her: “I wonder if he’s thinking about other women” him: “I wonder what Thailand was up to during World War II…”

The one who convinced Thailand not to fully commit to the Axis, had the biggest "I told you so" in Thai history.

Fun fact, a Thai ad hoc group composed of a company of students and some police resisted a numerically superior Japanese landing until ordered to cease firing, losing their CO officer and a handful of others. A Thai army battalion was too far to reach them in time before the cease fire.

"If you can't fight join them" - Thailand

It's also funny that Thailand was the only country from southeast Asia* that sent their troops to Europe during ww1 to support the Allies and even took part in victory parade in Paris. Just like Japan which also was a Allied nation before they both turned into Axis.

My Thai grandma used to run a noodle stall frequented by Japanese troops. She didn’t have a bad word to say about them. They even brought her ingredients if she was short of anything. It’s so strange to hear this point of view as I grew up in the UK.

"Oriental Italy" Someone never described the Thai better.

I'm glad someone finally talked about Thailand in the war

Now I’m fascinated by how wars affected world cuisine, Pad Thai, America’s obsession with Pizza, etc

Fun fact: Thai Ambassador was the last foreign dignitary recieved by Hitler in the Bunker.

Thailand's neighbours never harboured ill will towards them post WW2 because ultimately all the Thai ever did in the SEA theater was allowing Japanese forces passage to invade Malaya and Singapore. They didn't try to claim more lands or actively fought against any of its SEA neighbours. The only countries that are still disdainful of Thailand are Burma and Cambodia, but their beef existed for centuries so its not really irrelevant to the topic of WW2

Would love to hear your take on the british colony of Newfoundland and our part in the 2nd World War.

Phibunsonkhrran or just Phibun is pronounced Pibun, Thai "PH"s are pronounced as English "P"s....... Field Marshal Pibun was definitely he most interesting Thai leader, I think, and he created modern Thailand being, by far the most influential leader in Thai history. Even today the politics of Thailand is just a reflection of his rule, and much of what any visitor or tourist to the country experiences is his doing. A kind of an example of what happens if Mussolini's fascism survives for 70 years and what it would evolve into. However in Thailand his rule is largely overlooked, the idea a commoner had more influence over the country than any monarch, that Pibun kept the Royal family as prisoners only to wheel them out to perform official ceremonies to aid his rule. That he was the one the turned army into the coup happy organisation is has been for the last 70 years and that he was strongly anti-Chinese-Thai hasn't endeared him to modern Thais or their leaders.

Honestly. Unlike italy. Thailand wasnt a voluntary ally

Thailand has a similarity situation like Italy in the WW 2. The monarchy in both country was overthrown by a dictator and later on joining the Axis power .The Thai monarchy during the ww2 has fled the country and exile in Europe and the United state but fortunately for Thailand the monarchy was able to return home right after the war was over with the allies victory.

Imagine being an axis country that keeps being forgotten.

The Allies:The Axis Powers of Germany Italy Japan Finland Hungary Romania Bulgaria Iraq Must be Punished. Thailand: Quietly Closes Curtains.

As a Thai-American, I think there's lots of similarities between Italy and Thailand in WWII, both countries with nationalistic dictators being gravitated and compelled to ally themselves with their bigger, more ideologically right-wing neighbors, being gravitated and compelled to ally themselves with their bigger, more ideologically right-wing neighbors (who ends up losing in the end and tries to jump ship before that happens), all the while the civilian population is relatively lukewarm about it. My grandma (who's currently 89) also told me stories of her as a young girl living in Bangkok during WWII, of having to hide for cover whenever the bombs dropped on the city. Another grandma of mine also told me stories of her having to live in the countryside during WWII, as Bangkok was being bombed.

Bedankt om deze te posten. Ik wist heel weinig over de oorlog in Thailand.

Very interesting as I live in Thailand. I think Thailand didn't have much of a choice really. Try to stay neutral under the threat of invasion from a super power at that time.

Thailand: Hey Japan, do you know what happened to italy? Japan: He switched sides, why? Thailand: So anyways.... *Thailand Has Switched Sides*

As a Thai/Australian who was born there, I lived in a town which ran through the Thai-Burma railway in the 1990's. I got to know Nagase and Trevor because my father was a journalist who wrote 'Captive on the river kwae'. I had a strange crazy childhood in Thailand before moving to Australia, so I had the fascination of the pacific as a hobby compared to people who lived in Europe. I have gone back to Thailand like 5 years ago for a revisit and visited Japan twice and hoping to go to Japan again. Thailand has past friendships with Japan in the past and present. Thailand today has adopted a lot of things from Japan like: Anime mascots, school systems, public transports but has a long way to go. When I went back to Thailand to revisit the places I stayed, I was more Australian than Thai and I was not used to the smell/humidity of SEA. As a weeb, I would like to see Thailand in Azur Lane as a minor red axis nation. I can imagine Akagi welcoming Thonburi into the alliance of red axis.

Saying that the Monarchy was overthrown in 1932 is kinda wrong as Thailand is still a Monarchy with the same Royal Family before 1932, would have been more correct to say that the ABSOLUTE Monarchy was overthrowned in 1932

Thanks for making a video of my country. I am proud of it.

My relatives recalled the daily (nightly) horror of the bombing raids over Bangkok. Many city dwellers needed to flee the central urban centers, train stations and other infrastructure. My mom’s friend is a daughter of a Thai fighter pilot who fought the Japanese during the first days of the invasion. He never got the plane off the ground as the airbase was overrun by the incoming Japanese troops. He was bayonetted in the buttock but survived and later retired as a Air Marshall a few decades later.

French: "Give back the provinces we have taken from you!" Thailand: "Uh..." Germany to Thailand: "Your first time?"

I've been wishing for a video like this for ages - thank you for this 🙏🏽

What a good video here !! Thank you for detail about my country in WWII :D

As a Cambodian i really love watching ur history documentary videos also thanks for this video!

Here is a list of lesser known Axis members/Puppet States/Foreign Legions (That I know I might forgotten a few). It includes a few that in some way helped/supported the Axis. King of Siam/Thailand (Mentioned in the video and title) Tsardom Bulgaria Kingdom of Hungary Romania Spanish State (It sent volunteers to the Eastern Front only, revenge for the Soviets supporting the Republicans during the Spanish Civil war but didn't join) Finland (Didn't join Axis but still invaded USSR by invading the Karelia region and other regions and battles) Independent State of Croatia (Puppet State) Slovak Republic (Puppet State) Norwegian, Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, and numerous other foreign legions recruited from conquered territories Greater Albania or State of Albania (Somewhat a puppet state) Government of National Salvation (Serbian Puppet State) General Government (Poland Puppet State) And numerous other puppet states and somewhat neutral nations there are parts that I might be wrong I do apologize for it

An extremely interesting vídeo. A topic never discussed in the common History books. Thank you for your approach to the War in Ásia. A.

A very very well made video! I learned so much, thank you :)

"Great documentary" *Shows modern day boarders of Germany and Poland instead of the 1939 boarders.

Well now i gotta see what Hoi4 can do with me playing it :) Thanks for an interesting video!

excellent video, thanks for putting that together.

ขอบคุณที่คุณได้ทำคลิปนี้ขึ้น

Thank you Hilbert for the video on my country's forgotten war efforts

8:36 not just Thai police force, but also paramilitary consisting of Teachers, Students, and Scouts. No military were stationed there due to a deal with British melayu.

My grandma is from 1920's manchuria, she luckly survived the wars and the revolutions, I always love to listen to her telling the stories of the old days, such a fascinating time back then

Thank for this series. Real interesting. I’ve never considered Iceland or Thailand in the context of WWII previously. Definitely keep going!

And Vietnam was busy fending off being invaded for the Nth time.

My grandfather was stationed in Burma during WWII the story's he had was so interesting and still have he's old photo album from Burma miss you grandad ❤️

Thank you very much from Thailand🇹🇭🤗

things i needed to know ...thank you

being someone whos been educated at an international school its always upsetting they are always mentioning huge players of major events and not actually going into detail what happened along the sideline me being thai myself ive had both sides of the world explain to whats happened in different languages and forms but all tell the same story and its nice to find someone who appreciates all of history instead what was just taught to us great video History with Hilbert

I wouldn't really call Thailand the same as Italy since they only joined due to a Japanese threat and invasion. Think it would be more accurate to call them the Asian Finland

I think it'd be interesting if you cover the Burma campaign during WW2, it was vital to supply convoys being sent to China, and the Japanese blew major railways and bridges that connected Burma, which was a huge problem for the Allies to retake or rebuild.

Hilbert, I'd love to see a video on the Caribbean and Central America during World War II. Even though there wasn't any fighting, the politics and views of the people of the region on the Allies, Axis, and the course of the war, would be really interesting.

Really appreciated the ad. I read Rana Miller’s book that the documentary is based on so am really interested in signing up for MagellanTV to watch. Thanks Hilbert.

An old set of "Instant histories" gave the start of the War in 1931 when Manchukuo was created by the Kwangtung Army. British civilians in Thailand were interned, but treated as well as possible by Thai friends. The Thai liked the British but were constrained by circumstance. Carol Hollinger lived there in 1957 and met some of these people, Thai and British.

Thank you

Very interesting topic

Thais actually won a battle against French Foreign Legion in Cambodia (French IndoChina then) on the 16th of January 1941 with the lost of 400 French Soldier, many were captured and Thai lost only 1 soldier and 2 wounded.

As a Thai, I can briefly say that whoever is close to winning, we are on that side. 300IQ

Great videos! Do one on Turkey during WW2 and one on Iran. Keep up the great content

I happy that you talk about my country thank you (เยี่ยมมาก)

As Thai and somewhat history nerd, i appreciate that you interest in our forgotten messy history and i want say a lots of things in this video. 1) in 1932, there were a group known as "knaa raat" is a huge politic group consisting of many politicians from both far left and right as well as some high military officers (Pleak and Pridi are one of them),they didn't overthrow the Thai monarchy but turn in to constitutional monarchy as there were still unfinished debates on many different ideal political utopia byThai politicians.( i can't say anything further as it's still a provocative topic here) 2)Though PM Pleak pibun. actually cooperated with Japanese, in that moment Pridi as the representative of the head of state( king Rama viii who still young) didn't sign and claimed that the alliance treaty between Thailand and Japan is void. 3)we keep in touch with both USA and Japan but neither UK nor France as we slightly hate them from the consequences of the colonization tread already so we don't really want to cooperate with UK. 4)The Japanese didn't help us in Franco- Thai war at all, as in 1941, that French were Vichy French not the Free French so we technically fight against the axis powers but the Japanese intervened because they don't want us to gained more land and power to bargain them the same story with Shan state in burma they don't allow us to take it for the same reason. We use mostly American fighter and British bomber and machine guns while use some late 19th centuries Mauser and IJ ship. We actually prepared for operation Hà Tiên the ravaged plan of the battle of koh chang but the PM called off. (Most of the archives are in Thai, it won't be surprised if you can't find it) 5)The United States of America also had a condition of all equipment destruction in order to buy their stuff which is likely to be said "force to buy" and that's why not so many stuff left in museum though some might successfully smuggled such as the last Vought OU2 on earth and ki36 one of the last two surviving planes. Bangkok were the first place were B29 bomb and we are actually the first nation to shot it down by ki43. Oh and we use ki27 retard donkey to down p51(its pilot didn't get killed). The resistance were mostly high school student in the preserve battalion as well as villagers equipped with obsolete Mauser and hunting short gun. We actually had a vickers machine gun but didn't use it There are many stuff that i one of history nerd want you tho know more than "the oriental italy" or "Kwae bridge""

My great-grandfather (now deceased) also helped aiding the Japanese army as a town mayor in the western remote area

Really digging the music in this one

I like your channel because you make videos there in-depth and not five minutes.

My highschool still has bomb shelter, just like other highschool in the same area of Bangkok. It was founded by a group of French catholic missionaries. During the war, one day, Japanese officers visited the school and discussed with the school management to use the school as one of their barracks! The French chief priest who managed the school in those days told them that the school was Italian-owned school....those Japanese left without further discussion LoL

Would not a more apt comparison for Thailand during WWII be Finland? An Axis cobelligerent, led by a charismatic and popular Marshall, that only fought in their near abroad, with border disputes stemming from recent wars, and that got off relatively lightly in the post-war peace conferences, with minimal foreign occupation/control, and that - more or less - maintained peaceable relations with its neighbors after the conflict ended. "Corporate wants you to find the difference between this Axis power and this Axis power" "They're the same pwer"

Very interesting

I did enjoy 🤠🙏

Japan: I want Italy at our side Germay: Honey, Italy has already switched side Japan: But I want Italy😢 Germany: Don't worry, we have Italy at home Italy at home:

It's kind of interesting comparing Italy to Thailand in WW2

Excellent research including your Thai pronunciation. Fun fact, the noodles used in Pad Thai are rice noodles.

ชัดเจน

I'd love to see a video on ireland during the war

Waiting for the video about Brazil in ww2 and hope one day about dutch Brazil!

so cool 🇹🇭

3:06 this gave me several strokes

Hello Hilbert, thank you for your awesome content! Since you asked about overlooked countries in WW2, can you cover Mongolia and/or Soviet Central Asia for this period, please? Thank you. Sincerely, A random Kazakh dude who lost three of his great-grandfathers in the Red Army on the Eastern Front.

Thailand can be said to be just a neutral country being forced at times to take a side to keep their independence.

Very much educational and thrilling. Please, Sir, I would like to know more about Portugal history in their own Colonies, during WWI. And the Portuguese Navy role in the Ocean Atlantic, fighting U-boat s and in Mozambique, in the Indian Ocean, fighting Germany.

ว้าว~~~ความรู้เต็มๆ

Surprised you mentioned the British attempted invasion, not many people know that at one point in time we were fighting both the Axis and the Allies simultaneously. Oh, and the 1932 revolution only ended absolute monarchy, not monarchy as a whole.

Mongolia and Inner Mongolia are super overlooked

Yeah, I remember those stories from elderlies when Japanese troops landed at the beach near my home. It was also where the preparing phrase for Battle of Malaya begun.

Home from History class now time to learn more history!

Would love to hear about Switzerland during WW2, especially why the Axis never invaded it.

China is oriental Russia Korea is oriental Poland Japan is oriental Germany Thailand is oriental Italy

Hi love vid​

Thank you thank you 😊. 🇹🇭 THAILAND ประเทศไทย

❤️

Been enjoying these videos, I recommend doing China in this series. I know about Shanghai and Nanking, but want to learn more about the conflict in general. 🇹🇼

love from thailand 👍🏻

Thanks you :D ขอบคุณ -Thai your friends เพื่อนของคุณ

More accurate: Thailand, the Oriental Bulgaria. Let me explain: I am curious about how many Thai soldiers fought outside of their borders. What numbers fought in China and Burma? I think Thailand compares much more with Bulgaria, also a relunctant and opportunistic, lesser Axis Power, than it compares to Italy. Italy was, afterall , one of the two original Axis nations ( Pact of Steel... Before Japan joined the tripartide pact) Italy had its own colonies by the start of the war, Somaliland, Abyssinnia and Libya and these colonies became major theaters of the early war; Thailand ( and Bulgaria ) did not. Performance aside, Italy invaded Albania ( previously Abyssinia... Neither colonial possessions.. but independent nations). Italy sent some air power to fight in the Battle of Britain, contributed a few submarines to the Battle of the Atlantic, fought major naval battles in the Mediterranean and sunk a few capital class British ships with submarine borne attacks. Italy sent large division level units to fight in the Soviet Union. They were the largest contributor in numbers to the Axis in North Africa. AND only after losing some of their home territory by direct invasion by the Allies, did Italy surrender and switch sides. Italy was a major player in WWII, despite the dismissive jokes about them. Bulgaria was much more similar to Thailand in its role. It primarily allowed Germany to use its territory to invade Greece ( I believe Yugoslavia too) , it did invade Greece to reclaim territory it had lost in WWI and the Balkan Wars, but to my knowledge did not send much beyond those reclaimed territories, perhaps helping in Albania too. Also similarly to Thailand (it did declare war on the US but didn't really come into combat with US forces) , Bulgaria avoided directly declaring war on the Soviets, partly because of strong traditional Bulgarian/Russian ties. Because they did not attack the Soviets, They escaped the worst effects of Stalin's occupation after the war, compared to Hungary, Romania and Czechloslovakia ( invaded/annexed/divided by the Axis). So this is much less dramatic,. But far more accurate: Thailand: The Oriental Bulgaria Finland might be ripe for another comparison as I don't think either one was officially an Axis power, but Finland did declare war on Britain)

Yea, Japan and Germany called us "Oriental Italy" because we switched side during WW2 just like Italy. The only difference is people were not so interested in WW2. People were more interested in taking back the lost territory from French. But after the Japanese forced us to join axis side it's not about just the lost territory anymore.

Can you do the Caribbean in WW2 thanks 🙏

Thailand: I apologize for the war and inconvenience I’ve caused for you.. United States: I don’t even know who you are

Thai Diplomat in DC at the time was M.R. Seni Pramoj. He was a one of the lower princes in Thai nobility and was a staunch monarchist who disliked Phibun's semi-fascist revolutionary government. So, he refused to inform the US about the declaration of war. Seni and other Thai monarchists in US and UK later went on to formed a quasi-government in exiles, known as Seri Thai (Free Thai Movement) and surprisingly co-operated with some of the left wing revolutionary in Thailand, e.g. Pridi Phanomyong (Regent of King Rama VIII).

Could you make one of méxico ?

Very Informative as i as am Englishman who lives in the Isthmus of Kra ps Have You Heard about the First Burma Railway Build by the Japanese in Thailand ?

Run with the fox, hunt with the hounds. That's Thaliand during WW2

Love Thailand from Croatia ❤️

There is a big ass monument in Thailand called "the vitory monument" dedicated to the war between Thailand and French teritories tho...

Fun fact Thai PM. name Pleak means 'Strange' in thai language

Thailand just seems very opportunistic during this war