In June 1950, tensions on the Korean Peninsula reached their peak. North Korean forces broke through the 38th parallel and rapidly advanced southward, hoping to unify the Korean Peninsula. Faced with a sudden crisis, South Korea asked for international assistance, and the United States and other UN member states quickly stepped in, forming the so-called United Nations Force to confront North Korea and the Soviet backers behind it. In this microcosm of the global East-West Cold War, China found its own strategic position and role in intervening in the Korean War to avoid potential border threats and ideological proliferation.
In October 1950, the flames of the Korean War approached the Chinese border as the United Nations forces moved north. The Chinese leadership decided in an emergency meeting that it could not sit idly by. Mao Zedong decided to send Chinese volunteers across the Yalu River to participate in the war. Behind this decision was in-depth communication and strategic coordination with the Soviet Union. Correspondence between Mao Zedong and Stalin was particularly frequent, with Mao writing in his letter: "If the Soviet Union can provide air support, it will greatly enhance our combat capability." ”
Stalin's reply was full of caution and hesitation. In a letter dated October 11, he expressed concern about the direct conflict: "If the Soviet Air Force were to intervene openly, it would lead to a wider international conflict." "This makes the entry of Chinese troops complicated and difficult.
On October 19, the Chinese Volunteers finally crossed the Yalu River after a night-long march. They were confronted by a well-equipped United Nations force. After observing from the front, the commander of the Volunteer Army, Peng Dehuai, knew that without air support, the infantry would suffer heavy losses. He sent an urgent telegram to Chairman Mao: "The enemy's air superiority is huge, and we hope to find a solution as soon as possible." ”
At the end of October, the Soviet Union agreed to secretly send an air force, but with strict conditions: Soviet pilots were required to wear Chinese and North Korean military uniforms and use Chinese and North Korean insignia to hide their eyes.
In early November, Soviet MiG-15 fighters first confronted US F-82 fighters in the skies over North Korea. Soviet pilot Ivan Konov wrote about the battle: "We were dressed in Chinese uniforms and our hearts were full of nervousness. But when an enemy plane appeared under our wing, all training instincts returned, and we shot down two enemy planes with lightning speed. ”
Although this air battle was small-scale, it greatly boosted the morale of the volunteers. Peng Dehuai wrote in his post-war report: "Soviet fighters descended from the sky like divine soldiers, greatly deterring the enemy and stabilizing our army's position. ”
As the war dragged on, the involvement of the Soviet Air Force, although never openly acknowledged, played a non-negligible role in the 1953 war ceasefire agreement. Covert assistance from the air, albeit limited, was effective in preventing some of the key operations of the United Nations forces, allowing the volunteers to maintain their defensive lines in a number of strategic locations. Eventually, although the Korean Peninsula was not reunified, a military demarcation line was established and the border was secured.
The Korean War was not only a military conflict, but also an ideological contest during the Cold War, and its far-reaching influence is still felt today. In this wave of history, every soldier is not an isolated existence, but a pawn in the game of great powers. Although the smoke of war has dissipated, the hidden heroic deeds, such as the unknown soldiers of the Soviet Air Force, their sacrifices and contributions, remind us of the preciousness and fragility of peace. As the poet said, "Peace is the only remaining flower, and we should take care of it together." "Looking back at the past, we are also reflecting on how to cherish peace and prevent the recurrence of historical tragedies.