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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 960　11 September 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0711)　4 September 1950

(Ref to ATIS Rpt No. 532)

PW appeared to be intelligent and cooperative. PW insisted 5th Div (164th Div) and 6th Div (166th Div) never entered CHINA but instead fought the Chinese Nationalist Forces within MANCHURIA.

PW considered reliable by interrogator.

In 1947 or earlier Chinese Communist Army in YENAN (延安), CHINA, established Army Districts (軍区) for purposes of strengthening military control. A total of four (4) Army Districts were established as follows: First Army District - West coast or SHANHSI Area (山西方面); Second Army District - Area including NANKING (南果), HANKOW (漢口); Third Army District - Area including PEIPING (北平), TIENTSIN (天津), SHANTUNG (山東); Fourth Army District - MANCHURIA.

(IN For Army- District commanders, refer to Personalities.)

Chinese Communist District Commanders:

First Army District - PENG, Te Huai (彭德懁) Rank, position of second-in-command, Chinese Communist Army, Age, 50 or older.

Remarks: Chinese National

Second Army District - LIU, Po Cheng (劉伯氶), Rank, none; Age, 50 or older.

Remarks: Chinese National

Third Army District - Unknown

Fourth Army District - KAO Kang (高岡) Runk, none; Age, 45.

Remarks: Chinese National

6th Rifle Div - 655 Unit (六五五 軍部隊)

13th Inf Regt - 657 Unit (六五七 軍部隊)

14th Inf Regt - 659 Unit (六五九 軍部隊)

15th Inf Regt - 661 Unit (六六一 軍部隊)

(IN: 13th, 14th, 15th Inf Regts were also referred to as 1st, 2nd, 3rd Inf Regt, respectively, by division personnel but unofficially.)

Div Ariy Regt - 663 Unit (六六三 軍部隊)

Self-Propelled Gun Bn - Code Number, Unknown

Signal Bn - Code Number Unknown

Engr Bn - Code Number, Unknown

Training Bn - Code Number, Unknown

45-mm AT Ind Bn - 671 Unit (六七一 軍部双)

1st 45-mm AT Co - MIN JU CHUNG SANG Unit (民主中双)

2nd 45-mm AT Co - HWA P'YONG CHUNG SANG Unit (和平中双)

3rd 45-mm AT Co - KYO IL CHUNGANG Unit (敎一中双) (교일중상)

4th 45-mm AT Co - TAN GYOL CHUNG SANG Unit (團結中双) (단결중상)

Medical Bn (Field Hosp) - Code Number, Unknown

Transportation Co - Code Number, Unknown

Reconnaissance Co - Code Number, Unknown

Hq Guard Plt - Code Numbers, Unknown

Ordnance (small arms) Unit - No Code Designation

(Note: Accordirg to Chinese Communist Government Population Survey released Jul 49, there were two million (2,000,000) Koreans residing in MANCHURIA.)

During the former Japanese Kwantung Army occupation of KOREA and MANCHURIA many revolutionary Korean scholars and military men fled from KOREA and MANCHURIA into CHINA, some seeking refuge with the Chinese Nationalist Government and others with the Revolutionist who obtained political asylum with the Chinese Nationalist Government came over to the Communists in YENAN and in 1941 or 1942 began organization of the Korea Volunteer Army from among the Koreans serving with the former Japanese Kwantung Army in MANCHURIA and KOREA deserted to join the Korea Volunteer Army in YENAN through secret recruiting offices located in MANCHURIA and KOREA. Strength of Korea Volunteer Army was unknown to PW.

15 Aug 45 - Termination of hostilities, World War II. Recruiting teams for Korea Volunteer Army established in Manchurian cities and areas with large Korean population. Korea Volunteer Army was to be sent into KOREA for the purpose of maintaining its (KOREA) newly-won independence. There was no age limit or education requirements.

10 Sep 45 - PW volunteered with 2,000 Koreans at CHINJU (錦州). A Korean with experience in the Chinese Communist Army arrived from YENAN, CHINA and assumed command of this unit. There were no rank insignia. Officers and NCO’s for this unit were appointed from the ranks and referred to by the positions they held (squad ldr, Plt, ldr, Co Commander). Conscripts were given training in simple basic military drills by these newly appointed leaders. Descipline was lax.

15 Oct 45 - At MUKDEN, joined by 2,000 local Korean conscripts at which time Korea Volunteer Army was de-activated and activated into Advance Column (先遺緃隊) ostensibly to proceed into KOREA as an advance unit for the main element of the yet unrecruited Koreans living in MANCHURIA.

20 Oct 45 - Advance Column (strength - 4,000 Koreans) arrived in ANTUNG. Strength increased to 6,000 by additional local Korean Volunteers. On same day, in evening, Advance Column arrived in SINUIJU. The 6,000 troops were equipped with weapons obtained locally from the former Japanese Kwantung Army. Weapons obtained included: 9.9-mm rifles, Model 1938 rifles (calibre unknown but smaller than 9.9-mm rifle), Model 1911 LMG, 9.2-mm HMG, and 82-mm Mortars. All weapons were of Japanese manufacture. The troops were trained several hours daily wherever possible.

21 Oct 45 - PW promoted to squad leader. Advance Column was disarmed in SINUIJU by Soviet Occupation Army Units on ground that no unit in KOREA except Allied Nations Unit could possess arms. Weapons were returned by Soviets when Advance Column agreed to return to MANCHURIA.

15 Nov 45 - Advance Column left SINUIJU.

27 Dec 45 - Advance Column arrived at T'UNG-HUA, MANCHURIA. During following months, strength increased to 8,000 by additional Korean volunteers from T'UNG-HUA and MUKDEN Areas.

Feb 49 - Advance Column redesignated LEE HUNG GWANG Detachment (李紅光支隊) named after famous Korean Revolutionist who was killed 1931-1936 in abortive Korean Revolution against Puppet Government in KOREA.

Jul 46 - Advance Column in T’UNG-HUA attacked by advancing Chinese Nationalist Army units. Withdrew to FU SUNG (撫城) (located in NE MAMCHURIA).

Feb 47 - Advance Column forced withdrawal of Chinese Nationalist Array from FU SUNG, advanced to K'AI YUAN (開原), North Central MANCHURIA. PW promoted to Lt.

Dec 47 - LEE HUNG GWANG Detachment redesignated Ind 4th Div (獨立四师囯) at K’AI YUAN. Strength increased to 10,000 by local Korean Volunteers. Ind 4th Div advanced after withdrawing Chinese Nationalist Army in direction of MUKDEN.

Jun 48 - Ind 4th Div redesignated 166th Div at KUNGJU (錦主).

Oct 48 - 166th Div occupied MUKDEN.

Aug 49 - 166th Div left MUKDEN. Arrived at SINUIJU following day.

Sep 49 - 166th Div redeslgnated NKPA 6th Rifle Div, SINUIJU.

Sep 49 - Mar 50 - 6th Rifle Div trained as follows: Div Hq, Div Arty Rcgt, and Div attached Units were located within SINUIJU. 13th Inf Regt was stationed in SARIWON, 14th Inf Regt was stationed in South SINUIJU and 15th Inf Regt in CHAERYONG. All units continued training in military tactics (mountain warfare) and received frequent political (Communist) indoctrination. During this period all physically unfit soldiers and those 35 and over, and those with major war wounds (in the war of MANCHURIA) were discharged from military service and replaced with new conscripts. Approximately 100 soldiers in 6th Rifle Div were replaced.

Mar 50 - Div Hq, Div Arty Regt, Div Attached Unit and 14th Inf Regt remained in CHAERYONG. Units continues military training, at SARIWON.

14 May 50 - 6th Div units departed SARIWON. 15th Inf Regt left CHAERYONG.

21 May 50 - 6th Div assembled in wooded area along KUMCH’ON - KAESONG, Highway, 6 km North of 38° Parallel. Engaged in field problems and maneuvers.

26 Jun 50 - 6th Div crossed 300 Parallel into S KOREA. No other units observed in immediate area of 6th Rifle Div invasion point.

6th Div strength at this time was 12 to i3 1000 troops. All troops with exception of approximately 100 new conscripts, were veterans of China War in MANCHURIA.

Believed to have been organized as 5th Detachment (五支隊) with Korean Volunteers from CHIL LIN (吉林), CH’ANG CH’UN (長春), CHANG DO (間島) Area in MANCHURIA between Oct 49 - Jun 50. 5th Detachment, strength approx 7-8,000 at this time.

Dec 47 - 5th Detachment redesignated Ind 3rd Div at CH’ANG CH'UN (長春) Area. Ind 3rd Div fought Chinese Nationalist Army Units in CH’ANG CHUN.

Jun 48 - Ind 3rd Div redesignated 164th Div at K’AI YUAN (開原) Area.

Aug 49 - 164th Div left CH’ANG CH’UN, entered N KOREA though NAM KYANG (南陽). Arrived at NANAM.

Sep 49 - At NANAM, 164th Div redesignated NKPA 5th Div. Began military training (mountain warfare and tactics) at NANAM.

May 50 - PW believes 5th Div was moved from HANAM to Area immediately north of 38° Parallel along east coast by rail, but PW is not certain.

5th Div strength, unknown at this time, however, believed to total 12,000 troops. PW believes 5th Div troops are veterans of China War in MANCHURIA.

As of Oct 48, the Fourth Army District was composed of twelve (12) Corps (one Corps - 3 x Div's of 12,000 troops each) and sixteen (16) Ind Div’s each Div - 12,000 troops). Corps were designated by numbers from I through XII. Div designations, unknown. Racial composition of this army was as follows: Manchurian troops 60%, Chinese (captured Nationalist) Troops - 30% Chinese Communist Troops - 10%. PW believes approximately 12,000 Korean troops (excluding units presently known as 5th and 6th Rifle Div's) were serving in the twelve (12) corps.

In Oct 48, the I through X Corps, including the 12,000 Korean troops, marched into CHINA fighting the withdrawing Chinese Nationalist Forces together with the Chinese 6th Route Army Units.

PW believes that 6,000 of the 12,000 Korean troops were withdrawn from CHINA and returned to N KOREA through ANTUNG in Apr 50. This unit from CHINA was formed into two (2) inf regts at SINUIJU and sent to WONSAN between Apr and May 50, and in May 50 (date uncertain) organized into the NKPA 7th Rifle Div.

PW believes the total Korean troops strength in the Chinese Communist Army including the 6,000 returned to KOREA in Apr 50 is 12,000.

PW is positive that neither the 5th nor 6th Div’s have ever served in CHINA.

For the Commanding Officer: