Phnom Penh in WW2 History | World War II Database

9 Aug 1945

French Indochina

A small nationalist coup failed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

14 Aug 1945

French Indochina

Son Ngoc Thanh was named the prime minister of Cambodia, French Indochina. He called for the resistance against the imminent return of the French. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

15 Aug 1945

French Indochina

During speeches, Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh of Cambodia, French Indochina urged his people to cooperate with the Japanese and resist the French. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

7 Oct 1945

French Indochina

During a cabinet meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh supported anti-French armed resistance, and proposed an evacuation of Phnom Penh should French forces pressed on the capital. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

9 Oct 1945

French Indochina

British Lieutenant Colonel E. D. Murray arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to release Allied prisoners of war and to disarm Japanese forces. He was accompanied by a platoon of Gurkha troops and other personnel. He was soon approached by Cambodian Cabinet members who were politically opposed to Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

11 Oct 1945

French Indochina

British Lieutenant Colonel E. D. Murray traveled from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Saigon, Cochinchina. Murray proposed the arrest of Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh of Cambodia, and the notion was supported by French General Philippe Leclerc. ww2dbase [Philippe Leclerc | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

15 Oct 1945

French Indochina

The British Supreme Allied Commander in Cambodia, Lieutenant Colonel E. D. Murray arranged for a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh in the afternoon in Phnom Penh. It was an ambush. At Murray's headquarters, he and French General Philippe Leclerc oversaw the arrest of Thanh for being too nationalist for British and French comfort. Thanh was handled roughly and was not told why he was being detained during the process. Thanh's chauffeur, witnessing his employer being taken away by force, drove off and warned Thanh's colleagues who might also be on the British-French list of targets. Thanh and Leclerc would board a flight for Saigon, Cochinchina before the end of the day. ww2dbase [Philippe Leclerc | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

17 Oct 1945

French Indochina

Allied Supreme Commander in Cambodia Lieutenant Colonel E. D. Murray ordered Japanese troops in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to disarm the nationalist militia Green Shirts. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]
Prince Sisowath Monireth was named the Prime Minister of Cambodia. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

25 Oct 1945

French Indochina

King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia granted an audience with Lieutenant Colonel E. D. Murray for the first time. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

27 Oct 1945

French Indochina

King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia gave a speech welcoming the return of the French colonial administration. ww2dbase [Phnom Penh, Cambodia | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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