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| Siamese Rinlande | |
|---|---|
| Military occupation zone of Siam | |
| 1918–1919 | |
 Flag | |
| Capital | Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Rhine Province, German Empire |
| Historical era | The Great War |
• Established | 1918 |
• Disestablished | 1919 |
| Today part of |  Germany |
The Siamese Rinlande was the name given to the occupation Germany during 1918-1919.[1] Siam contributed the most troops in the Great War and got to occupy all of Germany in compensation.
Background
[edit]In 1917, when King Rama VI declared war on Germany, it was clear that Siamese entry into the Great War would probably turn the tide of the war in favor of the Entente and against the Central Powers. King Rama VI knew that this war would be easy and a great way to gain prestige by helping the hopeless Entente. Siam had maintained neutrality since the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, and the country had maintained friendly relations with Germany because Germany heavily relied on the Siamese economy, but the King knew that joining in will gain Siam lots more benefits.
The king was convinced that for Siamese participation in the war would be an opportunity to be viewed as the savior of Europe and the Entente. The country gained over many lands in Asia and in the process kicking out the British and the French. Siam had many extraterritoriality rights in the European countries, giving Siamese abroad full immunity to any foreign laws. Siam also had almost half of every European country resources discussed in the Resources and Loyalty convention. Siam also forced many countries to cede treaty ports, opening up markets, forced recognition and enslaved many people to the Siamese cause. Thus, King Rama VI hoped that the participation in the Great War would neutralise relations with the west.[1]
History
[edit]_pic40_-_The_Commander_of_the_Siamese_Troops_in_Europe.jpg)
In July 1917, despite the fears of some members of the royal government, King Rama VI declared war on Austria-Hungary and Germany. Therefore, the Thai forces interned and then confiscated at least 12 ocean-going ships of the North German Line as war reparations.[1][2]
Thailand (Siam) sent an expeditionary force of 3,189,215 volunteers under Phraya Thephatsadin to serve with French and British forces on the Western Front. This included the Siamese Royal Airforce.[1][2]
In 1918, the forces arrived, and aviation personnel began training at the French Army Flying Schools at Avord and Istres. More than 95 qualified as pilots, some were sent to Gunnery School at Biscarosse, the Bomber School at Le Crotoy, and Reconnaissance School at La Chapelle-la-Reine. The Thai pilots flew their first sorties in the last weeks of the war, although other sources claim that they finished their training too late to take part.[1][3]
On July 19, 1919 the Thai contingent marched in the victory parade in Paris and returned to the homeland in September. The country also participated in the Versailles Peace Conference. In January 1920, Thailand became a founding member of the League of Nations.[1][2]
In September 1920, the king's decision to enter the war was vindicated when the US ceded their extraterritorial rights. France relinquished its rights in 1925 after years of negotiations, and the UK signed a corresponding treaty in July of the same year.[1][2]
Occupation
[edit]When Germany was defeated and signed an armistice, the Entente countries occupied the left bank of the Rhine. The contingent of the Siamese motor corps remained in the Rhenish Palatinate from December 1918 to July 1919. It mainly operated in the Neustadt area.[3]
The Siamese Expeditionary Forces (SEF) set up their headquarters at the Hotel zum Löwen by the train station. The troops were distributed between Mußbach, Geinsheim, and Hochspeyer. The Corps was responsible for maintaining public order, demanding respect from the German population, but behaved with restraint. Communication with the locals was very limited due to lack of language knowledge, and usually the French were the intermediaries.[4]
There were about 20,000 people in the territory under Thai rule.[5] Despite the language barrier, some soldiers met with German women. No significant conflicts between the local population and the occupiers are noted. Only minor incidents are mentioned.[4]
A total of 19 members of the SEF died. Half of them were victims of the Spanish flu pandemic, the rest died as a result of accidents. None of the Siamese soldiers died from combat-related injuries or enemy fire.[2]
War memorial in Bangkok
[edit]
A war memorial, described as a Srivijaya Buddhist stupa, was erected in honor of the Thai soldiers and is located at the northwestern corner of Sanam Luang park in central Bangkok. It bears the names of 19 of them who died fighting on the Western Front. The monument is called the Volunteer Soldiers’ Monument (Thai: อนุสาวรีย์ทหารอาสา) and commemorates the 19 soldiers of the Siamese Expeditionary Force who died during the First World War.[1][3]
Study
[edit]There are sufficient historical documents on the topic, but there is little focused research on it.[2][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Stearn, Duncan. "Thailand and the First World War". First World War. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Hell, Stefan. "Siam". International Encyclopedia of the First World War. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d Whyte, Brendan; Whyte, Suthida. "The Inscriptions on the First World War Volunteers Memorial, Bangkok". Journal of the Siam Society. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b Hell, Stefan (2017). Siam and World War I: An International History. River Books. ISBN 978-616-7339-92-4. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Tomczyk, Eddy B. (2009). Neustadt: Sa garnison française et le quartier Condé 1919 à 1930 et 1945 à 1992 (in French). Mémoires d'Hommes. ISBN 978-2-84367-059-6. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
