Initially it was mostly composed of Chinese Nationalist soldiers surrendered to the Communist side during the Chinese Civil War.
[1] During the Korean War, it was part of the People's Volunteer Army (Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV)) XIII Army Group.
[2] On October 25, 1950, the 50th Army entered Korea as part of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
It was responsible for the destruction of British 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles during the Third Battle of Seoul.
[3][4] The army's complete destruction during Operation Thunderbolt in February 1951 sparked controversies over the treatment of Nationalist POWs impressed into Communist service.