Re: Book review: Red Wings Over the Yalu: China, the SovietUnion and the Ai...

[robert guertin <wanaki@infionline.net>]

The release of prisoners by the Chinese occurred during the first contacts in the
north following the Chinese initial intervention, not at Changin (Chosin Res.) It
has been postulated that this action was done as a gesture to warn the UN of what
was to follow if the UN persisted in the advance north. It is ludicrous to
ascribe humanitarianism to the Chinese forces. The N.Koreans were far more cruel
and inhumane, but the Chinese never hesitated to murder prisoners when such
action was deemed expedient. Admitedly, once prisoners were interned, the Chinese
were more humane than the N.Koreans.

Widowmaker

Ed Evanhoe wrote:

> Dan,
>
>  >>At 09:41 PM 7/22/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> >OK. were they the Chinese doing it or the Koreans?
> >Did the Koreans fight with the Chinese or did they fight as seperate unit?
> >I am not trying to create and argument. I am sure they could have this. <<
>
> As I understand it North Korea had responsibility for POWs and ran the
> camps until the cease-fire talks began in the summer of '51, at which point
> the Chinese realized the value POW had as a bargaining chip.  Reportedly
> the North Koreans didn't want to give up control so the Chinese moved in
> and took over the camps by force.  This caused a flap but North Korea had
> to go along since they were getting the vast majority of food, ammunitions,
> weapons, etc, from the Chinese so couldn't afford for the Chinese to cut
> them off.   North Korean treatment of POW's was horrific but improved after
> the Chinese took over.
>
> (This information from Msg <Rtd> Tim Casey, who keeps the records for the
> Korean War POW Association.)
>
> > >>I am following up on a comment from an earlier posting of a person in
> > combat against the Chinese. After the battle the Chinese allowed the
> > Americans to pick up and treat the wounded and care for the dead. <<
>
> This happened on several occasions, as did the Chinese releasing POW's and
> allowing them to cross back to UN lines.  In one instance the Chinese took
> a group of Marine and Army POW's captured at the Chosen Reservoir, escorted
> them back to the front and then abandoned them as the front moved
> north.  This group was recovered by a tank-infantry task force from the 7th
> Infantry Division.  (The Marines classified this as an "escape" but the
> Army classified it as a "release.)
>
> > >>He followed up that this would not have happened with the NK and that the
> >Chinese were a more disciplined army. <<
>
> Agree.
>
> Ed