Year Zero (Khmer: ឆ្នាំសូន្យ, Chhnăm Sony [cʰnam soːn]) is an idea put into practice by Pol Pot in Democratic Kampuchea that all culture and traditions within a society must be completely destroyed or discarded and that a new revolutionary culture must replace it starting from scratch.

Pol Pot [c] (born Saloth Sâr; [d] 19 May 1925 – 15 April 1998) was a Cambodian politician, revolutionary and dictator who ruled the communist state of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976 until his overthrow in 1979.

Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge’s totalitarian regime (1975–79) in Cambodia responsible for the deaths of more than one million Cambodians. His radical communist government forced the mass evacuations of cities and left a legacy of brutality and impoverishment.

Jan 12, 2024 · Under the leadership of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge government implemented policies—forced labor, resettlements, torture, starvation—that led to the death of 1.7-to-3 million people, or at least...

Nov 9, 2009 · Pol Pot was a political leader whose communist Khmer Rouge government led Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. During that time, an estimated 1.5 to 2 million Cambodians died of starvation, execution,...

Oct 2, 2018 · Saloth Sar used a few different aliases during his time as a revolutionary and leader. For instance, while studying in France he wrote an article for a communist magazine under the name khmer Daeum (Old Khmer). In 1970 he changed his alias from Pouk to Pol. He would later adopt the second part to Pol Pot.

Jul 10, 2023 · Pol Pot spent just four years on the world stage, as the shadowy leader of Kampuchea (formerly Cambodia) after the overthrow of President Lon Nol in 1975. Yet in that short period he virtually...

Mar 25, 2021 · Pol Pot is one of the most notorious mass genocide leaders in modern history. His actions led to the death of millions, and his legacy will forever remain that of tragedy and destruction. While much about Pol Pot has been written, many may not know precisely why he was labeled ‘Pol Pot’.

Apr 12, 2005 · On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge marched into the Cambodian capitol of Phnom Penh, captured the city, and then began one of the most brutal and ruthless dictatorial regimes in the history...

Apr 19, 2023 · Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge killed millions in Cambodia, during one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. Here is the twisted history of Pol Pot.