On June 25, 1950, the Republic of South Korea was invaded by the democratic people of North Korea. Then many things began to happen and these proved to become the main meaning of the Cold War that had been going on between the Allied Powers and the Communists, since World War II had ended. The North Korean communist invasion infuriated President Harry Truman. He viewed the attack as a direct challenge to America's decision to fight international communism and its Truman Doctrine of 1947. As a result, the Korean War broke out, which lasted about three years. Just like the Battle of Stalingrad, the Korean War left enormous impacts and consequences. Both the Korean War and the Battle of Stalingrad took a toll on civilian populations, including mass executions, destruction of property, and prisoner tolls or warfare. The impacts of the Korean War on the civilian population were dramatic, although until now people can still feel them. It is estimated that civilian casualties during the Korean War were three to four million. “Many of those people thought that escape was a temporary measure; they fully expected to return to their lands after the fighting ended. Many have left not only property and memorabilia, but also close relatives." “Even after the armistice was signed in Panmunjom, psychological peace is still not part of Korean existence. Because the Korean War divided a land and separated a people. And no armistice will be able to remedy this evil." (calvin.edu). According to Charles J. Hanley, the Seoul government managed to investigate the dark history of mass political executions conducted in South Korea and found evidence showing that the Seoul government killed thousands of people... amidst the paper... ...and Community. Defense Technology Information Center, 17 March 2004. Web. 02 November 2010. "50 Years and Beyond: The Impact of the Korean War on the Peninsula Population." Calvin College: quintessentially Christian, academically excellent, always reformatory. Network. 02 November 2010.July, by the beginning. “Korean War: The North Korean Offensive, 1950.” Naval History and Heritage Command. Network. Nov. 02, 2010. “South Korea: The Syngman Rhee Era, 1946-60.” Country studies. Network. November 10, 2010. "Chapter 7: Prisoners of War." US Army Military History Center. April 2001. Web. November 14, 2010. United States. Cong. Senate. Justice Commission. Communist Treatment of Prisoners of War: A Historical Survey, 92nd Congress, 2nd Session, 1972. Ed. James O. Eastland. S. Rept. 1972. Print.Hanley, Charles J. and Jae-Soon Chang. "Focus on Japan". Focus Japan. December 2008. Web. 13 November. 2010.