The Korean War (Essential Histories) Paperback – September 25, 2001

This summary covers all the bases of the Korean conflict: political, tactical, strategic, cultural and does it well within an Osprey format. It was a war fought on two levels. The lower level was fought between the two Korean countries wanting to unify their whole country under their political control. On the larger scale, it was a war fought among the three super powers for ideology, prestige and the expansion of world dominance.North Korea was under the influence of Stalin and the Soviet Union was training and equipping the NKPA to invade the south while the US was marginally helping the South Koreans. Its been said that the speech Dean Acheson gave on 1/12/1950 that implied the US was letting go of South Korea, excluding it from the US sphere was the prime motivator for the invasion.The introduction presents a brief history of Korea going back to 1905 when Japan took it over and mistreated the Koreans until the end of WWII when the Soviet Union liberated the northern half and the US the southern half. The narrative continues to describe the friction between the US and Communist China after the world war as well as the alliance formed between Stalin and Mao. The author talks about the political atmosphere of the day and how these countries are linked together. Its all basic information but if you're new to the Korean War, its invaluable to understand how the war started, why the PRC got involved and why the UN forces stayed the course. There were critical implications that could effect the world if a third world war or a nuclear war had ignited. It was the first time in the Cold War that the Superpowers were indirectly fighting each other.Mr Malkasian includes a good chronology that spans the entire war that will be helpful as a guide to follow the battle action and political events.The invasion of the south began on June 25th, 1950 when columns of T34 tanks spearhead the assault along the border. For the next two and half months the ROK and meager US forces had a very tough time being pushed back to the Pusan Perimeter until enough reinforcements were brought in to stop the NKPA at the Naktong River. MacArthur devised the Inchon landings in mid September which turned everything around, causing the NKPA to flee to the north. UN Forces followed past the 38th parallel inciting Mao to counterattack, dramatically escalating the war.The key engagements are covered and each has its own color map. There are 12 maps which greatly help to understand the dialog. The maps show the dispositions of all the key players: US, ROK, PRC, NKPA and UN. The maps include the initial invasion, the Pusan Perimeter, the major PRC offensives, the Chosin Resivoir battle, Mig Alley. In addition to the tactiacal coverage on the ground, off the coast as well as the air war, the author explains the civilian migration and hardship, the Communist insurgency in the south, the quarrelous "peace" negotiations, POW issue, prison riots and much more. There are mini profiles of MacArthur, Ridgeway, Clark. The story ends with describing the human and economic costs of the war and how the different countries survived and responded from the bitterness of the war.There are also many fine photos to study. A Bibliography and Index round out the book.This is an excellent primer and a good starting place before you read the full length books. Its highly recommended. Also, a good companion book to this one would be "US Army Forces in the Korean War 1950-53" by Donald Boose. Its one of Osprey's Battle Orders series and it expands on the organizational aspects.

This Osprey Essential Histories provides an updated perspective on the Korean War of 1950-53. The text is brisk, concise, and takes advantage of what has been learned about Chinese and Soviet participation in the years since the Armistice. For example, the large role played by Soviet pilots in the air war is much more fully understood. The changing strategy of the United States during the war gets an appropriate share of attention.No one who has followed recent scholarship on the Korean War will find any real surprises here. The author's harsh treatment of South Korean President Syngman Rhee, including his seeming ahistorical identification of Rhee as a rightist, seems excessive given that Rhee faced both an openly hostile North Korea and an active and vicious communist insurgency every day of his presidency. Cautiously recommended as a concise history of the 1950-53 conflict.

This book covers the Korean War fairly well. There is not a lot of battle descriptions, but a fairly good look at the policy side of the war. Not a lot of people know a great deal about the Korean War. I for one know some about the War, but this is more in the way of the actual combat in the War. With this I was given details of how this war was seen by the leaders of the countries involved. Coming away from this reading I feel that I have a new understanding of this conflict. This book will be a part of my Military History Library.

This book is the best book on the essentials of the Korean War!!! IT is both well written and researched!!I enjoy the pictures and maps! It will take a special [lace in my collection1

My 92 year old dad was in korean war and really liked this book. He liked the pictures, maps, etc., also.

Good historic review, discussion from the point of view of both sides is educational and very interesting for those who are interested in leaning what happened from both sides.Good reading.

I am a glutton for war history, but do not like to read books that are long. At 94 pages this book is just about right in providing a lot of detail, yet still holding my interest. After reading this book I have a much better understanding of all facets of the the Korean War. The author did a great job of being technical, but also including actual accounts from soldiers.

This book is an excellent addition to the fabulous Ospery collection. The author accomplished a very important task by underscoring the importance of a largely unknown and misunderstood war. This error is corrected by this comprehensive introduction to the Korean war. The author presents the war in every facet....political....military...and human. It's a balanced account that discusses the contributions of non American allies as well as insight into the Communist aims and strategies. I really enjoyed the author's discussion of the effects of this war. As usual with the Ospery books, the crisp prose is augmented by wonderful maps. This book is a fascinating and important narrative.

If you are interested in military history you will like this book

All good

Very good book, This series of books is rather thin, but gives the reader a comprehensive overview of the war. If more in depth reading is desired, then the reader can branch off to other authors. The pages have lots of maps and pictures, and the page thickness is heavy so it can withstand being passed on for other readers to enjoy. It stands well as a mini reference book on the subject. Think of it like adult Coles Notes.

Un buen libro para los que quieran conocer de manera rápida y clara lo que fue "la guerra olvidada". Uno de esos libros que a algunos lectores les dejará con ganas de saber más y buscarán otras obras que profundicen más, pero que para otros no tan interesados traza una aceptable crónica del conflicto

Une bonne compréhension du conflit majeur de la guerre froide. Un modèle du genre comme savent le faire les Anglo-saxons. La guerre est vue à toutes les échelles et cela se lit très facilement avec beaucoup d'intérêt.