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As Lon Nol's government faltered, Sihanouk forged an unlikely alliance with the Khmer Rouge, legitimizing their power and enabling them to quickly gather strength. While America supported Lon Nol’s regime with military action, the Khmer Rouge’s insurgency gained ground, capitalizing on the disillusionment caused by relentless bombardments and political chaos.
The Khmer Rouge Awakening
By 1975, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, captured Phnom Penh, heralding a new and terrifying chapter in Cambodia’s history. The regime quickly enacted a radical form of agrarian socialism, expelling urban populations to the countryside under the pretense of an impending American bombing invasion. Over 2.5 million people were forcibly relocated, thousands dying en route.