Why did Thailand join the axis? (Short Animated Documentary)

Thailand is one of the lesser known of the countries that fought the allies in World War 2 and whilst it was never formally a member of the axis it was aligned with them. So why did it do so? To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.

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[ThrowerTimothy]

Fun fact: Thailand was the last country that the UK officially declared war on, on 25 January 1942 - the UK has not made any formal declarations of war since

[pridelander]

"He declared neutrality and hoped they'd just go around. They did not."

Belgium: First time?

[austinreed]

Thailand during WWII is pretty interesting. Even when the Axis lost the war, they still kept some of their gained territories and their old leader was later reinstated. That was quite the experience from Thailand.

[MatheusLB]

"... because he didn't like communists and that was good enough for the cold war"

2nd most said phrase on this channel, after "Special thanks to James Bisonette"

[Guns_Blazin]

“You’re not gonna side with Japan and invade us are you?”

“YeSiam.”

[JKribbit]

I'm half Thai-Japanese and Thai history during WW2 is hilarious to say the least. Initially Japan asked diplomatically to pass through Thailand to Myanmar and Malaya. By saying diplomatically I mean "if you don't open up, we will invade".

Thailand did not give a reply, so Japan invaded and landed in the south but met with the only resistance coming from pissed off local police and fishermen. So naturally, Japan was confused as heck. Then, Japan got words from Thailand along the lines of "chill bro, we're still figuring out what to do". Then Thailand decided to side with Japan. 😂

[lieutenantvizz]

In a way Thailand reason for joining the axis is very similar to Bulgaria's reasons

1. They wanted their old territories
2. They can't resist an axis invasion

Their way of joining the war and exiting it is also similar. They first join the war by just giving military access, and exit it by switching sides.
Edit :
They also still get territories even after lose the war.

[harveyaa]

It’s because the axis had James Bisonette

[Eternalyouthenjoyer]

The new outro background is a masterpiece 🌊

[Remitonov]

For anyone wondering if the Indochinese territories Thailand annexed were returned, yes, they were. French simply ransomed Thailand's membership in the UN for the annexed territories.

[vinnynj]

The strategically-timed placement of the tombstone reading "Foch" was just brilliant

[InalienableLiberty]

Here’s an idea: Why didn’t Cuba and Puerto Rico become independent during the Spanish American wars of Independence in the early 19th century?

[patchworkfellow]

Here’s a question that’s always intrigued me; what were the Ottomans and the Americans up to during the Napoleonic Wars? Because neither of them get much press, despite being pretty significant powers at the time?

As always, awesome video! ❤️

[tenkotatsu]

As a Thai, I always find it funny that we're only taught about the part where "Japan forced Thailand to become their alliy", skipping all the territory thirst background and everything. Plus, in Thailand, nobody accepts that we attacked French Indochina first, and the official name for this conflict in Thai is "กรณีพิพาทอินโดจีน" (gɔɔ-rá-nii-pí-pâat in-doo-jiin) which translates into just "Indochinese Dispute" lol.

[sailbyzantium]

The spoofing and homage of Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave print ** at the end of this very interesting episode was very delightful. Hope to see more of it.

** The Great Wave off Kanagawa, from Hokusai's Thirty Six Images of Mt. Fuji (c. 1830 - 1832).

[Minboelf]

When war doesn't go on the axis side:

*Switcharoo it is*

[funkyhetzer]

Last time I was this early Austria still had a coastline

[kitfisto]

Fun fact: Even though Thailand declared war on both the US and British Empire, the declaration of war never made it to the US government. This was because our ambassador to the US, Seni Pramoj refused to side with the government and decided to organise an anti-Phibun and anti-Axis resistance known as the Seri Thai (Free Thai) Movement. Also, Seni later became the prime minister during the late 1940s after Khuang Aphaiwong and then more prominently, in the 1970s.

[winstonho]

3:08. Sploosh! Greatest Hokusai tribute ever!

[justtheilluminativ]

Good follow-up video ideas:
1. Why didn’t Thailand fall to communism like the rest of their neighbors?
2. Why did Thailand avoid colonization by the Europeans?