November 26

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
FDR establishes modern Thanksgiving holiday, 1941
American Revolution
Peyton Randolph laid to rest at William and Mary, 1776
Automotive
First U.S. "cloverleaf" appears on the cover of the Engineering News-Record, 1931
Civil War
Mine Run campaign begins in Virginia, 1863
Cold War
Chinese counterattacks in Korea change nature of war, 1950
Crime
Vigilantes in California lynch two suspected murderers, 1933
Disaster
Winter storm paralyzes southern New England, 1898
General Interest
Archaeologists enter tomb of King Tut, 1922
Hollywood
Casablanca premieres in NYC, 1942
Literary
Alice in Wonderland manuscript is sent as a Christmas present, 1862
Music
MTV Unplugged premieres, 1989
Old West
The Great Diamond Hoax is exposed, 1872
Presidential
George W. Bush pardons a turkey, 2002
Sports
Football trailblazer Art Shell is born, 1946
Vietnam War
Air Force helicopter pilot rescues Special Forces team, 1968
World War I
T.E. Lawrence reports on Arab affairs, 1916
World War II
Japanese task force leaves for Pearl Harbor, 1941

Cold War

Nov 26, 1950:

Chinese counterattacks in Korea change nature of war

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In some of the fiercest fighting of the Korean War, thousands of communist Chinese troops launch massive counterattacks against U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) troops, driving the Allied forces before them and putting an end to any thoughts for a quick or conclusive U.S. victory. When the counterattacks had been stemmed, U.S. and ROK forces had been driven from North Korea and the war settled into a grinding and frustrating stalemate for the next two-and-a-half years.
In the weeks prior to the Chinese attacks, ROK and U.S. forces, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, had succeeded in driving deeper into North Korea and were nearing the border with the People's Republic of China (PRC). The PRC issued warnings that the Allied forces should keep their distance, and beginning in October 1950 troops from the Chinese People's Liberation Army began to cross the border to assist their North Korean ally. Their numbers grew to around 300,000 by early November. Some bloody encounters occurred between the Chinese and ROK and U.S. forces, but the Chinese troops suddenly broke off offensive operations on November 6. This spurred MacArthur, who had always discounted the military effectiveness of the Chinese troops, to propose a massive new offensive by U.S. and ROK forces. Alternately referred to as the "End the War" or "Home by Christmas" offensive, the attack began on November 24. The offensive almost immediately encountered heavy resistance, and by November 26 the Chinese were launching destructive counterattacks along a 25-mile front. By December, U.S. and ROK forces had been pushed out of North Korea. Eventually, U.S. and ROK forces stopped the Chinese troops and the war settled into a military stalemate.
The massive Chinese attack brought an end to any thoughts that U.S. boys would be "home by Christmas." It also raised the specter of the war expanding beyond the borders of the Korean peninsula, something U.S. policymakers-leery of becoming entangled in a land war in Asia that might escalate into a nuclear confrontation with the Soviets-were anxious to avoid.

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This Week in History, Nov 26 - Dec 2

Nov 26, 1950
Chinese counterattacks in Korea change nature of war
Nov 27, 1954
Alger Hiss released from prison
Nov 28, 1989
Czechoslovakian Communist Party gives up monopoly on political power
Nov 29, 1952
Eisenhower goes to Korea
Nov 30, 1981
The United States and U.S.S.R. open talks to reduce intermediate-range nuclear forces
Dec 01, 1959
Antarctica made a military-free continent
Dec 02, 1961
Castro declares himself a Marxist-Leninist

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