The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. Around 17,000 Australians served in the Korean War. The history to the war is complex and involved. On the 2nd of September, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allied forces.The surrender of Japan at the end of WW2 saw the end of 35 years of Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula. The peninsula was subsequently divided into North and South Korea, the North being inhabited by troops from the Soviet Union and the South being occupied by troops from the United States. The 38th parallel divided the North and the South. Both forces wanted to unify and control the whole country.
Soviet and North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel on the 25th of June, 1950, beginning a civil war. The troops from the North thought the South was no longer interested in Korea. They rapidly conquered the ill-prepared South, gaining control over most of the country. Following this act of aggression, the United Nations provided support to the South in the form of soldiers from 16 nations. Australia was one of the first nations to provide armed support to the American troops. The other nations were Great Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Colombia, Ethiopia, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Philippines and Luxembourg. Other countries provided military hospitals and field ambulances.The total casualties suffered by the United Nations forces was 440, 000 dead or wounded. There were about 1.1 million casualties from the Communist side, including North Korean, Chinese and Soviet troops.
Soviet and North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel on the 25th of June, 1950, beginning a civil war. The troops from the North thought the South was no longer interested in Korea. They rapidly conquered the ill-prepared South, gaining control over most of the country. Following this act of aggression, the United Nations provided support to the South in the form of soldiers from 16 nations. Australia was one of the first nations to provide armed support to the American troops. The other nations were Great Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Colombia, Ethiopia, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Philippines and Luxembourg. Other countries provided military hospitals and field ambulances.The total casualties suffered by the United Nations forces was 440, 000 dead or wounded. There were about 1.1 million casualties from the Communist side, including North Korean, Chinese and Soviet troops.