Re: 50 years ago today - 1 Aug 1950

[Stuart Millis <stuart_millis@telus.net>]

The Soviets were moving.

They waited until the time was ripe to declare war on Japan then rolled up all
the
Japanese forces (such as they were) in front of them.
The US did not have a man on the ground in Korea in August 45.
I fail to see how, even if the US had stopped the lend lease and turned off the
oil taps everywhere in the western world, how that would or could have prevented
the USSR from taking southern  Korea within a matter of weeks.

As Ed pointed out, it was only the Soviet fear of, not only nuclear but also
conventional, long-range air power that stopped them. Dresden had a message and
that message was directed at Stalin. Stalin listened and took notes.

By 1950, the situation was very different. The USA (indeed the West) had
demobilised to such a degree that it was unable to field an army of any value in
Korea. China was a major force to be reckoned with by that time and the USSR
could sit back and watch the fireworks while playing both sides for fools.

But the most important player was the Korean. He was able to shape the future
through his determination to win at any cost.
And he had precious little to lose by 1950.

Stuart

Marc James Small wrote:

>
> Sorry, Ed.
>
> The Soviets wouldn't move until we provided EVERYTHING.  Read Pogue on
> Marshall to see the effect, close to apoplexy!, this had on the US
> military!  I recognize that, by 1980, the only source for 3/4 ton
> Studebaker truck parts was the Soviet Union, but that wasn't the case in
> 1945 -- and that was the only tactical vehicle the Soviets had at that time.
>
> Come on over to the WWII lists and discuss this there!
>
> Marc
>
> msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
> Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!

--
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly
vanquished.
- Johan Christoph Schiller

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