| Guards Seoul 3rd Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
 Guards badge | |
| Active | 1948-present |
| Country |  North Korea |
| Allegiance |  Korean People's Army |
| Branch | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| Type | Infantry division |
| Size | division |
| Engagements | Korean War |
| Decorations | Guards badge |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Major General Choi Min Chol O Jin-u |
The 3rd Infantry Division is a military formation of the Korean People's Army.
The exact date of its formation is in dispute, but it occurred sometime between May 1947 and October 1948, at Pyongyang. In its organization, the 3d Division seemed to parallel the structural pattern of a typical North Korean Infantry Division. In keeping with the standard triangular organization of North Korean military formations, the 7th, 8th and 9th Rifle Regiments formed the combat nucleus of the division. Organized with a total strength of roughly 3,400 soldiers, the Division's command post was initially located at Pyongyang and was commanded by Major General Choi Min Chol.
During the early part of 1949, its divisional headquarters moved to Hamhung, where the 9th Regiment was undergoing training. By that time, the division was close to full strength, and except for incoming recruits, most of the men had completed basic training. In June 1949, those elements of the 3rd Division that were stationed at Hamhung were allegedly transferred to new locations, in a move that was designed to make room for newly organized North Korean units. Division headquarters is said to have moved to Wonsan where the artillery units and the 8th Regiment were already stationed, while the 9th Regiment moved farther south to the Kumhwa area, placing it close to the 7th Regiment located at Ch'orwon. Shortly after this move was accomplished, the division is said to have begun advanced training with units spending most of their time in the field.
During the initial attack by the North Koreans on June 25, 1950, the division was part of the I Corps.[ citation needed ] The 3rd Division was part of the North Korean advance from Seoul to Taejon. It also fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. [1]
During the U.N. outbreak from the Pusan Perimeter in mid-September, the Division controlled Hills 268 and 121, along the southern approach of the Waegwan-Taegu road, one of the key positions. In many cases, the North Koreans fought to the last man, but after suffering a two-day assault by the American 1st Cavalry Division and the 5th Regimental Combat Team, including three flights of U.S. Air Force F–51 Mustang fighters dropping napalm, firing rockets, and strafing runs, they lost the hill. With the loss of these key positions, the 3rd Division's defenses around Waegwan broke apart and its troops began a panic-stricken retreat across Naktong. Aerial observers estimated that 1.500 North Koreans crossed to the west side of the Naktong just above Waegwan. Further reports indicated that the roads north of the town were jammed with North Korean soldiers in groups of 10 to 300. [2] Furthermore, reports contend that when the remaining units of the division withdrew across the Naktong River just north of Waegwan, they sustained tremendous casualties and were practically annihilated. According to fragmentary reports, division headquarters and other elements of the 3rd Division, totaling approximately 1,800 men, succeeded in reaching Sangju, where they were ordered to retreat north. after the Korean War O Jin-u was made commander of the Infantry Division. [3]
In 1968, it was reported to be part of the 2d Army Group reserves, facing the western side of the DMZ. [4]
The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter was a large-scale battle between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the Korean War. An army of 140,000 UN troops, having been pushed to the brink of defeat, were rallied to make a final stand against the invading Korean People's Army (KPA), 98,000 men strong.
The 8th Mechanized Infantry Division is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army.
II Corps is a field corps of the Republic of Korea Army and it was active in the Korean War. It is also known as Double Dragons.
The 1st Infantry Division is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army's I Corps. The division was established on 1947 under the command of Colonel Kim Suk-won.
The 3rd Infantry Division is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army.
The 4th Infantry Division was a military formation of the Korean People's Army during the 20th Century.
The 105th Guards Seoul Ryu Kyong-Su Armored Division is a military formation of the Korean People's Army. It was North Korea's first armored unit and took part with T-34-85 tanks in the Korean War.
The 1st Infantry Division is a military formation of the Korean People's Army.
The 12th Infantry Division was a division of the Korean People's Army during the 20th century. Originally, it was the 156th Division, which was created in November 1948 under the Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army, issued by Central Military Commission on November 1, 1948, basing on the 6th Independent Division, PLA Northeastern Field Army.
The 5th Infantry Division was a military formation of the Korean People's Army during the 20th century. It was activated at Nanam, North Korea, during the early part of August 1949, composed of Korean veterans of the Chinese Communist 8th Route Army's 164th Division, which had been stationed in Changchun, China until July 1949. All non-Korean troops of the 164th CCF Division were transferred to other Chinese Communist organizations in July 1949 and in their place, the division began to receive Korean soldiers from various other units of the Chinese Communist Forces. During the latter part of July 1949, the 164th Division, with a strength of approximately 7,500 men, was allegedly transferred by railroad from Changchun to Nanam, where it was integrated into the expanding North Korean Army and redesignated the 5th Division.
The 10th Infantry Division (Motorized), was a military formation of the Korean People's Army that fought during the Korean War. It was formed at Sukchon in either March or April 1950, raised from a cadre of veteran commissioned and non commissioned officers, and new recruits that were drawn from the 2nd Democratic Youth League Training Center in South P'yongan Province. The unit's original composition is unclear and the division is thought to have been made up of three motorized infantry regiments – the 25th, 27th and the 29th – and an artillery regiment, although some reports, such as those written by the Korea Institute of Military History, state that the 107th Regiment might have been assigned to the division rather than the 29th Infantry, and that there might also have been an armoured regiment attached.
The First Battle of Naktong Bulge was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from August 5–19, 1950 in the vicinity of Yongsan and the Naktong River in South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after large numbers of US reinforcements destroyed an attacking North Korean division.
The Battle of Taegu was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War, with fighting continuing from August 5–20, 1950 around the city of Taegu, South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after their forces were able to drive off an offensive by Korean People's Army (KPA) divisions attempting to cross the Naktong River and assault the city.
The Hill 303 massacre was a war crime that took place during the opening days of the Korean War on August 17, 1950, on a hill above Waegwan, South Korea. Forty-one United States Army (US) prisoners of war were shot and killed by troops of the North Korean People's Army (NKPA) during one of the numerous smaller engagements of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.
In the Battle of the Bowling Alley , United Nations Command (UN) forces defeated North Korean forces early in the Korean War near the city of Taegu, South Korea. The battle took place in a narrow valley, dubbed the "Bowling Alley", which was north of Taegu. It followed a week of fighting between the Korean People's Army (KPA) 13th Division and the Republic of Korea Army's (ROK) 1st Division along the latter's last defensible line in the hills north of the city. Reinforcements, including the US Army's 27th and 23rd Infantry Regiments were committed to bolster the ROK defenses. This battle and several others were smaller engagements of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.
The Great Naktong Offensive was a North Korean military offensive against United Nations Command (UN) forces early in the Korean War, taking place from September 1–15, 1950. It was the North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA)'s unsuccessful final bid to break the Pusan Perimeter established by the UN forces.
The Battle of Tabu-dong was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from September 1 to September 18, 1950, in the vicinity of Tabu-dong, north of Taegu in South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after large numbers of United States Army (US) and Republic of Korea Army (ROK) troops repelled a strong Korean People's Army (KPA) attack.
The Second Battle of Naktong Bulge was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from September 1 to September 15, 1950, along the Naktong River in South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the United Nations after large numbers of United States Army (US) troops repelled a strong Korean People's Army (KPA) attack.
The Pusan Perimeter offensive was a large-scale offensive by United Nations Command (UN) forces against North Korean forces commencing on 16 September 1950.
The UN retreat from North Korea was the withdrawal of United Nations (UN) forces from North Korea that took place from 2–25 December 1950.