I Am Creative
This is the first part of the back story for something I posted a few days ago. Note that this is alternate history, and exceedingly long and dull, so read at your own risk.
The Spectre Looms
In 1950, President Truman used the threat of nuclear strikes on North Korea and China as a form of deterrent. In spite of this, communist forces continued to bear down upon the Americans. After reaching the Yalu region, the UN forces were pushed back by Chinese PVA (People's Volunteer Army) units. After the Battle of Unsan, the Chinese pressed the attack, assailing the UN forces which had retreated to the Ch'ongch'on River. The battle was a slaughter, with sheer overwhelming numbers proving decisive for the Chinese. With Chinese forces now assaulting the rear of the UN lines, Truman allowed General MacArthur to do what he felt was necessary.
Awakening a Giant
Within two weeks, a total of 30 nuclear bombs had been dropped on staging grounds and supply depots within Chinese territory near the Yalu River. By Christmas, an additional 30 bombs had been dropped on targets designated key to the Chinese war effort as ever more soldiers streamed across the border into North Korea. By New Years Day of 1951, the PVA had almost doubled in size as Mao declared "the People's War". By then, the USSR had started proliferation of their own nuclear arsenal under Stalin's order and the Soviet Far East Army was readied in anticipation of being dragged into the war.
David vs Goliath
By February, the situation was grim on both sides. The UN forces had been pushed back well south of the 38th Parallel and nearly into the Pusan Perimeter of six months before. However, with the declaration of total war, the Chinese and North Korean lines had been stretched and bombed badly enough that supply was becoming a major issue. The Yalu was still an irradiated wasteland and the men who had passed through there were starting to succumb to radiation poisoning after passing through it and handling supplies that had made the same trip, as winds had blown some radiation far to the southwest.
As the Communists suffered, American forces landed to the north of them in a daring daytime assault. Three new Airborne Regimental Combat Teams had been put together and simultaneously struck out along vital routes. Catching the Communists be surprise, the trapped UN forces pushed north and east to break out of their confines. With the landing of additional forces up the coast, Several Chinese and North Korean units were cut off and destroyed as the three pronged UN attacks linked up. In response, the Chinese appealed to Stalin, saying that the Americans posed a threat to communism itself, and that if Korea fell, China and the USSR would be next to feel the nuclear wrath. Stalin agreed, and committed the Soviet Far East Army (SFEA) to support the Chinese forces now retreating.
The Fall of Kim Il-Sung
A resurgent UN pushed as far as it could northwards over the next several weeks, taking Seoul in a matter of days as weakened communist forces put up only moderate resistance. By this time, the SFEA had reached the 38th Parallel and taken up defensive positions there. Lying in wait, the communists had retreated to these positions at the urging of Georgi Zhukov, who had been appointed by Stalin as the commander of the Far East Theatre much to the chagrin of the Chinese. By the time the Americans reached the Parallel, the Soviets were well dug in, and backed by around a million Chinese soldiers.
On June 17th 1951, the Americans launched the 38th Parallel Offensive against the entrenched enemy positions. Casualties mounted on both sides, but the use of tactical bombing runs prior to and during the offensive had proven enough to weaken resistance and after 10 days of fighting, the Americans broke through on the right flank. The battle became a rout as UN soldiers poured through the breach in the defences and surrounded the SFEA and PVA. While many units escaped, many more were destroyed as they became surrounded, either surrendering or attempting to break out and failing.
The Spectre Looms
In 1950, President Truman used the threat of nuclear strikes on North Korea and China as a form of deterrent. In spite of this, communist forces continued to bear down upon the Americans. After reaching the Yalu region, the UN forces were pushed back by Chinese PVA (People's Volunteer Army) units. After the Battle of Unsan, the Chinese pressed the attack, assailing the UN forces which had retreated to the Ch'ongch'on River. The battle was a slaughter, with sheer overwhelming numbers proving decisive for the Chinese. With Chinese forces now assaulting the rear of the UN lines, Truman allowed General MacArthur to do what he felt was necessary.
Awakening a Giant
Within two weeks, a total of 30 nuclear bombs had been dropped on staging grounds and supply depots within Chinese territory near the Yalu River. By Christmas, an additional 30 bombs had been dropped on targets designated key to the Chinese war effort as ever more soldiers streamed across the border into North Korea. By New Years Day of 1951, the PVA had almost doubled in size as Mao declared "the People's War". By then, the USSR had started proliferation of their own nuclear arsenal under Stalin's order and the Soviet Far East Army was readied in anticipation of being dragged into the war.
David vs Goliath
By February, the situation was grim on both sides. The UN forces had been pushed back well south of the 38th Parallel and nearly into the Pusan Perimeter of six months before. However, with the declaration of total war, the Chinese and North Korean lines had been stretched and bombed badly enough that supply was becoming a major issue. The Yalu was still an irradiated wasteland and the men who had passed through there were starting to succumb to radiation poisoning after passing through it and handling supplies that had made the same trip, as winds had blown some radiation far to the southwest.
As the Communists suffered, American forces landed to the north of them in a daring daytime assault. Three new Airborne Regimental Combat Teams had been put together and simultaneously struck out along vital routes. Catching the Communists be surprise, the trapped UN forces pushed north and east to break out of their confines. With the landing of additional forces up the coast, Several Chinese and North Korean units were cut off and destroyed as the three pronged UN attacks linked up. In response, the Chinese appealed to Stalin, saying that the Americans posed a threat to communism itself, and that if Korea fell, China and the USSR would be next to feel the nuclear wrath. Stalin agreed, and committed the Soviet Far East Army (SFEA) to support the Chinese forces now retreating.
The Fall of Kim Il-Sung
A resurgent UN pushed as far as it could northwards over the next several weeks, taking Seoul in a matter of days as weakened communist forces put up only moderate resistance. By this time, the SFEA had reached the 38th Parallel and taken up defensive positions there. Lying in wait, the communists had retreated to these positions at the urging of Georgi Zhukov, who had been appointed by Stalin as the commander of the Far East Theatre much to the chagrin of the Chinese. By the time the Americans reached the Parallel, the Soviets were well dug in, and backed by around a million Chinese soldiers.
On June 17th 1951, the Americans launched the 38th Parallel Offensive against the entrenched enemy positions. Casualties mounted on both sides, but the use of tactical bombing runs prior to and during the offensive had proven enough to weaken resistance and after 10 days of fighting, the Americans broke through on the right flank. The battle became a rout as UN soldiers poured through the breach in the defences and surrounded the SFEA and PVA. While many units escaped, many more were destroyed as they became surrounded, either surrendering or attempting to break out and failing.
