00:28:25,380 The chinese leader. 211 00:28:25,380 --> 00:28:28,849 Moshe 2had been watching events in korea. 212 00:28:29,180 --> 00:28:34,589 His new communist regime was only a year old and far from secure. 213 00:28:34,930 --> 00:28:40,529 Now,the united nations army was rapidly approaching his eastern board. 214 00:28:41,599 --> 00:28:48,400 As far as my is concerned,this was blatant imperialist aggression,and it had to be stopped. 215 00:28:49,099 --> 00:28:55,799 In september nineteen fifty,he ordered the chinese people's volunteer army into north korea. 216 00:28:57,859 --> 00:29:04,259 Led by commander upon their why,their aim was to confront and crush the united nations. 217 00:29:09,259 --> 00:29:13,400 The vast armies of china had joined the war. 218 00:29:17,289 --> 00:29:22,490 Almost overnight,the men of the united nations faced a very different enemy. 219 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:34,559 The chinese were tough,they were battle hardened veterans of years of civil war experts in close quarters,fighting. 220 00:29:34,559 --> 00:29:36,460 And used to the rugged terrain. 221 00:29:37,670 --> 00:29:47,490 What really set them apart as a fighting force that they were highly politicized?each man had to sign a pledge of commitment to the cause,and each unit. 222 00:29:47,490 --> 00:29:50,480 Had to swear an oath to destroy imperialism. 223 00:29:50,809 --> 00:30:02,380 They want us,if we didn't wipe out the enemy,and korea,now,one day they will come back to china and we would lose everything.we swore,a triumph in the communist cause and protect everything the revolution had won for us. 224 00:30:02,380 --> 00:30:06,049 We want ever going to be oppressed by imperialists again. 225 00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:19,690 The chinese may have been rugged and determined,but the real advantage lay in the sheer vastness of their numbers. 226 00:30:22,369 --> 00:30:31,359 The un,on the other hand,ride on completely different strategies,rather than the use of troops travelling swiftly and silently,across open countryside. 227 00:30:31,359 --> 00:30:36,410 The u n had fewer troops relying on road bound tanks and artillery. 228 00:30:42,769 --> 00:30:47,990 Artillery was the key weapon that would form the bedrock of the allied battle plan. 229 00:30:51,779 --> 00:30:59,579 Dan and i were given the chance to experience what it's like to be on the live artillery fire when we visited the bombard shelter. 230 00:30:59,579 --> 00:31:01,779 Of the british royal school of artillery. 231 00:31:05,559 --> 00:31:12,470 A converge a p d a two rounds at momma walmart,round 5,perfect. 232 00:31:12,470 --> 00:31:13,990 Ones are far. 233 00:31:31,910 --> 00:31:35,900 Even in this bunker,you can actually feel the shock waves go through.you can't,you're telling me. 234 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:39,890 How critical. 235 00:31:40,250 --> 00:31:51,750 Is the artillery defending a position like this against imaging these waves of chinese attacking absolutely vital,the contribution that artillery makes in delaying the enemy,taking them out. 236 00:31:51,750 --> 00:31:58,940 Taking out large numbers,which been absolutely critical with the chinese,because they did the human wave tactics,was vital. 237 00:32:04,349 --> 00:32:10,109 Police,in effect,would probably be about one hundred and fifty meters in a circle. 238 00:32:10,109 --> 00:32:21,569 Taking people out,that would be killing them,and then the actual damage will go out to about two or three hundred meters,and that that effect would be continuous.dioni,all weather twenty four hours a day. 239 00:32:21,569 --> 00:32:22,930 That's what you will receive. 240 00:32:23,460 --> 00:32:28,269 The effect of that incident,devastating. 241 00:32:33,829 --> 00:32:39,359 Even inside the reinforced bunker,we could feel the force of the explosions. 242 00:32:39,359 --> 00:32:44,579 But it was only out in the open that we could see the impact those explosions would have on an enemy attack. 243 00:32:44,910 --> 00:32:55,829 So these shells that basically,just like giant hand-grenades,absolutely,and that's the effect we're after,each shell breaks up into hundreds of fragments,thousands of thousands of fragments. 244 00:32:55,829 --> 00:33:06,200 There,i would have been black with those fragments,and i've got some here,which we fired today,actually,a whole range.the optimum size is probably this one.and if you. 245 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:17,369 Just look at that.you see how heavy and sharp as that's just a jagged edge.one of those were killed,someone cause it easily easily.these two here would have taken this chaps arms off,this one here would have killed him. 246 00:33:17,589 --> 00:33:27,369 That one up the top is a serious head wound,and the last one on here would have hurt his life.and if they came on the chinese,they came on weight of numbers. 247 00:33:27,369 --> 00:33:39,180 But as they're coming forward,you know,they're encountering their comrades,wounded,injured,screaming,do they keep going to help them out?what do they do the whole time?we're just sapping the momentum out of this attack. 248 00:33:52,319 --> 00:33:55,130 But no matter how lethal the artillery fire. 249 00:33:55,130 --> 00:33:58,549 It did little to stem the mass attacks of the chinese army. 250 00:34:00,950 --> 00:34:03,960 We swarmed into action.like. 251 00:34:04,289 --> 00:34:11,969 The enemy comes overheated with the continuous use.they began to misfire.could no longer hit that target. 252 00:34:13,210 --> 00:34:17,989 In the end,they would see so many people coming at them,they would panic. 253 00:34:22,539 --> 00:34:30,940 One after another,united nations positions were simply overwhelmed by wave after wave of chinese infantry. 254 00:34:44,170 --> 00:34:46,369 Some united nations units. 255 00:34:46,369 --> 00:34:56,690 Fought hard,others fell back in disarray,generally morale collapse and to make matters worse,the bitter korean winter you're setting in. 256 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:07,500 By late november nineteen fifty,with the temperature well below zero degrees,men of both sides were fighting at the limit of human endurance. 257 00:35:12,389 --> 00:35:18,360 The chinese soldiers were wearing only lightly padded cotton uniforms and thing canvas shoes. 258 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,090 Protect them against the bitter cold. 259 00:35:22,170 --> 00:35:26,980 The allies fared little better,and much of their equipment simply seized up. 260 00:35:30,030 --> 00:35:34,539 The men had to keep themselves awake for fear of freezing to death as they slept. 261 00:35:35,820 --> 00:35:39,329 The first night the chinese hit us,i lost thirty nine men to frostbite. 262 00:35:41,179 --> 00:35:43,610 The next afternoon,i went down to the medical station. 263 00:35:44,329 --> 00:35:47,730 And the doctors will break off all those frozen toes.but forceps. 264 00:35:49,019 --> 00:35:50,280 And never saw those.many. 265 00:35:52,199 --> 00:35:54,369 I lost a whole tone to frostbite. 266 00:35:56,949 --> 00:36:07,039 Fighting a war in these dire conditions was not what these men are expected to make matters worse,some american marines found themselves surrounded at a place called choice inn. 267 00:36:07,289 --> 00:36:12,219 Despite relentless chinese attacks,the americans managed to fight their way out. 268 00:36:15,639 --> 00:36:19,269 But elsewhere on the battlefield,other soldiers couldn't cope. 269 00:36:19,599 --> 00:36:23,239 Without waiting for orders,some turned around and fled. 270 00:36:23,849 --> 00:36:27,469 We moved headlong,helter skelter,trying to get to the point at pusan. 271 00:36:28,679 --> 00:36:29,840 It was disgusting. 272 00:36:31,010 --> 00:36:32,250 Unbelievable. 273 00:36:33,159 --> 00:36:37,539 I never felt so ashamed in all of my life is to be a part of an army that was running away. 274 00:36:46,070 --> 00:36:48,539 Allied defences were crumbling. 275 00:36:48,539 --> 00:36:51,420 Across practically the entire frontline. 276 00:36:55,960 --> 00:37:02,619 The united nations generals had no choice,they ordered a full scale withdrawal. 277 00:37:06,750 --> 00:37:10,630 It was the largest military withdrawal in u.s.history. 278 00:37:12,380 --> 00:37:22,139 As with chinese drove south,the united nations army,hold it in front of,and by january nineteen fifty one,the americans of the allies. 279 00:37:22,139 --> 00:37:24,489 Had been thrown back south of seoul. 280 00:37:24,820 --> 00:37:29,019 Once again,the south korean capital was in the hands of the. 281 00:37:29,349 --> 00:37:31,739 But this proved a step too far. 282 00:37:33,489 --> 00:37:42,429 Because the chinese had moved so far south,then supply lines,when not some village strained and the tide turned yet again. 283 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:46,170 The un,army once more,began to push north. 284 00:37:48,909 --> 00:37:51,480 Over the first weeks of nineteen,fifty one. 285 00:37:51,809 --> 00:37:58,559 The allies call their way back to a line just north of south of just south of the old border. 286 00:37:58,940 --> 00:38:08,440 After seven months of seesaw monsoon withdrawal,once more,the two sides were practically back to where they've been when the war began. 287 00:38:14,510 --> 00:38:20,210 The huge sweeping moves of the two sides,little town,the peninsula. 288 00:38:20,210 --> 00:38:23,329 Subsided into a apparent stalemate. 289 00:38:25,639 --> 00:38:32,969 But how to break this stalemate was the lead to a crisis of the very highest level of the american leadership. 290 00:38:37,969 --> 00:38:44,389 The american president,harry truman,did not want to do anything to escalate the war in korea. 291 00:38:45,389 --> 00:38:51,559 But general mccarthy still demanded total victory over his communist enemy. 292 00:38:52,460 --> 00:38:58,000 Mcarthur believes his president's policy was too timid,and he was going to say so loud and clear. 293 00:38:58,329 --> 00:39:04,309 It also achieved total victory.he demanded that the war should be taken into china itself. 294 00:39:05,199 --> 00:39:09,980 What macarthur was proposing was not simply to attack china. 295 00:39:10,309 --> 00:39:15,030 But to have the option of attacking it with nuclear weapons. 296 00:39:17,210 --> 00:39:20,679 This wall was threatening to go nuclear. 297 00:39:29,269 --> 00:39:32,659 With magazine now publicly challenging washington policy. 298 00:39:32,659 --> 00:39:36,320 President truman had to make a decision,and he made a brave. 299 00:39:38,690 --> 00:39:41,789 I believe that we must try to limit the war to korea. 300 00:39:42,119 --> 00:39:43,960 For these vital reasons. 301 00:39:44,300 --> 00:39:55,039 The make sure that the precious lives of our fighting men are not wasted to see that the security of our country and the free world is not needlessly jeopardize. 302 00:39:55,260 --> 00:39:58,920 And to prevent a third world war. 303 00:39:59,250 --> 00:40:06,530 I have therefore considered essential to relieve general macarthur macarthur is one of our greatest military commanders. 304 00:40:07,130 --> 00:40:13,570 But the cause of world peace is much more important than any individual. 305 00:40:15,820 --> 00:40:25,619 Macarthur's dismissal marked the end of an era,the ends of the allied aim to unite the two careers under a democratic flag. 306 00:40:31,260 --> 00:40:35,619 Mcgrath's job went to general matthew ridgway. 307 00:40:35,619 --> 00:40:43,429 A man both liked and respected by his ground troops and a man who accepted the idea of a divided korea. 308 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:54,119 Ridgeway aim was to establish a defensible line of the mountains and rivers,just north of. 309 00:40:54,139 --> 00:40:56,829 From where he could keep the communists? 310 00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:09,190 But the chinese come on the pending way has entirely different plans.he wanted to demolish the allied forces and throw them out of korea once and for all. 311 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:19,809 Unknown to the mainly british and american soldiers who were starting to dig in,china's vast armies were preparing the long jump,massive attack. 312 00:41:20,110 --> 00:41:22,230 As spring offensive. 313 00:41:52,739 --> 00:41:56,679 As night fell on the twenty second of april nineteen,fifty one. 314 00:41:56,679 --> 00:42:08,150 Hundreds of thousands of north korean and chinese troops prepared to attack right along the battle front,marked here in the western section of the peninsula by the imjin river,only thirty miles from seoul. 315 00:42:10,489 --> 00:42:14,690 These chinese troops were masters,and infiltration and concealment. 316 00:42:16,849 --> 00:42:18,949 Morale was high. 317 00:42:19,659 --> 00:42:26,289 Confidence of victory,the chinese leaders told their men they be celebrating may day in the streets of seoul. 318 00:42:28,219 --> 00:42:34,429 That night,the chinese took their positions along the banks of the imjin and lay in wait for the order to move. 319 00:42:42,190 --> 00:42:45,480 The chinese commander pathways plan. 320 00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:49,619 Was for a huge,coordinated attack practically from coast to coast. 321 00:42:49,949 --> 00:43:01,289 And the aim of his spring offensive to destroy entire u.n.divisions by swamping them with sheer weight of numbers,carving them up into small pockets and wiping them out one by one. 322 00:43:01,559 --> 00:43:04,099 Then he'd moved to recapture. 323 00:43:05,010 --> 00:43:09,300 Paying all that the north koreans,being pressure on the east end of the line here. 324 00:43:09,780 --> 00:43:20,699 But the major check would be by the chinese themselves punching a hole through a line in three places against the south korean forces.here,american forces. 325 00:43:20,699 --> 00:43:21,099 Yeah. 326 00:43:21,429 --> 00:43:29,039 And here in the west,where i am now,the chinese was a large force against the mainly british twenty ninth brigade. 327 00:43:29,369 --> 00:43:34,570 Who had defending the historic invasion route to sell across the imjin river. 328 00:43:36,250 --> 00:43:45,699 Until now,the americans and south korean troops upon the brunt of this war.but the next few days,the men of the mainly british twenty ninth brigade. 329 00:43:45,699 --> 00:43:49,030 Led by brigadier tom brady,would play a vital role. 330 00:43:50,139 --> 00:43:56,059 The twenty ninth brigades,nine mile long front along the imjin river,was pivotal. 331 00:43:56,389 --> 00:44:04,980 If the chinese breached the line in this position,the allied divisions either side would be exposed.and the rooster sol would be open. 332 00:44:06,449 --> 00:44:13,940 Of vital importance were two river crossings with tracks leading to the capitol just thirty miles to the south. 333 00:44:14,610 --> 00:44:19,219 Seven hundred men of the gloucestershire regiment guarded this track. 334 00:44:19,550 --> 00:44:24,199 From the hills,just size of a form,which they later called cluster crossing. 335 00:44:25,539 --> 00:44:33,760 This second crossing and track were gathered by another seven hundred men from the battalion of the royal northumberland fusiliers. 336 00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:40,110 In support,both british battalions could call on the royal artillery's.feedback. 337 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:52,739 All this,plus some text in reserve here and some other units on either side.what part of produce 2019brigade?and after taking this region under the overall command. 338 00:44:52,739 --> 00:44:54,710 Of the american third. 339 00:44:55,610 --> 00:45:06,030 There were just four thousand men in the british twenty ninth brigade,findlay faced,and not yet properly dug in a pitifully small contingent. 340 00:45:06,030 --> 00:45:08,929 To be defending such a crucial stretch of front. 341 00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:16,539 Advancing on them,the entire chinese sixty third army,over twenty seven thousand men. 342 00:45:18,380 --> 00:45:21,829 The british were outnumbered by iran's seven to one. 343 00:45:29,500 --> 00:45:33,400 Ten p m on the twenty second of april,the first chinese troops. 344 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:44,429 Started to wade across this shallow section of water here.but they were held back,and only two hours by less than sixteen men from a platoon of the gloucesters.fine from up here on the south bank. 345 00:45:47,420 --> 00:45:49,179 And then we saw the chinese. 346 00:45:49,639 --> 00:45:51,969 They were thick in the water somewhere around. 347 00:45:52,369 --> 00:45:53,769 Two thousand men. 348 00:45:54,199 --> 00:45:56,070 It was an astonishing target. 349 00:45:56,420 --> 00:45:58,469 And we did use up all our ammunition. 350 00:46:00,420 --> 00:46:09,510 After hunting four separate chinese assaults,the british troops finally ran out of ammunition and had no choice but to pull back and rejoin their units. 351 00:46:11,250 --> 00:46:14,590 Was now nothing to stop the chinese from advancing further. 352 00:46:18,059 --> 00:46:25,280 Throughout the night of the twenty second of april,vast numbers of chinese soldiers succeeded in crossing the imjin river. 353 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:35,480 It's it down there,and pushing southwards towards here.this area,known as castle hill,was held by around a hundred men of the clusters.a company. 354 00:46:35,639 --> 00:46:38,059 They were in for a very long night. 355 00:46:44,590 --> 00:46:49,119 For six hours on the bright moonlight,under the glare of parachute. 356 00:46:49,119 --> 00:46:54,099 A company for the ferocious close quarters battle for control of this. 357 00:47:04,469 --> 00:47:07,409 Again and again,the chinese attacked 50. 358 00:47:07,409 --> 00:47:17,719 And again and again,a company drove them back with machine gun and mortify all the time.they received vital help from their artillery just over five miles away.to the rape. 359 00:47:25,690 --> 00:47:30,480 The shells rained down in front of me.a whole squad was blown to pieces. 360 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:33,420 And the bodies of dead and wounded scattered along the track. 361 00:47:34,239 --> 00:47:39,269 I didn't know what to be killed,i ran beyond that barrage just as fast as my legs would carry me. 362 00:47:42,130 --> 00:47:46,949 At times,the supporting artillery was the only thing slowing the chinese advance. 363 00:47:58,449 --> 00:48:01,349 At first light on the twenty third of april. 364 00:48:01,349 --> 00:48:09,570 Things were looking to decided they bleak for the whole twenty nine brigade.in fact,it was looking grim right away along the whole allied line. 365 00:48:09,969 --> 00:48:20,260 Some thirty miles over there,the east,a south korean division,collapsed under chinese pressure and america than commonwealth troops were desperately trying to plug the gap. 366 00:48:20,260 --> 00:48:26,219 It made it all the more vital that the british twenty ninth brigade,held on here at all costs. 367 00:48:26,989 --> 00:48:34,000 Little fumble infusion is guiding the easterly track on from the river and found that four positions threatened. 368 00:48:34,329 --> 00:48:41,980 The chinese have begun to gain the high ground here,and the fusiliers were being pushed back.the line was weakening. 369 00:48:42,309 --> 00:48:46,360 And the chinese were infiltrating the gaps between the british position. 370 00:48:47,079 --> 00:48:54,460 As for the gst,does five miles of the west that a company unable to hold out any longer.on castle hill. 371 00:48:55,159 --> 00:49:05,360 There was no other option for the soldiers here,reduced to just one officer and fewer than sixty men.but the pull back and join the rest of the italian father,son. 372 00:49:06,440 --> 00:49:16,570 Relying completely on supporting artillery fire,they managed to retreat to a hill that became known as just a hill by drawn.on the next day,the twenty fourth of april. 373 00:49:16,570 --> 00:49:26,570 Do you have taobao?italian,reduced to around four hundred men,all defending gloster hill against the around ten thousand chinese soldiers. 374 00:49:27,429 --> 00:49:29,590 And they were practically surrounded. 375 00:49:31,550 --> 00:49:41,159 Fine,not the ghost's situation was so precarious that the twenty ninth brigade commander,brigadier,brandished a column of tanks. 376 00:49:41,159 --> 00:49:42,710 Along this valley. 377 00:49:43,039 --> 00:49:45,380 In an attempt to blast its way through them. 378 00:49:45,860 --> 00:49:47,989 But the lead tank was hit. 379 00:49:48,440 --> 00:49:53,389 And it blocked the route and the attempt to break through to the gangsters had to be a band. 380 00:49:54,230 --> 00:49:57,750 All hope of getting help for them.if vaping. 381 00:50:01,659 --> 00:50:08,909 Then afternoon general,so the american,on the whole,the units in the area,radio draws how things were going. 382 00:50:09,210 --> 00:50:17,429 Brigadier brody,instead of urgently requesting the loss of withdrawal,replied simply that things were a bit sticky. 383 00:50:17,760 --> 00:50:28,300 He couldn't have chosen a worse moment for a bit of british understatement.the american general was given no idea how bad things really well.and so we ordered 209brigade. 384 00:50:28,300 --> 00:50:29,750 To hold that position. 385 00:50:30,130 --> 00:50:32,599 What followed was disaster. 386 00:50:42,159 --> 00:50:43,610 At ten p m. 387 00:50:43,610 --> 00:50:52,860 Chinese struck the gloucesters fought a bloody hand hand battle and push back attack after attack.the battle raged all through the night. 388 00:51:01,119 --> 00:51:03,550 It was the beginning of the end for the glasses. 389 00:51:11,860 --> 00:51:15,340 The entire twenty ninth brigade was a breaking point. 390 00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:19,460 If they didn't withdraw,they face death or captivity. 391 00:51:20,449 --> 00:51:23,840 The attempt to get any relief to adjust,as may have been blocked. 392 00:51:24,170 --> 00:51:27,980 But on the right,a little fumble line of retreat was still clear. 393 00:51:28,599 --> 00:51:32,860 Brigadier roddy and order tanks up the track to escape the night. 394 00:51:33,309 --> 00:51:40,349 But the withdrawal became chaotic as the chinese managed to swap out of the track and climb on.the british takes. 395 00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:49,670 Crews of neighboring tanks forced to hold each other's time between going back is a desperate attempt to dislodge the cambridge chinese. 396 00:51:51,349 --> 00:51:55,460 Rescue little semblance was succeeding.but they just. 397 00:51:56,730 --> 00:52:00,820 The clusters off to the west were left to their fate. 398 00:52:01,250 --> 00:52:09,539 In the face of a rapidly advancing chinese brigadier brand by not been forced to withdraw their artillery,supporting his troops. 399 00:52:09,929 --> 00:52:12,579 And once these vital guns were silence. 400 00:52:12,909 --> 00:52:16,570 The men of augustus really work at the mercy of the chinese. 401 00:52:18,940 --> 00:52:27,260 The men stranded just stop there on the top of gloucester hill,were preparing for nearly impossible task they were going to try and make a break for it. 402 00:52:27,260 --> 00:52:35,929 But many had not slept or eaten for days,and we've virtually no ammunition,getting back to friendly lines would be a near impossible task. 403 00:52:39,360 --> 00:52:48,090 But the gloucesters had little choice.they set out across the enemy,infiltrated stretch of land on what,for many,would be their final journey. 404 00:52:52,199 --> 00:52:57,199 The gangsters that started the battle of the imjin,with seven hundred men. 405 00:52:57,730 --> 00:53:05,170 Fifty eight had been killed in the fighting,only sixty three made it back to the safety of british lines that night. 406 00:53:05,500 --> 00:53:09,110 Nearly six hundred blusters were taken prisoner. 407 00:53:10,360 --> 00:53:14,110 It was a very shameful moment,surrendering.i hated doing. 408 00:53:15,039 --> 00:53:16,219 Surrendering. 409 00:53:16,559 --> 00:53:20,260 Seemed to go against everything that i thought.soldering should be about. 410 00:53:22,400 --> 00:53:32,150 The rest of twenty nine brigades fared little better than the gangsters,but those few days in april nineteen,fifty one had taken their toll on the enemy. 411 00:53:32,760 --> 00:53:44,360 Although twenty nine brigades that gloucester quarter of its men is it destroyed nearly half of the covid,this forces attacking them across the mgm.and right the way along the entire battle front in korea. 412 00:53:44,579 --> 00:53:49,909 Other british,american and allied forces fought heroic battles of their own. 413 00:54:02,079 --> 00:54:03,469 No one knows. 414 00:54:03,469 --> 00:54:08,559 Exactly how many the chinese lost,but it was in the tens of thousands. 415 00:54:17,460 --> 00:54:19,250 The communist offensive. 416 00:54:19,250 --> 00:54:22,510 Ground to a halt along the entire battle. 417 00:54:23,030 --> 00:54:26,769 It was to be the last major assault of its kind. 418 00:54:27,210 --> 00:54:33,159 The chinese would never again should attack on the scale of a spring offensive of nineteen fifty one. 419 00:54:33,489 --> 00:54:41,579 Like the americans,they too had finally realized that neither of them could win control of the whole of korea. 420 00:54:45,369 --> 00:54:54,039 While the allied crushing of the communist spring offensive in great cause along the imjin river did not end the fighting immediately. 421 00:54:54,039 --> 00:54:57,739 It did bring both sides to the negotiating table. 422 00:55:01,090 --> 00:55:09,650 Yet when they first met on july the tenth,nineteen,fifty one few could have had any inkling that the negotiations. 423 00:55:09,650 --> 00:55:12,440 Would drag on for over two years. 424 00:55:13,969 --> 00:55:23,130 All this time,the vicious battles for minor stretches of tactical grounds continued and the casualty rate sold. 425 00:55:26,039 --> 00:55:33,360 This increasingly futile war was to go on another two years before the fighting finally ended. 426 00:55:36,869 --> 00:55:44,559 The two sides agreed the position of the new board of between them,and they agreed on roughly the line of the thirty eighth parallel.justified here. 427 00:55:46,980 --> 00:55:52,300 And on the twenty seventh of july nineteen fifty three,they agreed a ceasefire. 428 00:55:55,650 --> 00:56:02,989 In three years of warfare,more than two million people had lost their lives,and a country had been devastated. 429 00:56:05,150 --> 00:56:09,750 And yet the border between north and south korea had barely change. 430 00:56:12,309 --> 00:56:17,909 And was one even bigger hourly.the two sides have never signed a peace treaty. 431 00:56:18,239 --> 00:56:23,840 The state of war between north and south korea still officially exists. 432 00:56:26,599 --> 00:56:32,030 To this day,korea's two sides remain in an uneasy stalemate. 433 00:56:32,360 --> 00:56:39,159 North korea is still one of the most developed countries in the world,and fiercely secretive. 434 00:56:41,119 --> 00:56:44,909 South of the border,it's a very different story. 435 00:56:50,730 --> 00:56:55,599 South korea had developed into a vibrant and thriving democracy. 436 00:56:59,599 --> 00:57:05,599 Today,the two koreas may be vastly different,but one thing hasn't changed. 437 00:57:07,449 --> 00:57:13,989 For the people of north and south korea,the threats of a returns,hostilities still looms. 438 00:57:15,519 --> 00:57:20,760 Fifty years after the ceasefire,south korean still plan for the worst. 439 00:57:22,090 --> 00:57:31,800 Around swissgear siren sounds across the south korean capital here in seoul.it's a drill for the taking of immediate shelter. 440 00:57:31,800 --> 00:57:33,989 In the event of a north korean attack. 441 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:44,579 For a few minutes,these city streets empty,in readiness for return to hostilities. 442 00:58:00,190 --> 00:58:03,289 A lot of very brave fiscal line. 443 00:58:06,099 --> 00:58:14,570 Next time twentieth century battlefields brings you the tech offensive fought in vietnam,this massive communist assault. 444 00:58:14,570 --> 00:58:24,780 Was the turning point of the twentieth centuries longest war?i'll be explaining how the american military had to adapt itself to face up to a largely guerrilla fighting. 445 00:58:24,780 --> 00:58:34,780 And i'll be experiencing what it was like for the soldiers as they fought their way through south vietnam.the tet offensive was one of the most decisive battles of the twentieth century.