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| 1941–45 |
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| Under Vichy government direction, the French maintained day-to-day control. | 1 |
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| 1942 |
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| Demonstration led by monks in Cambodia. Under the vigorous young resident who took up the post in 1943, the influence of the Buddhist sangha was reduced, and Prince Sihanouk was made more visible (through sponsorship of paramilitary youth organizations encouraged by the Vichy government). | 2 |
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| 1945, March 9 |
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| The Japanese imprisoned all French military and civilian personnel, turning day-to-day administration over to unprepared Cambodians, Lao, and Vietnamese. | 3 |
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| March 10 |
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| The Japanese told King Sihanouk that Cambodia was independent, inaugurating a new era in Cambodian nationalism. (See Cambodia) (See Laos) | 4 |
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