After the Second World War and the Japanese withdrawal, Cambodia falls back to France as part of the colony Indochina. From 1950 on, the young king Sihanouk begins to demand more independence from France concerning public finance, the military, and the justice system. At the same time in Vietnam, the communist Viet Minh fight the “First Indochina War” against France for their independence. Taking advantage of France's weakness during the war, Sihanouk manages to proclaim independence in 1953. In the Spring of 1954, the French army suffers a crushing defeat in the battle of Dien Bien Phu. The conference on Indochina in Geneva in July 1954, ends France's colonial grip on all three Indochina countries Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

 

> History of Cambodia 1945 to today
> Cambodia 1945 - 1954
> Cambodia 1954 - 1965
> Cambodia 1965 - 1975
> Cambodia 1975 - 1979
> Cambodia 1978 - 1991
> Cambodia 1987 to today