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Japanese-sponsored independence 1945
In 1945, they could not cover their retreat, the Japanese, gave their independence to some of the colonies to protect towards southeast Asia, including the protector/kingdom of Cambodia. Yet, the lack of proper preparation, the suddenness of the event, the Japanese put on the path of the Cambodian state in it’s lack to assert the legitimate gambling of the means of violence greatly contributed to weaken the Cambodian state authority. -
france 1946
france re-establishes protectorate. France cleaned up the Saar from the Allied zones of occupation and established the separate Saar Protectorate, which was no longer under the joint Allied jurisdiction by the Allied Control Council for Germany. -
Saloth Sâr 1949
Saloth Sâr (later Pol Pat) educated in Paris and founded “Cercle Marxiste” Born to a prosperous farmer in Prek Sbauv, French Cambodia, Pol Pot was educated at some of Cambodia's most elite schools. While in Paris.He joined the French Communist Party. -
Cambodia wins independence 1953
Cambodia wins independence, the kingdom of Cambodia is declared. In 1953, he was successful to gain full independence, and France agreed to decolonize the whole country.Sihanouk, declaring that he would not return until the French gave assurances that full independence would be granted. He then left Phnom Penh in June to go into self-imposed exile in Thailand. -
Sihanouk 1955
Sihanouk abdicated in 1955 and was succeeded by his father, Suramarit, so as to directly participate in politics. Sihanouk's political organization Sangkum won the general elections that year and he became prime minister of Cambodia. -
Sihanouk breaks 1965
Sihanouk breaks off relations with the US over the Vietnam War. He allows North Vietnamese guerrillas to set up supply bases in the country.Windows had been broken and the embassy's American flag burned. A few placards were seen calling on the United States to go home. The police, who had arrived late, made only perfunctory efforts to control the demonstrators and instead were reportedly “standing around watching the festivities.” -
Sihanouk attempt 1967
As part of Sihanouk’s attempt to re-normalize US relations. Jacqueline Kennedy visits Cambodia on a personal trip. He tries to persuade them to get back together with the US.He also made some promises to. -
Sihanouk re-establishes 1969
Sihanouk re-establishes diplomatic relations with US; orders attacks on Vietnamese Communists in the country. US again begins secret bombing on Cambodian soil against North Vietnamese , -
US continues 1970
Us continues bombing in support of the South Vietnamese operations in Cambodia; Nixon announces US forces enter the country to disrupt North Vietnamese and Viet Congress bases. -
Cambodia suffers 1971
Until 1971, aiming to decimate the vegetation that provided the Vietcong with cover and sustenance, the U.S. sprayed nearly 19 million gallons of defoliants, at least 11 million gallons of which was Agent Orange. But the guerrillas’ infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail jutted into Cambodia and Laos; where it did, American bombs and Agent Orange often followed. -
Nixon orders 1972
Nixon orders the ‘Christmas Bombing’ of North Vietnamese cities. Having been overwhelmingly reelected to a second term, President Richard Nixon on this day in 1972 ordered the start of a massive, two-week bombing campaign of communist North Vietnam. The bombing campaign, dubbed Linebacker II, continued until Dec. 29. -
Henry Kissinger 1973
Henry Kissinger receives Noble Peace Prize. Co-winner North Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho refuses to accept the prize as peace not achieved. -
US continues 1974
US continues to provide aid. Aid for severely malnourished civilian population was inconsistently distributed by Cambodian government. The Act effectively eliminated aid and military funding for South Vietnam. Direct US involvement in Vietnam was already prohibited under the Case–Church Amendment, and the termination of US funding and indirect support for South Vietnam was a significant factor leading to the Fall of Saigon. -
April 17th
April 17th, the Khmer Rouge occupy Phnom Penh begins. The Fall of Phnom Penh was the capture of Phnom Penh, the capital of the Khmer Republic, by the Khmer Rouge on 17 April 1975, effectively ending the Cambodian Civil War. At the beginning of April 1975, Phnom Penh, one of the last remaining strongholds of the Khmer Republic, was surrounded by the Khmer Rouge and totally dependent on aerial resupply through Pochentong Airport. -
Vietnam takes 1979
Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge flee to northern border area. The People’s Republic of Kampuchea is declared. On 8 January 1979 the pro-Vietnamese People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was established in Phnom Penh, marking the beginning of a ten-year Vietnamese occupation. During that period, the Khmer Rouge's Democratic Kampuchea continued to be recognised by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Kampuchea, as several armed resistance groups were formed to fight the Vietnamese occupation. -
The pro-Vietnam 1981
The pro-Vietnam Kampuchean People’s Revolutionary Party wins general elections. The international community does not recognize the new government. The government-in-exile, including the Khmer Rouge and Sihanouk, retains UN seat. -
Vietnamese troops 1989
Vietnamese troops withdraw. The state of Cambodia is declared. Buddhism re-established as the state religion. Under diplomatic and economic pressure from the international community, the Vietnamese government implemented a series of economic and foreign policy reforms, and withdrew from Kampuchea in September 1989. -
Peace agreement 1991
Peace agreement signed in Paris. The UN transitional authority is formed, and Sihanouk becomes head of state. The Paris Peace Agreements, formally titled Comprehensive Cambodian Peace Agreements, were signed on October 23, 1991, and marked the official end of the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. -
Royalist part 1993
Royalist party wins general election, followed by Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). UNTAC agrees to power sharing. Funcinpec’s Prince Norodom Ranariddh becomes prime minister with Hun Sen as deputy. Ministries shared by their two parties. Monarchy is restored with Sihanouk as King. The Kingdom of Cambodia is declared. The government-in-exile loses the UN seat. -
Grenade attack 1997
About 200 supporters of the opposition politician Sam Rainsy gathered in a park across the street from the National Assembly in Phnom Penh to denounce the judiciary's lack of independence and judicial corruption. In a well-planned attack, four grenades were thrown into the crowd, killing protesters and bystanders, including children, and blowing limbs off street vendors. An FBI investigation concluded that Cambodian government officials were responsible for the attack.