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Ken Domon (25 October 1909 – 15 September 1990) is one of the most renowned Japanese photographers of the 20th century. He is most celebrated as a photojournalist, though he may have been most prolific as a photographer of Buddhist temples and statuary.<br/><br/> Yoshiko Yamaguchi (12 February 1920 – 7 September 2014) was a Chinese-born Japanese actress and singer who made a career in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States.<br/><br/> Early in her career, the Manchukuo Film Association concealed her Japanese origin and she went by the Chinese name Li Xianglan, rendered in Japanese as Ri Koran. This allowed her to represent China in Japanese propaganda movies. After the war, she appeared in Japanese movies under her real name, as well as in several English-language movies under the stage name Shirley Yamaguchi.<br/><br/> She was elected as a member of the Japanese parliament in the 1970s and served for 18 years. After retiring from politics, she served as vice president of the Asian Women's Fund.
Ken Domon (25 October 1909 – 15 September 1990) is one of the most renowned Japanese photographers of the 20th century. He is most celebrated as a photojournalist, though he may have been most prolific as a photographer of Buddhist temples and statuary.
Colombo is the largest city and former capital of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island, adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital.<br/><br/> Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins. It has a city population of 647,100 (2010). Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago. However it was only made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815, and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948.<br/><br/> In 1978, when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Like many cities, Colombo's urban area extends well beyond the boundaries of a single local authority, encompassing other municipal and urban councils. The main city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues. Famous landmarks in Colombo include Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park and the National Museum.
Sven Anders Hedin (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works.<br/><br/> During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin.
Sven Anders Hedin (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works.<br/><br/> During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin.
Sven Anders Hedin (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works.<br/><br/> During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin.
Rudravarna Mahavihara, or Oku Bahal, was built in the mid-17th century. The temple is located around a courtyard which overflows with chaitya and metal figures of all kinds and sizes. There are massive Garudas, elephants, peacocks, figures of praying worshippers and a statue of Juddha Shamsher Rana, who granted the temple generous restoration aid after the earthquake of 1934.<br/><br/> Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (Narayanhity Palace, Kathmandu, 19 April 1875 – Dehradun, India, 20 November 1952) was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 1 September 1932 to 29 November 1945 as the head of the Rana Dynasty.
Rudravarna Mahavihara, or Oku Bahal, was built in the mid-17th century. The temple is located around a courtyard which overflows with chaitya and metal figures of all kinds and sizes. There are massive Garudas, elephants, peacocks, figures of praying worshippers and a statue of Juddha Shamsher Rana, who granted the temple generous restoration aid after the earthquake of 1934.<br/><br/> Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (Narayanhity Palace, Kathmandu, 19 April 1875 – Dehradun, India, 20 November 1952) was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 1 September 1932 to 29 November 1945 as the head of the Rana Dynasty.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun or Rama X (28 July 1952 - ) has been the King of Thailand since 2016. He is the only son of Rama IX or King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was made crown prince by his father. After his father's death on 13 October 2016, he accepted the throne on the night of 1 December 2016.<br/><br/> Vajiralongkorn's formal coronation took place between 4–6 May 2019. The Thai government retroactively declared his reign to have begun on 13 October 2016, upon his father's death. As the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, he is also styled as Rama X. Aged 64 at that time, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne.
Juan Domingo Peron ( 8 October 1895 – 1 July 1974) was an Argentine military officer and politician.<br/><br/> After serving in several government positions, including those of Minister of Labour and Vice President of the Republic, he was three times elected as President of Argentina, serving from June 1946 to September 1955, when he was overthrown in a coup d'etat, and from October 1973 until his death in July 1974.<br/><br/> Maria Eva Duarte de Peron (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Peron (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952.<br/><br/> She is usually referred to as Eva Peron, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.
Chaim Azriel Weizmann (27 November 1874 – 9 November 1952) was a Zionist leader and Israeli statesman who served as President of the Zionist Organization and later as the first President of Israel. He was elected on 16 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952. Weizmann convinced the United States government to recognize the newly formed state of Israel.<br/><br/> Weizmann was also a biochemist who developed the acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation process, which produces acetone through bacterial fermentation. His acetone production method was of great importance for the British war industry during World War I. He founded the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel and was instrumental in the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Maria Eva Duarte de Peron (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Peron (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952.<br/><br/> She is usually referred to as Eva Peron, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Potti Sreeramulu (16 March 1901 – 15 December 1952), was an Indian revolutionary. A devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he worked for much of his life for humanitarian causes, including support for the Dalit community.<br/><br/> Sreeramulu is revered as Amarajeevi ('Immortal being') in the Andhra region for his self-sacrifice for the Andhra cause. He became famous for undertaking a hunger strike in support of the formation of an Indian state for the Telugu-speaking population of Madras Presidency; he lost his life in the process.<br/><br/> His death sparked public rioting, and Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared the intent to form Andhra State three days following.
Sao Nang Hearn Kham, Daw Hearn Kham, (b. 26 May 1916 in Hsenwi d. 17 January 2003 in Canada) was the Mahadevi of Yawnghwe one of the most important Shan States. Her husband Sao Shwe Thaik was the 23d and last Saopha of Yawnghwe and became the first President of Burma. She had five children with him.<br/><br/> She was born as Hearn Kham on 26 May 1916 in Hsenwi, Northern Shan State, as the daughter of 65th Saopha Hkun Hsang Ton Hong of North Hsenwi. Her brother would be the 66th and last saopha of the state.<br/><br/> Together with her husband she participated in the 1946 - 1947 Pang Long Agreement. In post-independence Burma she became a M.P. for the constituency of Hsenwi between 1956 and 1960 and became known for her active role within the parliament.<br/><br/> Her husband was arrested in the Burmese coup d'état in March 1962 by the Revolutionary Council headed by General Ne Win and one of her sons, who was 17 at that time, was killed in the military coup, apparently the only casualty on the day of the disturbances. She fled with her family to Thailand in April 1962 and her husband died in prison in November the same year. While in exile she participated in the independence struggle of the Shan State. In 1964 Sao Nang Hearn Kham, together with her son Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe, helped to form the Shan State War Council (SSWC) and the Shan State Army (SSA), becoming Chairwoman of the SSWC.<br/><br/> Sao Nang Hearn Kham died on the 17th January 2003 in exile in Canada at the age of 86. Hso Khan Pha, one of her five children took up her cause of fighting for the liberation of the Shan people.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Maria Eva Duarte de Peron (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Peron (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952.<br/><br/> She is usually referred to as Eva Peron, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Potti Sreeramulu (16 March 1901 – 15 December 1952), was an Indian revolutionary. A devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he worked for much of his life for humanitarian causes, including support for the Dalit community.<br/><br/> Sreeramulu is revered as Amarajeevi ('Immortal being') in the Andhra region for his self-sacrifice for the Andhra cause. He became famous for undertaking a hunger strike in support of the formation of an Indian state for the Telugu-speaking population of Madras Presidency; he lost his life in the process.<br/><br/> His death sparked public rioting, and Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared the intent to form Andhra State three days following.
Sven Anders Hedin (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works.<br/><br/> During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Maria Eva Duarte de Peron (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Peron (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952.<br/><br/> She is usually referred to as Eva Peron, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Potti Sreeramulu (16 March 1901 – 15 December 1952), was an Indian revolutionary. A devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he worked for much of his life for humanitarian causes, including support for the Dalit community.<br/><br/> Sreeramulu is revered as Amarajeevi ('Immortal being') in the Andhra region for his self-sacrifice for the Andhra cause. He became famous for undertaking a hunger strike in support of the formation of an Indian state for the Telugu-speaking population of Madras Presidency; he lost his life in the process.<br/><br/> His death sparked public rioting, and Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared the intent to form Andhra State three days following.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Maria Eva Duarte de Peron (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Peron (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952.<br/><br/> She is usually referred to as Eva Peron, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.
The Indian general election of 1951–52 elected the first Lok Sabha since India became independent in August 1947. Until this point, the Indian Constituent Assembly had served as an interim legislature.<br/><br/> The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country.
Vo Thi Sau (1935-1952), real name Nguyen Thi Sau, was a 17 year old heroine and patriot executed by French firing squad, March 13, 1952, just seven years after metropolitan France had been liberated from Nazi occupation. She was arrested in 1950, aged 15 years, for throwing a hand grenade in the market at Dat Do which killed three French soldiers. She was sent to Con Dao Prison island where she was executed by the occupying forces. Vo Thi Sau was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces.<br/><br/> The Con Dao Islands (Vietnamese: Côn Đảo) are an archipelago of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province, in southeastern Vietnam, and are a district of this province. Situated at about 185 km (115 mi) from Vũng Tàu and 230 km (143 mi) from Hồ Chí Minh City (Saigon), the group includes 16 mountainous islands and islets. The total land area is 75 sq km, and the local population is about 5,000. The island group is served by Cỏ Ống Airport.<br/><br/> The archipelago was formerly known as Poulo Condore, and it is mentioned under a variant of this Malay name by Marco Polo in the early 14th century. On June 16, 1702, the English East India Company founded a settlement on the island of 'Pulo Condor' off the south coast of southern Vietnam, and on March 2, 1705, but the garrison and settlement were later destroyed during a mutiny by the Malay mercenaries employed by the English.<br/><br/> The largest island is Côn Sơn Island (also known as Con Lon Island), infamous for its numerous prisons - eleven in all - built by the French colonial government. It was also used as a prison island after independence in 1954, by the pro-Western Republic of Vietnam regime, acquiring a fearsome reputation for isolation and brutality as well as - conversely - functiong as a de facto insurgent 'university', where many leading nationalist and communist Vietnamese were imprisoned.<br/><br/> In 1984, the archipelago became a protected area, Côn Đảo National Park, which was subsequently enlarged in 1998. Endangered species protected within the park include the hawksbill turtle, the green turtle and the dugong. Ecosystems represented in the park include seagrass meadow, mangrove and coral reefs.
The Korean War (25 June 1950 - armistice signed 27 July 1953) was a military conflict between the Republic of Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China (PRC), with military material aid from the Soviet Union. The war was a result of the physical division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II.<br/><br/>The Korean peninsula was ruled by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. Following the surrender of Japan in 1945, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38th Parallel, with United States troops occupying the southern part and Soviet troops occupying the northern part. The failure to hold free elections throughout the Korean Peninsula in 1948 deepened the division between the two sides, and the North established a Communist government. The situation escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. It was the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War.<br/><br/>The United Nations, particularly the United States, came to the aid of South Korea in repelling the invasion. A rapid UN counter-offensive drove the North Koreans past the 38th Parallel and almost to the Yalu River, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) entered the war on the side of the North. The Chinese launched a counter-offensive that pushed the United Nations forces back across the 38th Parallel.<br/><br/>The Soviet Union materially aided the North Korean and Chinese armies. In 1953, the war ceased with an armistice that restored the border between the Koreas near the 38th Parallel and created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) wide buffer zone between the two Koreas. Minor outbreaks of fighting continue to the present day.
Chaim Azriel Weizmann (27 November 1874 – 9 November 1952) was a Zionist leader and Israeli statesman who served as President of the Zionist Organization and later as the first President of Israel. He was elected on 16 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952. Weizmann convinced the United States government to recognize the newly formed state of Israel.<br/><br/> Weizmann was also a biochemist who developed the acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation process, which produces acetone through bacterial fermentation. His acetone production method was of great importance for the British war industry during World War I. He founded the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel and was instrumental in the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Sven Anders Hedin (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works.<br/><br/> During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin.
Sven Anders Hedin (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works.<br/><br/> During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin.
Chaim Azriel Weizmann (27 November 1874 – 9 November 1952) was a Zionist leader and Israeli statesman who served as President of the Zionist Organization and later as the first President of Israel. He was elected on 16 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952. Weizmann convinced the United States government to recognize the newly formed state of Israel.<br/><br/> Weizmann was also a biochemist who developed the acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation process, which produces acetone through bacterial fermentation. His acetone production method was of great importance for the British war industry during World War I. He founded the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel and was instrumental in the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Tokuda Kyuichi (September 12, 1894 - October 14, 1953) was a Japanese politician and served as first chairman of the Japanese Communist Party from 1945 until his death in 1953. He was born in Okinawa in 1894, and became a lawyer in 1920 before joining the Japanese Communist Party in 1922.<br/><br/> Tokuda was arrested in 1928 on suspicion of violating the government's Peace Preservation Law, spending the next 18 years in prison, occupying a cell next to fellow Communist leader Yoshio Shiga. He was released with the end of World War II and the collapse of Imperial Japan in 1945, and was elected in 1946 to the House of Representatives.<br/><br/> While giving a speech in 1948, Tokuda survived an assassination attempt when a dynamite-laden soda bottle was thrown at his feet. He became second-in-command of the Communist Party by 1950, but he was purged from politics under the Allied occupation. He was exiled to China, where he died in 1953.
Hussein bin Talal (Arabic: حسين بن طلال‎, Ḥusayn bin Ṭalāl; 14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from the abdication of his father, King Talal, in 1952, until his death. Hussein's rule extended through the Cold War and four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict. He recognized Israel in 1994, becoming the second Arab head of state to do so. <br/><br/> Hussein claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad through the ancient Hashemite family.
During the late 19th century, all the territory stretching from Dien Bien Phu in the south to the Chinese frontier in the north formed an autonomous region called Sipsongchutai, or ‘Twelve Tai Principalities’. It was ruled over by a hereditary White Tai prince from his capital at Lai Chau and paid tribute, at one time or another, to Siam, Vietnam or China, and sometimes to all three.<br/><br/> At this time the White Tai chieftain was Kham Sing, known to the Vietnamese as Deo Van Seng. He ruled over Sipsongchutai from his capital at Lai Chau, but was old and tired, so real power had already passed to his eldest son, the fiercely independent Kham Hum, known to the Vietnamese (and to the recently arrived French) as Deo Van Tri.<br/><br/> Neither Deo Van Seng nor Deo Van Tri wanted to submit completely either to Bangkok or to Hanoi, preferring to pursue the delicate balancing act between the two that had for long years allowed continuing autonomy. But times were changing fast, maps being drawn and frontiers delimited as modern nation states came into being in mainland Southeast Asia.<br/><br/> Accordingly in 1889 Deo Van Tri signed a treaty with France making Sipsongchutai a semi-autonomous region within the French Protectorate of Tonkin – and therefore, ultimately, a part of Vietnam.
The Druk Gyalpo (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་; Wylie: brug rgyal-po; 'Dragon King') is the head of state of Bhutan. He is also known in English as the King of Bhutan. Bhutan, in the local Dzongkha language, is known as Dryukyul which translates as 'The Land of Dragons'. Thus, while Kings of Bhutan are known as Druk Gyalpo ('Dragon King'), the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning 'Dragon people'.<br/><br/> The current ruler of Bhutan is the 5th Hereditary King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is the 5th Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown which is the official Crown worn by the Monarchs of Bhutan. He is correctly styled 'Mi'wang 'Ngada Rimboche' ('His Majesty') and addressed ''Ngada Rimboche' ('Your Majesty').
The Druk Gyalpo (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་; Wylie: brug rgyal-po; 'Dragon King') is the head of state of Bhutan. He is also known in English as the King of Bhutan. Bhutan, in the local Dzongkha language, is known as Dryukyul which translates as 'The Land of Dragons'. Thus, while Kings of Bhutan are known as Druk Gyalpo ('Dragon King'), the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning 'Dragon people'.<br/><br/> The current ruler of Bhutan is the 5th Hereditary King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is the 5th Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown which is the official Crown worn by the Monarchs of Bhutan. He is correctly styled 'Mi'wang 'Ngada Rimboche' ('His Majesty') and addressed ''Ngada Rimboche' ('Your Majesty').
The Druk Gyalpo (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་; Wylie: brug rgyal-po; 'Dragon King') is the head of state of Bhutan. He is also known in English as the King of Bhutan. Bhutan, in the local Dzongkha language, is known as Dryukyul which translates as 'The Land of Dragons'. Thus, while Kings of Bhutan are known as Druk Gyalpo ('Dragon King'), the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning 'Dragon people'.<br/><br/> The current ruler of Bhutan is the 5th Hereditary King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is the 5th Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown which is the official Crown worn by the Monarchs of Bhutan. He is correctly styled 'Mi'wang 'Ngada Rimboche' ('His Majesty') and addressed ''Ngada Rimboche' ('Your Majesty').
The Arc-en-Ciel was arguably Saigon's top night spot during the 1940s and 1950s. Located in Saigon's twin city of Cholon on Jaccareo Avenue - today's Tan Da - it features prominently in Graham Greene's 'The Quiet American' as the taxi dance venue where Thomas Fowler met and wooed Phuong.
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (January 16, 1901 – August 6, 1973) was a Cuban President, dictator, and military leader closely aligned with and supported by the United States. He served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution.
Phuket, formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang or 'Cape Salang'), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island it has no land boundaries.<br/><br/> Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
Phuket, formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang or 'Cape Salang'), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island it has no land boundaries.<br/><br/> Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
Phuket, formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang or 'Cape Salang'), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island it has no land boundaries.<br/><br/> Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
Phuket, formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang or 'Cape Salang'), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island it has no land boundaries.<br/><br/> Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
Socialist Realism is a style of realistic art which developed under Socialism in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist Realism is a teleologically-oriented style having as its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism. Although related, it should not be confused with Social Realism, a type of art that realistically depicts subjects of social concern. Unlike Social Realism, Socialist Realism generally glorifies the ideology of the communist state.
The reverse shows a herd of camels surrounded by Arabesques with a warning in French and Arabic that counterfeiters will be punished by forced labour for life.<br/><br/> Djibouti is a tiny country on the east coast of Africa bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is located opposite the gulf from Aden in Yemen, and together they form the gateway to the Red Sea. As such, Djibouti was for centuries a major trading port.<br/><br/> The less than one million population is composed mostly of two ethnicities: Somalis and Afars. Although Arabic and French are the country's official languages, Somali and Afar are widely spoken. Some 96% of the people are Sunni Muslim. Both males and females are traditionally circumcized in Djibouti.<br/><br/> In the 19th century, Djibouti was known as French Somaliland as it was acquired by France from Somali sultans. In 1958, on the eve of neighboring Somalia's independence in 1960, a referendum was held in Djibouti to decide whether or not to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France. The referendum turned out in favour of a continued association with France. Djibouti finally achieved independence on 27 June 1977.<br/><br/> Since independence, Djibouti has remained close to France, though it is also a member of the Arab League and the African Union.
The obverse shows an Indian Ocean dhow surrounded by Arabesques with 'Fifty Francs' in Arabic and French. To the left the name 'Djibouti' is printed in Arabic and Ethiopian scripts for the Somali Issa and Ethiopian Afar inhabitants.<br/><br/> Djibouti is a tiny country on the east coast of Africa bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is located opposite the gulf from Aden in Yemen, and together they form the gateway to the Red Sea. As such, Djibouti was for centuries a major trading port.<br/><br/> The less than one million population is composed mostly of two ethnicities: Somalis and Afars. Although Arabic and French are the country's official languages, Somali and Afar are widely spoken. Some 96% of the people are Sunni Muslim. Both males and females are traditionally circumcized in Djibouti.<br/><br/> In the 19th century, Djibouti was known as French Somaliland as it was acquired by France from Somali sultans. In 1958, on the eve of neighboring Somalia's independence in 1960, a referendum was held in Djibouti to decide whether or not to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France. The referendum turned out in favour of a continued association with France. Djibouti finally achieved independence on 27 June 1977.<br/><br/> Since independence, Djibouti has remained close to France, though it is also a member of the Arab League and the African Union.
Don Stephen Senanayake (October 20, 1884–22 March 1952) was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1947 to 1952.
Lee Hsien Loong (simplified Chinese: 李显龙; traditional Chinese: 李顯龍; pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎnlóng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lí Hián-liông; born 10 February 1952) is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore, and the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
From 1952 until the fall of the royal government in 1975 the country had a red flag, with a white three-headed elephant (the god Erawan) in the middle. On top of the elephant is a nine-folded umbrella, while the elephant itself stands on a five-level pedestal. The white elephant is a common royal symbol in Southeast Asia, the three heads referred to the three former kingdoms Vientiane, Luangprabang, and Champasak which made up the country. The nine-folded umbrella is also a royal symbol, originating from Mt. Meru in the Buddhist cosmology. The pedestal represented the law on which the country rested.
The Mossadeq administration introduced a wide range of social reforms but was most notable for its nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which had been under British control since 1913 through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.<br/><br/> Mosaddegh was removed from power in a coup on 19 August 1953, organised and carried out by the United States CIA at the request of British MI6 which chose Iranian General Fazlollah Zahedi to succeed Mosaddegh.<br/><br/> While the coup is commonly referred to as Operation Ajax after its CIA cryptonym, in Iran it is referred to as the 28 Mordad 1332 coup, after its date on the Iranian calendar. Mosaddegh was imprisoned for three years, then put under house arrest until his death at Ahmadabad, India, in 1967.
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha (March 1769 – 2 August 1849) was an Albanian commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli (governor), and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan. Though not a modern nationalist, he is regarded as the founder of modern Egypt because of the dramatic reforms in the military, economic and cultural spheres that he instituted.<br/><br/> During the infighting in Egypt between the Ottomans and Mamluks between 1801 and 1805, Muhammad Ali had carefully acted to gain the support of the general public. The Mamluks still posed the greatest threat to Muhammad Ali. They had controlled Egypt for more than 600 years, and over that time they had extended their rule extensively throughout Egypt.<br/><br/> Muhammad Ali’s approach was to eliminate the Mamluk leadership, then move against the rank and file. On March 1, 1811, Muhammad Ali invited the Mamluk leaders to a celebration held at the Cairo Citadel in honor of his son, Tusun, who was being appointed to lead a military expedition into Arabia. When the Mamluks arrived, they were trapped and killed. After the leaders were killed, Muhammad Ali dispatched his army throughout Egypt to rout the remainder of the Mamluk forces. Mohammad Ali came to rule Levantine territories outside Egypt. The Alawiyya dynasty that he established would rule Egypt and Sudan until the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.
Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman ("Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Royal Son and Crown Prince of Siam") (born July 28, 1952) is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit. He is currently crown prince of Thailand, and the heir apparent to the throne.
The Korean War (25 June 1950 - armistice signed 27 July 1953) was a military conflict between the Republic of Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China (PRC), with military material aid from the Soviet Union. The war was a result of the physical division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II.<br/><br/>The Korean peninsula was ruled by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. Following the surrender of Japan in 1945, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38th Parallel, with United States troops occupying the southern part and Soviet troops occupying the northern part. The failure to hold free elections throughout the Korean Peninsula in 1948 deepened the division between the two sides, and the North established a Communist government. The situation escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. It was the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War.<br/><br/>The United Nations, particularly the United States, came to the aid of South Korea in repelling the invasion. A rapid UN counter-offensive drove the North Koreans past the 38th Parallel and almost to the Yalu River, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) entered the war on the side of the North. The Chinese launched a counter-offensive that pushed the United Nations forces back across the 38th Parallel.<br/><br/>The Soviet Union materially aided the North Korean and Chinese armies. In 1953, the war ceased with an armistice that restored the border between the Koreas near the 38th Parallel and created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) wide buffer zone between the two Koreas. Minor outbreaks of fighting continue to the present day.
Vo Thi Sau (1935-1952), real name Nguyen Thi Sau, was a 17 year old heroine and patriot executed by French firing squad, March 13, 1952, just seven years after metropolitan France had been liberated from Nazi occupation. She was arrested in 1950, aged 15 years, for throwing a hand grenade in the market at Dat Do which killed three French soldiers. She was sent to Con Dao Prison island where she was executed by the occupying forces. Vo Thi Sau was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
Norodom Sihanouk (born 31 October 1922) was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favour of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni. Since his abdication he has been known as The King-Father of Cambodia, a position in which he retains many of his former responsibilities as constitutional monarch.
Having fought in the First World War and Rif War (Second Moroccan War), the aristocratic de Tassigny (nickname: 'Roi Jean') was a hero of the Free French in World War II. Later, he commanded French troops in Indochina during the First Indochina War.<br/><br/> He won three major victories at Vinh Yen, Mao Khe and Yen Cu Ha and successfully defended the north of the country against the Viet Minh but his only son, Bernard de Lattre de Tassigny, was killed in action during the war at the Battle for Nam Dinh.<br/><br/> In 1951, illness forced de Lattre de Tassigny to return to Paris where he later died of cancer; he was posthumously made Marechal de France.
Having fought in the First World War and Rif War (Second Moroccan War), the aristocratic de Tassigny (nickname: &quot;Roi Jean&quot;) was a hero of the Free French in World War II. Later, he commanded French troops in Indochina during the First Indochina War. He won three major victories at Vinh Yen, Mao Khe and Yen Cu Ha and successfully defended the north of the country against the Viet Minh but his only son, Bernard de Lattre de Tassigny, was killed in action during the war at the Battle for Nam Dinh. In 1951, illness forced de Lattre de Tassigny to return to Paris where he later died of cancer; he was posthumously made Marechal de France.
Sri Lanka had always been an important port and trading post in the ancient world, and was increasingly frequented by merchant ships from the Middle East, Persia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The islands were known to the first European explorers of South Asia and settled by many groups of Arab and Malay merchants.<br/><br/> A Portuguese colonial mission arrived on the island in 1505 headed by Lourenço de Almeida, the son of Francisco de Almeida. At that point the island consisted of three kingdoms, namely Kandy in the central hills, Kotte at the Western coast, and Yarlpanam (Anglicised Jaffna) in the north. The Dutch arrived in the 17th century. The British East India Company took over the coastal regions controlled by the Dutch in 1796, and in 1802 these provinces were declared a crown colony under direct rule of the British government, therefore the island was not part of the British Raj. The annexation of the Kingdom of Kandy in 1815 by the Kandyan convention, unified the island under British rule.<br/><br/> European colonists established a series of cinnamon, sugar, coffee, indigo cultivation followed by tea and rubber plantations and graphite mining. The British also brought a large number of indentured workers from Tamil Nadu to work in the plantation economy. The city of Colombo was developed as the administrative centre and commercial heart with its harbor, and the British established modern schools, colleges, roads and churches that introduced Western-style education and culture to the Ceylonese.<br/><br/> On 4 February 1948 the country gained its independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. It changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972.
Having fought in the First World War and Rif War (Second Moroccan War), the aristocratic de Tassigny (nickname: 'Roi Jean') was a hero of the Free French in World War II. Later, he commanded French troops in Indochina during the First Indochina War.<br/><br/> He won three major victories at Vinh Yen, Mao Khe and Yen Cu Ha and successfully defended the north of the country against the Viet Minh but his only son, Bernard de Lattre de Tassigny, was killed in action during the war at the Battle for Nam Dinh.<br/><br/> In 1951, illness forced de Lattre de Tassigny to return to Paris where he later died of cancer; he was posthumously made Marechal de France.
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung, Chinese communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, author, political theorist, and leader of the Chinese Revolution. Commonly referred to as Chairman Mao, he was the architect of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from its establishment in 1949, and held authoritarian control over the nation until his death in 1976. His theoretical contribution to Marxism-Leninism, along with his military strategies and brand of political policies, are now collectively known as Maoism.<br/><br/> Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976. Zhou was instrumental in the Communist Party's rise to power, and subsequently in the development of the Chinese economy and restructuring of Chinese society.
Hoa Hao is a religious tradition, based on Buddhism, founded in 1939 by Huynh Phy Sy, a native of the Mekong River Delta region of southern Vietnam. When America began intervening in South Vietnam, the most powerful groups to concern the Americans were the Cao Dai, the Binh Xuyen and the Hoa Hao, which had formed a small private army under General Ba Cụt. O.S.S. Colonel Edward Lansdale used bribery with CIA funds to split the Hoa Hao and in 1956 General Duơng Van Minh crushed the Hoa Hao and General Ba Cụt was captured and beheaded in public. This was the end of the Hoa Hao as an armed group, some later joining the Viet Cong in opposition to the Diem regime. After Diem was deposed and killed, the Hoa Hao changed their emphasis from anti Diem to anti Communist.
Choibalsan originally trained as a Lamaist monk. He made contact with Russian revolutionaries when he traveled to Siberia. He founded his first revolutionary organization in 1919 and in 1921 joined with Damdin Sukhbaatar to form the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. After the Mongolian and Soviet Red Army forces entered Urga in 1921 and established a pro-Soviet government, Choibalsan became deputy war minister. Over the following years Choibalsan came to dominate his country's leadership and by about 1940 his position was unrivaled in his own country. He served both as head of state (Chairman of the Presidium of the State Little Hural, 1929–1930) and head of government (Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, 1939–1952). He is sometimes accorded the military rank of Marshal. Choibalsan was a close follower of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and emulated his policies in many ways including the ruthless elimination of rivals for power and harsh treatment of landowners.
Choibalsan originally trained as a Lamaist monk. He made contact with Russian revolutionaries when he traveled to Siberia. He founded his first revolutionary organization in 1919 and in 1921 joined with Damdin Sukhbaatar to form the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. After the Mongolian and Soviet Red Army forces entered Urga in 1921 and established a pro-Soviet government, Choibalsan became deputy war minister. Over the following years Choibalsan came to dominate his country's leadership and by about 1940 his position was unrivaled in his own country. He served both as head of state (Chairman of the Presidium of the State Little Hural, 1929–1930) and head of government (Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, 1939–1952). He is sometimes accorded the military rank of Marshal. Choibalsan was a close follower of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and emulated his policies in many ways including the ruthless elimination of rivals for power and harsh treatment of landowners.
Choibalsan originally trained as a Lamaist monk. He made contact with Russian revolutionaries when he traveled to Siberia. He founded his first revolutionary organization in 1919 and in 1921 joined with Damdin Sukhbaatar to form the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. After the Mongolian and Soviet Red Army forces entered Urga in 1921 and established a pro-Soviet government, Choibalsan became deputy war minister. Over the following years Choibalsan came to dominate his country's leadership and by about 1940 his position was unrivaled in his own country. He served both as head of state (Chairman of the Presidium of the State Little Hural, 1929–1930) and head of government (Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, 1939–1952). He is sometimes accorded the military rank of Marshal. Choibalsan was a close follower of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and emulated his policies in many ways including the ruthless elimination of rivals for power and harsh treatment of landowners.
Damdin Sukhbaatar (February 2, 1893 - February 20, 1923) was a Mongolian military leader in the 1921 revolution. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in Mongolia's struggle for independence. Khorloogiin Choibalsan joined with Sukhbaatar to form the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. After the Mongolian and Soviet Red Army forces entered Urga in 1921 and established a pro-Soviet government, Choibalsan became deputy war minister. Over the following years Choibalsan came to dominate his country's leadership and by about 1940 his position was unrivaled in his own country. He served both as head of state (Chairman of the Presidium of the State Little Hural, 1929–1930) and head of government (Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, 1939–1952). He is sometimes accorded the military rank of Marshal. Choibalsan was a close follower of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and emulated his policies in many ways including the ruthless elimination of rivals for power and harsh treatment of landowners.
Choibalsan originally trained as a Lamaist monk. He made contact with Russian revolutionaries when he traveled to Siberia. He founded his first revolutionary organization in 1919 and in 1921 joined with Damdin Sukhbaatar to form the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. After the Mongolian and Soviet Red Army forces entered Urga in 1921 and established a pro-Soviet government, Choibalsan became deputy war minister. Over the following years Choibalsan came to dominate his country's leadership and by about 1940 his position was unrivaled in his own country. He served both as head of state (Chairman of the Presidium of the State Little Hural, 1929–1930) and head of government (Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, 1939–1952). He is sometimes accorded the military rank of Marshal. Choibalsan was a close follower of the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and emulated his policies in many ways including the ruthless elimination of rivals for power and harsh treatment of landowners.
The Druk Gyalpo (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་; Wylie: brug rgyal-po; 'Dragon King') is the head of state of Bhutan. He is also known in English as the King of Bhutan. Bhutan, in the local Dzongkha language, is known as Dryukyul which translates as 'The Land of Dragons'. Thus, while Kings of Bhutan are known as Druk Gyalpo ('Dragon King'), the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning 'Dragon people'.<br/><br/> The current ruler of Bhutan is the 5th Hereditary King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is the 5th Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown which is the official Crown worn by the Monarchs of Bhutan. He is correctly styled 'Mi'wang 'Ngada Rimboche' ('His Majesty') and addressed ''Ngada Rimboche' ('Your Majesty').
Queen Mother Norodom Monineath was born on June 18, 1936, in Saigon, Vietnam. She was the wife of HM King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia whom she married in April 1952.<br/><br/> She was born Paule-Monique Izzi and is sometimes referred to as Queen Monique. Her father, Jean-François Izzi, was a French banker of Corsican, French and Italian descent. Her mother, Pomme Peang, was from Phnom Penh.<br/><br/> She studied at the Primary School Norodom, Sisowath High School, and the Lycée René Descartes. She was President of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) towards the end of the 1960s, and is currently the CRC Honorary President.<br/><br/> On 22 February 1992, she was elevated by the King to the rank of Samdech Preah Cheayea. On 24 September 1993, she was again elevated to the rank of Samdech Preah Mohèsey Norodom Monineath of Cambodia. On 2 January 1996, the King elevated her to the rank of Samdech Preah Reach Akka Mohèsey Norodom Monineath. Apart from Khmer, HRH Norodom Monineath speaks French and English.
Bảo Đại ("keeper of greatness"; 22 October 1913 – 30 July 1997); born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy; was the 13th and last ruler of the Nguyen dynasty. From 1926 to 1945; he was king (or emperor) of Annam under French 'protection'.Bảo Đại ("keeper of greatness"; 22 October 1913 – 30 July 1997); born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy; was the 13th and last ruler of the Nguyen dynasty. From 1926 to 1945; he was king (or emperor) of Annam under French 'protection'.<br/><br/> Empress Nam Phương (14 December 1914 – 16 December 1963); born Marie-Thérèse Nguyễn Hữu Thị Lan; later Imperial Princess Nam Phương; was the first and primary wife of Bảo Đại; the last king of Annam and last emperor of Vietnam; from 1934 until her death. She also was the first and only empress consort (hoàng hậu) of the Nguyễn Dynasty.
The First Indochina War (also known as the French Indochina War, Anti-French War, Franco-Vietnamese War, Franco-Vietminh War, Indochina War, Dirty War in France, and Anti-French Resistance War in contemporary Vietnam) was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East Expeditionary Corps, led by France and supported by Emperor Bảo Đại's Vietnamese National Army against the Việt Minh, led by Hồ Chí Minh and Võ Nguyên Giáp.<br/><br/> Most of the fighting took place in Tonkin in Northern Vietnam, although the conflict engulfed the entire country and also extended into the neighboring French Indochina protectorates of Laos and Cambodia. The war ended in French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.