On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of Korea (South Korea). This was a battle between democracy and communism, in which the United Nations supported the southern democrats while the Soviet Union, in collaboration with China, supported the northern communists. Most Canadians knew nothing about Korea in the 1950s. Despite this, the Canadian Army still sent an entire brigade there for military operations. Besides the two world wars, the Korean War remains Canada's third bloodiest overseas conflict as it claimed the lives of 516 Canadians and injured at least 1,200. Canada made a significant military contribution to the Korean War, as demonstrated by the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the Navy's defensive line protecting the United Nations aircraft carriers, and the war's ceasefire through the 1st Division of the Commonwealth. Initially, the war went very well for the North Korean communists, pushing the United Nations into the southeastern corner of South Korea known as the Pusan ​​Perimeter {see Appendix B}. Most of South Korea was captured, including Seoul, the capital. In the early spring of 1951, the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI) arrived in Korea. By this time, the UN forces were slowly withdrawing, and General MacArthur hoped that with the help of the 2PPCLI they would be able to turn the war around. Regardless, the Patricias were not fully trained nor prepared for war. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Stone, who was the Patricia's commander at the time, did not allow any of his men to go into battle until he believed they were truly ready. After two months, the Patricias entered the war and took part in a major United Nations counterattack (4...... half of document ....... “The Commonwealth in Korea”. HistoryToday November 1998: 11. HistoryToday Archives Web. May 26, 2014 Davidson, Dave. “Canadians in Korea,” n.d. Web, May 24, 2014. Futrel Frank Robert Office. April 15, 2014Tang Angie. “Reflections on Canadian Political Moderation and Canadian-American Relations.” 11 April 2014. Thor Thorgrimsson and E.C. Russell, Canadian Naval Operations in Korean Waters, 1950-1955, Ottawa: Queen's Printer, 1965. National Defense and Canadian Forces Web, 25 May 2014. “Korean War.” . Web, May 25, 2014. “The Korean War".. 2014.