Contemporary
Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1 October 1949
The Chinese Communist Party established the People's Republic of China, while the Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan.
Region
Asia
Contemporary
First Soviet Atomic Bomb (1949): The RDS-1 Test in Kazakhstan
The Soviet Union became the world's second nuclear power, ending the American atomic monopoly four years earlier than US intelligence had expected.
Contemporary
Chinese Annexation of Tibet 1950: Chamdo and the 17-Point Deal
Tibet's army was defeated at Chamdo and the Seventeen Point Agreement of May 1951 placed Tibet under the People's Republic of China.
Contemporary
Battle of the Pusan Perimeter (1950): Holding the Line in Korea
UN and South Korean forces held the perimeter around Pusan; the North Korean army was exhausted and collapsed after the Inchon landing and the breakout of mid-September 1950.
Contemporary
Battle of Chosin Reservoir (1950): Fighting Retreat in the Cold
UN forces broke out of the Chinese encirclement and reached the coast, but northeastern Korea was abandoned and the troops were evacuated from Hungnam.
Contemporary
Battle of Inchon (1950): MacArthur's Amphibious Gamble in Korea
Decisive UN victory; the landing cut North Korean supply lines, led to the recapture of Seoul and reversed the course of the Korean War.
Contemporary
Korean War (1950-1953): The First Hot War of the Cold War
An armistice signed on 27 July 1953 left Korea divided near the 38th parallel; no peace treaty has ever been concluded.
Contemporary
Battle of Heartbreak Ridge (1951): Korea's Battle for the Hills
The US 2nd Infantry Division and attached French and Dutch battalions captured the ridge after a month of fighting, at heavy cost on both sides.
Contemporary
Truman Dismisses MacArthur (1951): A Clash Over the Korean War
MacArthur was replaced by General Matthew Ridgway; after a storm of protest and Senate hearings, the principle of civilian control of the military and a limited war in Korea were upheld.
Contemporary
Battle of the Imjin River (1951): The Glosters' Last Stand
The British 29th Brigade was forced back with heavy losses and the Gloucestershire Regiment was largely destroyed, but the delay helped stop the Chinese Spring Offensive short of Seoul.
Contemporary
Battle of Pork Chop Hill (1953): Fighting Amid Armistice Talks
US forces held the hill in April 1953 but abandoned it to Chinese forces on 11 July 1953, two weeks before the armistice.
Contemporary
Korean Armistice Agreement (1953): Ceasefire at Panmunjom
Fighting in the Korean War stopped, a Demilitarised Zone was created along the front line, and prisoners were exchanged, but no peace treaty followed.