The Objective Truth

In the late 1930s, fascism gained popularity in several countries, including Italy, Germany, Japan, and eventually Spain. Inspired by their success, Plaek Phibunsongkhram implemented the Thai Cultural Revolution. The revolution aimed to establish a militaristic fascist nation, emphasizing national unity, military power, and Thai culture. In 1940, Phibun saw an opportunity to reclaim lost territories from the French in Cambodia and Laos, inspired by the victories of Germany and Japan against the French.

In 1938, Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoye criticized the League of Nations and expressed Japan's commitment to establishing a new global order. He wanted Asian nations free from Western influence and protected by Japan. In 1940, Japan preyed on France's defeat and issued an ultimatum to Indochina, demanding the closure of important transportation routes and port access to China. Despite initial resistance, Indochina complied due to a lack of support from Britain and the US. Japan continued to make demands, including naval basing rights and the closure of the Chinese border. The fact that the British Commonwealth did appease Japan by closing the Burma Road into China and America's reluctance to intervene emboldened Japan to pursue a southern advance.

The Dieppe raid was a highly controversial and violent event involving Allied Forces. In 1942, over 6,000 soldiers from Canada, Britain, and America attacked the German-occupied French city of Dieppe. The objective was to gain a foothold in mainland Europe, gather information, and evaluate new strategies and equipment. Unfortunately, the raid turned disastrous, with horrendous casualties, significant losses, and minimal gains. Music by Scott Buckley | https://www.youtube.com/@ScottBuckley sb_helios by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/library Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/