Khmer Rouge
(Ku-MAR Roush)
The Khmer Rouge consisted of primarily young peasant boys.
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Khmer Rouge translates from French to "Red Khmer". This is the name given to the communist party in Cambodia, formally called the Communist Party of Kampuchea. Originally cooperative with the Viet Cong and North Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge assisted to defeat anticommunist forces in the Vietnam War. By 1975 the U.S forces had been pulled from Vietnam and the U.S supported Lon Nol government quickly fell. After the successfully overthrowing the Lon Nol government the Khmer Rouge began forcing all the people of Cambodia from their homes in urban areas into rural work camps. |
Young Khmer Rouge soldiers pose with weapons and smiles eager to join the fight.
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Using China's revolution as blueprints, the Khmer Rouge attempt to create a simplified life
for its people with no possession, titles, or land of their own.
Anything that would make a person unique is taken and destroyed because
it a capitalist/western idea and must be purged from their culture.
Their uniform is often described as "black pajamas" the young men of Khmer Rouge wore simple attire, as do all the people under the KR control. The KR believed they were all equal, and no one should stand out of a crowd with bright colors. The KR's soldiers consisted of resentful and desperate young men who were upset with their current situation and government. Their need for food and longing for acceptance make them easy to convince to join the ranks of the KR. With food, shelter, and clothing provided to all who is loyal to the KR they quickly gain numbers. |
Khmer Rouge Leadership
Pol Pot leading a force of Khmer Rouge forces.
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Pol Pot was college educated, and inspired by communist leaders Stalin and Mao Lead by Pol Pot the Khmer Rouge killed an unknown amount of Cambodians Estimates range from 1 million - 3 million casualties of malnutrition, starvation, sickness, and murder by the the hands of the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot's command |
Fall of the Khmer Rouge
Pol Pot made many attacks on the Vietnamese, hopping back and forth between the borders much like the NVA had done in the Vietnam War. Vietnam eventually grew tired of Pol Pots' bold strikes and summoned its forces. Finally on Christmas of 1978, the Vietnamese launched a full scale attack across the border into Cambodia and sacked Phnom Pehn by January 7th 1979, thus ending the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror.