Why didn't Truman use the atomic bomb on the volunteers? His hesitation is not out of conscience, but out of other concerns. Of course, the United States did not use nuclear weapons, and the whole world breathed a sigh of relief. Only Li Chengwan regretted it.
After the Korean War broke out, some Americans publicly clamored for many times and threatened to use nuclear weapons against China. Although the Soviet Union had tested an atomic bomb at that time, it could hold up an umbrella for the red camp, but the umbrella was too small to cover a few people.
There are more than 30 atomic bombs in American warehouses, while the Soviet Union may have only one or two. The gap between the nuclear forces of the two sides is obvious. Therefore, many Americans feel that there is no need to worry about retaliation from the red camp. There is no problem in the direct use of nuclear weapons on the Korean battlefield. World public opinion is not worth mentioning. The most important thing is not to let American boys die on the battlefield in a foreign land.
So, what made Truman finally give up?
On September 1950 and 15, the US military landed in Incheon, which reversed the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula in one fell swoop. MacArthur was smug, thinking that the US military occupied an absolute advantage and drew the Korean People's Army with laughter, while China missed the best opportunity to intervene in the situation on the peninsula.
Even though China has warned US troops not to cross the 38th parallel. However, the US military not only turned a deaf ear, but even bombed targets in China along the Yalu River.
What is tolerable? June+10/October 65438+September, Chinese people's Volunteer Army crossed the Yalu River Bridge and launched a sudden battle with unscrupulous American troops.
At that time, the American army was immersed in MacArthur's dream of "going home before Christmas" and was caught off guard by the challenge of the volunteers. It was defeated, leaving many big American boys lying in the snow.
Whether it is World War I or World War II, the United States is a victorious country. Has it ever suffered the shame of failure? In the face of a group of light infantry from China, they abandoned their helmets and armor, and were completely annihilated and humiliated. The whole United States is considering how to deal with "that eastern country."
1950165438+1On October 30th, US President Truman held a press conference. In his opening remarks, he said, "We are strengthening our military strength, and we have given our army and navy about1800 million dollars. We will use all our strength to deal with such attacks. "
Truman obviously made a mistake. At first, the US military intervened in the war between Koreans and attacked the innocent people in China. But they were very indignant at China's justifiable defense, as if it was their "offence" for China to protect his own life.
Since Truman said, "Let's just do it," some reporters thought it was no big deal and directly asked, "All forces, including the atomic bomb?"
Truman neither denied nor affirmed, and tried to prevaricate with some diplomatic rhetoric. However, the reporters present did not let go of this dialogue, and all the problems behind it revolved around the "use of atomic bombs".
Truman, as president, was not successful in American history. Many people think he is not good enough. Just like this besieged press conference, he kept beating around the bush and repeating it. In short, he just didn't tell you whether to use the atomic bomb or not.
There is a rule in American journalism, which is just the opposite of the principle of "no doubt" in the law. The rule is simple: if you don't deny it, you must be sure.
Right after Truman's press conference, all the newspapers published the news that Truman used the atomic bomb against China. Many people say that American bombers have installed nuclear bombs and are ready to leave at any time.
On the other side of the Atlantic, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee saw this report and immediately flew to Washington to meet Truman. The first thing he asked was: Do you want to use an atomic bomb against China?
Truman ignored it and refused to answer directly.
Attlee is an outstanding politician and holds a high position in the eyes of the British. He loves peace and doesn't want mankind to fall into war again. So he laid his cards on the table with Truman: Don't use atomic bombs and don't let the world fall into World War III. If you want to use the atomic bomb, please don't make a decision alone. You should discuss it with Britain and Canada.
(Source: Atomic Diplomacy during the Korean War Roger Ding Man)
They talked for five days, and finally Truman assured Attlee that the United States had no intention of using atomic bombs.
In fact, Truman was not an idiot. He didn't want to directly answer the question of using the atomic bomb, precisely because he regarded "using the atomic bomb against China" as a tactic that could be used.
1994 found that the United States has published a number of documents that have passed the confidentiality period, including the top secret document of the National Security Council of the United States 10/0/65438. The title of this document is straightforward-about the possibility of the United States using an atomic bomb to counter the invasion of North Korea by producer China.
This document consists of two parts:
The first part restates the earlier resolution of the United States Security Council that atomic bombs can be used in "hostile situations" and "war situations". In other words, legally speaking, the use of atomic bombs by the US military in the Korean battlefield did not violate American law.
The second part is about various issues that the relevant departments of the US government should consider after using the atomic bomb, including "the atomic bomb used for tactical purposes in North Korea" and "the atomic bomb used for strategic purposes in Manchuria (northeast China)".
At the end of this document, there is an intriguing handwriting: "If the Soviet Union reacts, are we ready? Will we react before the action?"
(Source: Atomic Diplomacy during the Korean War Roger Ding Man)
No one knows whether Truman wrote this line himself, but at least we found that the United States did consider using atomic bombs in the Korean battlefield or even in northeast China.
The closest the US military came to using nuclear weapons was the Battle of Shangganling. 1952+00 In the Battle of Shangganling in June, the US military could never take the small Shangganling. They used all conventional weapons except the atomic bomb and blew up the soil on the top of the mountain, still to no avail.
In this case, some American military personnel suggested using nuclear weapons. At that time, the United States developed a small tactical atomic bomb, which could be launched with a 280 mm howitzer. However, the tenacious volunteers made them start to doubt again, even if the atomic bomb was used, would China people retreat? Even, after the use of the atomic bomb, will it anger China people, but will it make the US military pay a higher price?
In the end, the US military managed not to use the atomic bomb.
1953, Truman left the White House and was succeeded by five-star general Eisenhower. As a soldier, Eisenhower had a strong personality. He not only approved the plan to use the atomic bomb, but even personally participated in the target selection at the meeting of the National Security Council.
His idea is the same as that of World War II, using atomic bombs boldly and forcing opponents to sit at the negotiating table. At his behest, the Joint Chiefs of Staff submitted a top-secret report to the Ministry of National Defense on "the course of action related to the Korean war situation".
The report demands that if the talks in Panmunjom fail, there is no need to hide, directly escalate the war beyond North Korea, and use weapons including atomic bombs to attack countries that support North Korea on a large scale. It goes without saying who the target is.
At this critical moment, the negotiations in Panmunjom turned around. On July 27th, the Korean Armistice Agreement was formally signed, and the Korean War came to an end. After all, World War III did not break out.
In fact, Truman seriously considered the plan to use atomic bombs in the Korean battlefield and finally gave up. On the one hand, the British Prime Minister's suggestion made him realize that world public opinion hates war.
In addition, the tenacious fighting capacity of the volunteers is also a point that Americans are afraid of. China is not Japanese, and he will not lose his fighting spirit at the moment of dropping the atomic bomb. If anyone dares to use the atomic bomb against the volunteers, it is not a white flag, but an immortal China army.