People's Volunteer Army

Quick Facts: Who was People's Volunteer Army?

Subject:

People's Volunteer Army

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Chinese communist expeditionary force deployed during the Korean War.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The People's Volunteer Army (PVA), officially the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV), was the designation for the Chinese communist contingent of armed expeditionary forces deployed by the People's Republic of China during the Korean War. Although all units in the PVA were actually transferred from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) under the orders of Chairman Mao Zedong, the PVA was separately constituted in order to prevent an official war with the United States. The PVA entered Korea on 19 October 1950 and completely withdrew by October 1958.

Career & Major Achievements

The nominal commander and political commissar of the PVA was Peng Dehuai before the ceasefire agreement in 1953, although both Chen Geng and Deng Hua served as the acting commander and commissar after April 1952 following Peng's illness. The initial (25 October – 5 November 1950) units in the PVA included 38th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 50th, 66th Corps; totalling 250,000 men.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

About 3 million Chinese civilian and military personnel had served in Korea throughout the war. Although the United Nations Command (UNC) forces were under United States command, this army was officially a UN "police" force.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1950: 1950 Milestone — The PVA entered Korea on 19 October 1950 and completely withdrew by October 1958.
2. 1953: 1953 Milestone — The nominal commander and political commissar of the PVA was Peng Dehuai before the ceasefire agreement in 1953, although both Chen Geng and Deng Hua served as the acting commander and commissar after April 1952 following Peng's illness.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: People's Volunteer Army

True or False: “The People's Volunteer Army was formed solely to fight the forces of the United Nations Command (UNC) and had no political relationship with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).”

Answer (FALSE ❌): This is a misconception; while the PVA was separately constituted for political reasons, all its units were actually transferred from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) under the orders of Chairman Mao Zedong.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdullah Gül — Historical peer (Born in 1950) (1950): Turkish politician who served as President (2007-2014) and Prime Minister.
• Agnes Smedley — Historical peer (Died in 1950) (1950): American journalist and activist supporting Indian Independence and Chinese Communism.
• Abhijeet Bhattacharya — Historical peer (Born in 1958) (1958): Veteran Indian playback singer known for Hindi, Bengali, and diverse regional music.
• Alec Baldwin — Historical peer (Born in 1958) (1958): Versatile American actor known for dramatic depth and comedic timing.
• Ahmad Shah Massoud — Historical peer (Born in 1953) (1953): Afghan military leader, known as the "Lion of Panjshir", fought against foreign occupations.
• Alan Moore — Historical peer (Born in 1953) (1953): Pioneering British comic book writer celebrated for deconstructing genre tropes.
• Adi Shamir — Historical peer (Born in 1952) (1952): Pioneering Israeli cryptographer, co-inventor of the RSA algorithm.
• Ahn In-sook — Historical peer (Born in 1952) (1952): South Korean actress known for her early career successes in film and television.

Frequently Asked Questions about People's Volunteer Army