What do you think?
Rate this book
Indochina Monographs #17
The Khmer Republic at War and the Final Collapse: A Military History
A unique first-hand perspective on the Cambodian Civil War of 1970–75 by a senior military insider of the Lon Nol regime.
Sak Sutsakhan was a senior Cambodian general and diplomat in the Khmer Republic and the last chief of state of that ill-fated regime. He had a behind-the scenes view of the war, from the US's involvement and details of combat operations to the internal machinations of Cambodian politics.
After the collapse of 17 April 1975, when he narrowly escaped the victorious Khmer Rouge army, the US Army commissioned him to write this monograph about the war from his unique perspective. Herein, he gives a detailed analysis of the military and political evolution of the conflict regarded by outsiders as merely a "sideshow" of the Vietnam War, but a devastating force of destruction for his country caught in the maelstrom.
This military history is accompanied by numerous maps illustrating the ebb and flow of the war, as well as charts and photographs, and culminates in an account of the general’s own harrowing escape.
Sak Sutsakhan was a senior Cambodian general and diplomat in the Khmer Republic and the last chief of state of that ill-fated regime. He had a behind-the scenes view of the war, from the US's involvement and details of combat operations to the internal machinations of Cambodian politics.
After the collapse of 17 April 1975, when he narrowly escaped the victorious Khmer Rouge army, the US Army commissioned him to write this monograph about the war from his unique perspective. Herein, he gives a detailed analysis of the military and political evolution of the conflict regarded by outsiders as merely a "sideshow" of the Vietnam War, but a devastating force of destruction for his country caught in the maelstrom.
This military history is accompanied by numerous maps illustrating the ebb and flow of the war, as well as charts and photographs, and culminates in an account of the general’s own harrowing escape.
- GenresHistory
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1979
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 21, 2020
I have tried to get a copy to read but until now. Hence I can not write my opinion about this book. But I appreciate if I could get a copy. Thank for this important personal and historic record.
August 28, 2014
Sutsakhan was one of the primary figures during the Cambodian war. He was an able General if not such an able politician. This book is a record of his debrief almost. It is a valuable primary source document that provides a reference framework for any student of the conflict. It does contain some insights among the narrative. Not very well written, English was not his first language, it is however a good summary of the action throughout the Lon Nol years.
Merged review:
This is a primary source, the account of the Cambodian war by one of the leading Cambodian generals of the period and one of if not the most effective commander in the field. It is written in English though I am not sure it was not translated from the Khmer. The English expression is not that clear at times but the picture of the tragedy certainly is. I fought there during this period and it conforms to my own recollections for that particular period No doubt there was some adjustment of facts to polish a reputation but the account itself is absolutely critical for anyone with an interest in the history of the period.
Merged review:
This is a primary source, the account of the Cambodian war by one of the leading Cambodian generals of the period and one of if not the most effective commander in the field. It is written in English though I am not sure it was not translated from the Khmer. The English expression is not that clear at times but the picture of the tragedy certainly is. I fought there during this period and it conforms to my own recollections for that particular period No doubt there was some adjustment of facts to polish a reputation but the account itself is absolutely critical for anyone with an interest in the history of the period.
September 21, 2024
Good book if you're in technical details of the battles. I felt the author put too much blame on US policies and not enough on the rampant corruption throughout Cambodia at the time which, I believe, was the biggest cause of the fall of the Khmer Republic and the rise of the Khmer Rouge.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews