Japanese Occupation of Thailand

Japanese Occupation Of Thailand

Thailand was occupied by the Japanese during World War II from the 1941 invasion until Japan's defeat in 1945. At the start of the Pacific War, the Japanese Empire leaned on the Thais to allow passage of Japanese troops on their way to invade British-held Malaya and Burma. This was not popular with much of the population, but the Thai government under Plaek Phibunsongkhram (known simply as Phibun) thought it preferable to outright Japanese conquest. After Thailand agreed to let Japanese troops pass through the country, the Japanese then occupied Thailand and later Thailand declared war on the Allies.

Although under Japanese occupation, Thailand was still in control of its armed forces and internal affairs, and the Japanese desired a bilateral relationship substantially similar to that existing with the puppet state of Manchukuo, which meant that bilateral relations between the two countries were rarely mutually beneficial. Ultimately, the primary aim was to ensure the resolution of Thailand's sovereignty and establish an independent nation that would be regarded as an equal by the Allies.

A well-organized resistance movement numbered around 90,000 Thai guerrillas, supported by many government officials allied to the regent Pridi Phanomyong, was active from 1942 on to fight the Japanese. The partisans provided invaluable espionage services for the Allies, as well as performing some sabotage, and in 1944 helped engineer Phibun's downfall. After the war, however, Thailand still received little punishment for its wartime role under Phibun.