Thai bombing of Phnom Penh
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| Thai Bombing of Phnom Penh | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Franco-Thai War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Vichy France |
 Thailand Royal Thai Air Force | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Jean Decoux Maurice Martin |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram Phin Choonhavan Luang Amnuaywinit | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Anti-aircraft defenses | Several Bombers | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Several buildings damaged, numerous civilian casualties[a] | Minimal | ||||||
The Thai bombing of Phnom Penh refers to an aerial attack carried out by the Royal Thai Air Force on the city of Phnom Penh, the capital of French-controlled Cambodia, on January 13, 1941, during the Franco-Thai War.
Background
The Franco-Thai War, which took place from October 1940 to May 1941,[b] was primarily driven by Thailand's ambition to reclaim territories in Laos and Cambodia that had been ceded to French Indochina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The conflict occurred during World War II, a period when France was significantly weakened by the German occupation.
The bombing
On January 13, 1941, Thai military aircraft launched an aerial bombardment on Phnom Penh, the capital of French-controlled Cambodia, as part of a broader military campaign aimed at weakening French defenses and asserting Thailand's territorial claims.[1][failed verification] The bombing inflicted significant damage on the city's infrastructure, targeting key buildings and facilities to disrupt French control.[2][failed verification]
Aftermath
The attack resulted in numerous civilian casualties, though precise figures remain unclear due to the lack of detailed records.[3][failed verification] Eyewitness accounts and limited documentation suggest that the bombing had a profound impact on the city's populace, causing widespread panic and contributing to the overall strain on French colonial forces in the region.[1][failed verification] Despite the significant damage and loss of life, comprehensive records of the extent of the destruction and the exact number of casualties are not well-documented, leaving many aspects of the event shrouded in uncertainty.[3][failed verification]
Notes
- ^ a b Tucker, Spencer C. (2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History. ABC-CLIO.
- ^ Baker, Chris; Pasuk Phongpaichit (2009). A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b Dommen, Arthur J. (2001). The Indochinese Experience of the French and the Americans: Nationalism and Communism in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Indiana University Press.