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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3503　21 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI 1544)　16 February 1951

PW was cooperative and talked freely. Information seems reliable.

PW was conscripted on 15 Aug 50 at KANGNUNG (DS 9178) into the NKA Volunteer Corps. Underwent political and military training with 300 conscripts, 2 Sep 50. PW and 300 conscripts were ordered to report to the Independent 59th Unit at ANBYON (CU 7223), and 11 Sep 50, they joined the unit.

The 59th Independent Unit was a replacement unit, all new conscripts underwent advanced inf training in this unit before being assigned to units.

10 Oct 50, because of the UN offensive, PW retreated with the Independent 59th Unit northward, arriving at CH’OSAN (YF 3624) 11 Nov 50.

15 Nov 50, the 59th Independent Unit was redesignated as the 1st Regt and became a component unit of the 8th Div. The 8th Div, by this time, had suffered heavy casualties; it received other replacements but PW does not know how many. PW was assigned to the 1st Bn, AT Rifle Plat, 2nd Squad as a squad leader. PW underwent training until 3 Dec 50.

4 Dec 50, PW departed with the 8th Div south arriving at P’YONGYANG on 15 Dec 50. Here, the AT Rifle Plat was issued 9 AT Rifles. 10 Dec 50, PW departed with the entire 8th Div southward via mountain routes, passing the following places:

The 8th Div arrived at SEOUL 18 Jan 51 and recuperated.

On 12 Feb 51, the 8th Div received orders to move southward. The following day at an unknown place the div was shelled heavily by US artillery, and it then retreated after suffering heavy casualties. During the retreat, PW deserted and voluntarily surrendered to the US 65th RCT at CS 3145 on 14 Feb 51.

During the 8th Div retreat on 14 Feb 51, PW heard from his Plat leader that the 1st Regt was to defend the southern SEOUL sector, and the 2nd and 3rd Regiments were to defend the INCHON (BS9149) area at all costs.

I Corps: 3 Inf Div (8th 47th and 1 unknown Div).

8th Div: 3 Inf Regt (1st, 2nd and 3rd), and other unknown units.

1st Regt: 3 Inf Bn (1st, 2nd and 3rd), 1 AT Rifle Co, 1 x Signal Co, 1 x HMG Co, 1 SMG Co.

3rd Bn: 3 Rifle Co (1st, 2nd and 3rd), 1 AT rifle Plat, 1 x Signal Plat, 1 HMG Plat, and 1 x SMG Plat.

AT Rifle Plat: 3 x AT Rifle Squads (1st, 2nd and 3rd).

The 8th Div was heavily shelled by UN artillery on 13 Feb 51. It suffered heavy casualties and then retreated northward. The AT Rifle Platoon was not committed to battle, as of 13 Feb 51.

CHANG, Il Nam (張一南) (장일남), Lt, Plat Ldr, AT Rifle Platoon, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Division

PAK HAN, NIM (朴漢林) (박한림), Colonel, Regt CO, 1st Regt, 8th Div.

Received none.

Food was obtained through confiscation.

No ammo or clothing had been received.

PW observed 4 x JS 1 (Tank sketch was shown to PW) (Tank with muzzle brakes) type tanks in SEOUL on 11 Feb 51. These were operated by CCF troops. During daylight each tank was parked between 2 Korean houses and covered with a white cloth; they were moved to another locality at night.

PW also observed 3 rapid fire AA guns; each emplaced on a tall building, 18 Jan 51 to 12 Feb 51 at SEOUL. These were manned by NKA troops. UN planes attacked SEOUL daily, but the guns were not fired much because the NKA soldiers deserted the position as soon as a plane flew close by. None of the attacking UN planes were shot down.

All units of the 8th Div utilized telephones; runners also were used.

The morale of the troops was low because of the insufficient amount of food and clothing. Desertions were common in the 8th Div.

Approx 80% of the 8th Div troops were suffering from frost bite and frozen feet. These received no treatment but were forced to march and fight.

PW surrendered voluntarily because his unit (AT Rifle Platoon) was disintegrated and there were no reasons to continue fighting any longer.

PW saw leaflets which urged him to surrender immediately, for everything he desired would be awaiting.

He intended to surrender at the first opportunity.

The officers of the 8th Division informed their men that the leaflets were nothing but false propaganda. They said that if they tried to surrender, they’ll be shot by “colored” UN troops.

1. CCF:

PW observed an unestimated number of CCF soldiers in SEOUL dispersed in all sectors between the period from 18 Jan 51 to 12 Feb 51. PW heard from other NKA soldiers that the CCF will defend SEOUL at all cost.

For the AC of S, G-2: