Preventing the Enemy from Landing at Wonsan
(April 13, 1951)

Comrade Dehuai:[1]
Your telegram of 24:00 on April 10 has been received.[2] (1) I fully agree with your planned disposition; it is hoped that you will resolutely carry it out according to the situation. (2) To prevent the enemy from landing at Wonsan, it seems necessary to station the main force of the 42nd Army inside and in the vicinity of Wonsan city to ensure the security of Wonsan. Please consider and decide.

Mao Zedong
April 13

[1] Dehuai refers to Peng Dehuai, who was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.
[2] Refers to Peng Dehuai’s telegram of 24:00 on April 10, 1951, to Mao Zedong concerning the disposition for the Fifth Campaign. The telegram stated: Our operational intention is to break open a gap along the line from Gimhwa to Gapyeong, using the large mountainous area in this region to split the enemy forces east from west. Then, the 9th Army Group and the 19th Army Group will carry out a two-wing encirclement of the enemy on the western front, while the 3rd Army Group launches a frontal attack, in order to isolate and annihilate the enemy piecemeal. We will strive to destroy several enemy divisions north of the 38th Parallel and, once successful, develop the operation in depth. As for the timing of the attack, if the enemy advances rapidly, we plan to begin around April 20, with all army groups completing assembly by April 15, though the schedule will be somewhat rushed; if the enemy does not advance quickly, we will launch the offensive in early May.

Preventing the Enemy from Landing at Wonsan
Manuscript of Mao Zedong’s telegram to Peng Dehuai.