University of Wisconsin - Extension

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 1, on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) offers a fresh look at the Korean Conflict with the program Battle For Korea.

With newly discovered archival film and diplomatic intelligence available since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the program examines an often-misunderstood aspect of the hostilities, the military strategy, assets and tactics used by both sides.

The Korean Conflict drew combatants from 20 nations and claimed a staggering number of lives: 37,000 Americans, one million Korean civilian and military personnel and more than 500,000 Chinese troops. It's a conflict that continues to have diplomatic ramifications even today.

The documentary looks at the military aims of the confrontation, including the first combat engagements of the jet age and the beginning of air-to-air warfare between American pilots and their Soviet counterparts.

Battle for Korea showcases never-before-seen archival film from China, Korea and the Soviet Union showing the Korean People's Army (North Korea) and their allies, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, in action.

Material from Soviet and Chinese archives throws new light on the origins of the conflict, revealing that neither Soviet leader Joseph Stalin nor Chinese leader Mao Zedong ordered North Korea to invade the South. Both wanted to avoid a direct clash with the United States. North Korean leader Kim Il Sung maneuvered both allies into backing his invasion plans. Stalin, in turn, made sure that if the invasion failed the Chinese, not the Soviet Union, would fight the Americans.

WPT is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/Madison, WPNE-TV/Green Bay, WHRM-TV/Wausau, WLEF-TV/Park Falls, WHLA-TV/La Crosse and WHWC-TV/Menomonie-Eau Claire.