50th Army (People's Republic of China)

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The 50th Army was a military formation of the People's Liberation Army. Initially it was mostly composed of Chinese Nationalist soldiers surrendered to the Communist side during the Chinese Civil War.^[1]

During the Korean War, it was part of the People's Volunteer Army (Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV)) XIII Army Group. It was composed of the 148th, 149th, and 150th Divisions.^[2]

On October 25, 1950, the 50th Army entered Korea as part of the Chinese People's Volunteers. The 50th Army deployed southward on the CCF west flank and remained in reserve during the CCF First Phase Offensive. It was responsible for the destruction of British 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles during the Third Battle of Seoul.^[3][4]

October 25, 1950, the 50th Army joined the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and went to North Korea to participate in the first, second, third, and fourth battles of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. In the third battle, the British Royal Heavy Tank Battalion was wiped out, liberating Seoul. In the fourth battle, on the both sides of the Han River, the tenacious resistance against the enemy for 50 days and nights hit and consumed the enemy's vital forces, ensuring the main force of the volunteers to recuperate, build up, and replenish the grain bombs, and bought time to prepare for the battle counterattack.

The army's complete destruction during Operation Thunderbolt in February 1951 sparked controversies over the treatment of Nationalist POWs impressed into Communist service.^[5][6] Returned to Manchuria in March 1951 (from 15 March 1951?) for rest and refit.^[7]

In 1985 the 50th Army was disbanded but the new 149th Division joined the 13th Army.