The Korean War: No Victors, No Vanquished

by Stanley Sandler

The Korean War has been termed "The Forgotten War" or the "Unknown War." It is a conflict which never assumed the mythic character of the American Civil War or World War II. However, this book asserts, it would be impossible to understand the Cold War and indeed post 1945 global history without knowledge of the Korean War.

Providing a history of the Korean peninsula before the war and including a detailed analysis of the fighting itself, The Korean War goes beyond the battlefield to deal with the war in the air, ground attack, and air evacuation. The study also evaluates the contributions of the UN naval forces, the impact of the war on various homefronts and issues such as defectors, opposition to the war, racial segregation and integration, POWs and the media.

Recently-released Soviet documents are used to assess the role of China, the Soviet Union, North and South Korea and the allied forces in the conflict. This fascinating work offers a unique analysis of the Korean War and will be invaluable to students of twentieth-century history, particularly those concerned with American and Pacific history.

Genres: History

344 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1999, Stanley Sandler's The Korean War : No Victors, No Vanquished is a full fledged survey history of the whole war from beginning to end, taking advantage of access to the Soviet Records then becoming available. He clearly could not have foretold that the post Korean war stalemate would continue for another 22 years... but his book can really help explain why the conditions are there for it to continue... Sandler, an author on Military and Naval topics, covers the history of the Archipelago up tp WWII, the pre-war period, the North Korean Attack, The Pusan Perimeter, the Inchon Landing, The UN/Allied Overreach in the Winter of 50/51, the retreat- and then the stalemate around the 38th Parallel, the Air War, the Naval War and then the results of the ceasefire. There was not quite enough emphasis on the later line straightening phase of the war that I wanted to learn more about- but that's a small flaw in a book that covers so sprawling a topic. I enjoyed every minute of the book and learned a great deal about the war I had not known.

Sandler was writing just as we were learning that the war was not Stalin's nor Mao's idea. Kim Il Sung was playing both Communist leaders off against and for each other. But Sandler is also honest about the authoritarian nature of the Syngman Rhee South Korean government, it's forays over the border- and the significant Partisan/Resistance movements it was fighting before the war. When the war happens- his coverage of the first UN military effort- including some little known units like Belgian Paras and an Indian Field Hospital - is really most interesting. I knew about a few of the topics covered, in particular the Chosin Reservoir battles- but a lot of other facets of the war were new ground. I think any reader- military history buff or general non-fiction type will learn a lot and enjoy the path...

There are a lot of adult themes, but few granular graphic passages, so this is a good book for a history oriented Junior Reader over about 12/13 years of age. This is a real boon for the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast. The Gamer gets a lot more information on the war- the choice of a lot more scenario ideas than just refighting Chosin /Inchon all over again. There is also a lot of respect for Chinese/North Korean military successes- so a reader just used to reading about Chi-Com "Human Wave" attacks will get an education on subterfuge and misdirection- both Chinese And Communist style moves. The Modeler of any UN Nation that sent a contribution will get ideas- as will any US/Korean modeler- for Dioramas and builds. The Military Enthusiast will get a good framework of understanding of the entire conflict- within which they will probably want to learn more. I give this book a hearty recommendation - as an introduction to a complex conflict.

[Ginger Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does the job nicely for anyone (like myself) who knows very little about the Korean War, filling in all the geo-political background to the conflict and then running comprehensively through its major events without going too heavily into all the military detail.

In a bid to cover all angles the book becomes rather bitty at the end, but overall it’s a thorough and entertaining read.

The author is generally careful to be even-handed but on the other hand is not afraid to voice his often scathing opinions on the conduct of the war by both sides.

His conclusion: though this has become a ‘forgotten’ conflict, it was an important one in the context of the Cold War, and allowed the West (notwithstanding later events in Vietnam) to draw a line in the sand against communist expansionist aggression.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being there isn't a lot written about the Korean War, this was given a 4 star. I hope to get involved a little more into reading what material is published on the Korean War in the future.

[Mindbait]

Read this as I always found 20th centuries wars to be fascinating, but knew nothing about the Korean war.

The book seemed like a weird mix of even-handed AND biased. That is to say that the author was careful to lay out all of the facts, and all of the successes and mistakes of both sides. However, his tone was very much biased towards the UNC. Mistakes made by North Korea and China are labelled as 'blunders' or 'bumbling', whereas things like the Americans accidentally napalming a regiment of NZers, the Brits accidentally machine gunning some Australian soldiers or the Americans accidentally napalming a squad of British soldiers are written off as "understandable mistakes".

[Randy Compton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never having read a book on the Korean War, I was not sure what to expect. Most of my information or misinformation came from the MASH TV show. This book was helpful in relating the Korean War to the Cold War and the post WWII world of the time. Good introduction--made me want to read more on the subject--especially about US history during the '50s.

[Kirk Bower]

Very well done. I found this book to be better than is Interpretative History book.