Cambodian Genocide Timeline

By japanime169

  • Cambodian Independence

    Cambodian Independence
    Cambodia declared independence from France, Prince Sihanouk became the king of a Constitutional Monarchy. They initiated government projects such as infrastructure, roads, and education.

  • U.S Bombing

    U.S Bombing
    The U.S began a bombing campaign in Cambodia because they thought that Vietnam soldiers were escaping/fleeing to Cambodia.

  • Cambodian Pro-American Prime Minister

    Cambodian Pro-American Prime Minister
    Lon Nol became the Prime Minister of Cambodia against the Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Sihanouk's two offenses in the eyes of the U.S were that he allied with China and he tried to keep Cambodia neutral in the Vietnam war.

  • Lon Nol and the U.S

    Lon Nol and the U.S
    In 1972 Lon Nol declared himself president, prime minister, defense minister, and marshal of the armed forces. The U.S spent 1.85 billion dollars propping up Lon Nol's Regime.

  • Pol Pot and Communist Khmer Rouge

    Pol Pot and Communist Khmer Rouge
    Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge captured Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. They renamed Cambodia "Democratic Kampuchea." Their goal was to return to the peasant economy with no division.

  • The Genocide

    The Genocide
    Khmer Rouge started evacuating people from the city under the leadership of Pol Pot. People were told they would only be gone 3 days then they could return home. Which took place in Cambodia. Well-to-do people and people from the government would be killed and people who disobeyed what the Khmer Rouge wanted would be killed. Total deaths are estimated at 3 million people who died from disease, famine, or being murdered.

  • Beginning of the Oppressive Khmer Rouge

    Beginning of the Oppressive Khmer Rouge
    The Khmer Rouge started to shut down banks, abolish national currency, and confiscate private property. All citizens wore black clothing, meals were communal, and families split up.

  • Beginning of the End of the Genocide

    Beginning of the End of the Genocide
    Vietnam sent 60,000 troops just inside the Cambodian border to observe what was really going on.

  • Khmer Rouge Response to Being Found Out

    Khmer Rouge Response to Being Found Out
    Khmer Rouge launched a Campaign where two American and one Scottish journalist were allowed to visit. They were the first outside people to visit Cambodia since 1975. In the end, the Scottish journalist was killed.

  • Vietnam's Response

    Vietnam's Response
    Vietnam launched an invasion of Cambodia. The U.S did not approve of the move to invade Cambodia.

  • Official End of the Genocide

    Official End of the Genocide
    Phnom Penh fell and Pol Pot stepped down. The Khmer Rouge regime was not over and Pol Pot was replaced by Khieu Samphan who denied genocide but admitted to around 10,000 executions.