Video: 'Korean War- PART 15, The Rout of the UN, 6.25' (Second Phase Offensive at 4:36)

(Saturday, November 25, 1950, 5:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time; during the Second Phase Offensive, part of the Korean War and the Cold War) — One day after United Nations Command (U.S./UN) forces launched the Home-by-Christmas Offensive to expel Chinese forces from Korea and to end the Korean War, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) launched it’s Second Phase Offensive today with the strength of between 300,000-390,000 soldiers.

Video: 'PBS - American Experience - Truman (1997) 5of5' (Second Phase Offensive at 28:04)

Casualties were heavy on both sides. The battles were fought in temperatures as low as -22 °F and casualties from frostbite may have exceeded those from battle wounds.

U.S. intelligence and air reconnaissance failed to detect the large numbers of Chinese soldiers present in North Korea, so the Chinese attacks came as a surprise. The Home-by-Christmas offensive, with the objective of conquering all of North Korea and ending the war, was quickly abandoned in light of the massive Chinese assault.

The Second Phase Offensive forced all UN forces to go on the defensive and retreat. China had recaptured nearly all of North Korea by the end of the Offensive.