Early Years
He was born Plaek Khittasangkha in Nonthaburi Province to Keed Khittasangkha and his wife. Keed was of Chinese-Thai heritage; his father was a Cantonese-speaking Chinese immigrant. His parents owned a durian orchard. He received his given name - Plaek, meaning "strange" in Thai - because of his unusual appearance as a child. Plaek Khittasangkha studied at Buddhist temple schools, then was appointed to Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He graduated in 1914 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the artillery. Following World War I, he was sent to study artillery tactics in France. In 1928, as he rose in rank, he received the honorary title of Luang from King Prajadhipok and became Luang Phibunsongkhram. He would later adopt Phibunsongkhram as his surname.
Read more about this topic: Plaek Phibunsongkhram
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