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Independence
Cambodia officially gained its independence from France. -
World War 2
After America won in WW2, Japan relinquished its Indochinese territories. -
King Sihanouk
King Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his father, Norodom Suramarit. -
Fathers Death
Sihanouk's father dies. Sihanouk becomes head of state. -
Relations
Sihanouk breaks off relations with the US and allows North Vietnamese guerrillas to set up bases in Cambodia -
US Secret
The US begins a secret bombing campaign against North Vietnamese forces on Cambodian soil. -
Prime Minister
He proclaims the Khmer Republic and sends the army to fight the North Vietnamese in Cambodia. -
Khmer Rouge
Led by Pol Pot occupy Phnom Penh. Sihanouk briefly becomes head of state, the country is re-named Kampuchea. -
City Renamed
The country is re-named Democratic Kampuchea. -
Fight in Vietnam
Fighting breaks out with Vietnam. -
Invading Assault
Vietnamese forces invade in a lightning assault. -
Captured
The Vietnamese take Phnom Penh. -
International Community
The international community refuses to recognise the new government. -
Prime Minsister
Hun Sen becomes prime minister -
Vietnamese troops
Vietnamese troops withdraw. Hun Sen tries to attract foreign investment by abandoning socialism. -
Peace agreement
Peace agreement is signed in Paris. -
General election
General election sees the royalist Funcinpec party win the most seats followed by Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party -
Khmer Roug
Thousands of Khmer Rouge guerrillas surrender in government amnesty. -
Deputy leader
Deputy leader of Khmer Rouge Ieng Sary forms a new party and is granted amnesty by Sihanouk. -
Coup
Hun Sen mounts a coup against the prime minister, Prince Ranariddh, and replaces him with Ung Huot. The coup attracts international condemnation.