Last Tank Crosses the Han River as U.N. Evacuates Seoul, Korea: 1951

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This photo was taken 4 January 1951 by a U.S. Army photographer as the last tank of the U.N. forces holding Seoul, Korea evacuated the city by crossing to the south of the Han River. The pontoon bridge in the photo was the last one across the Han and was demolished as soon as the M4 Sherman tank cleared off.

The Chinese Communists entered the Korean War on 25 October 1950 with over 300,000 troops. Allied forces were overwhelmed and the Communists advanced southward towards Seoul, capturing it on 4 January 1951, the date of this picture. The Allies were pushed back to a point 25 miles south of Seoul by 10 January. From that low point, the Allies fought back, slowly moving north again. Seoul was recaptured on 14 March and by July discussions for establishing a truce were in the works, although combat did not end for another two years.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
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